Saronic Ferries ready to place Japanese second-hand purchase into service

FerryGreek ferry operator Saronic Ferries has given its Japanese second-hand vessel, acquired in early 2024, a permanent name. The new name is CALLIRHOE, which in Greek mythology is the name of one of the Oceanids, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys – a symbol of the purity, flow, and constant renewal of waters.

This is stated by Saronic Ferries in connection with the ferry now being ready to be actively integrated into the company’s fleet, which will then consist of six RoPax ferries, of which CALLIRHOE is the first with a Japanese origin.

Saronic Ferries purchased the 4,684 GT ferry, built in 2000, from Seikan Ferry. The vessel, which under its original Japanese ownership was named HAYABUSA NO. 3, was renamed YABUSA after the acquisition.

The ferry was initially rebuilt with additional accommodation structures at COSCO Shipyard in China, before being towed to Greece for final completion, which has now been finished. Saronic Ferries states that CALLIRHOE will now be deployed on the company’s routes from Piraeus to the islands in the Saronic Gulf.

Nov 06 2025