Greek ferry operator Saronic Ferries and C-Job Naval Architects have partnered to deliver the design for the first fully-electric Ro-Pax ferry in Greece, in line with Saronic Ferries’ mission to operate a purely emissions-free fleet by 2040 to all destinations.
George Papaioannides, Partner, Saronic Ferries, said: “We are taking a step towards a cleaner world and we envision our operation in the Saronic Islands to be the inspiration for others to initiate more green fleet renewal projects in Greece.”
Joseph Lefakis, Partner, Saronic Ferries, added: “We lead the way encouraging potential stakeholders to embrace change and move things forward, both on the vessel design front and on the land-based infrastructure and supply. One can’t come without the other. C-Job, at its core, is a key player in sustainable ship design, worldwide. Sharing the same values with them, naturally led to this cooperation.”
C-Job Naval Architects is an international independent ship design company with a mission to drive the maritime industry towards sustainability by dedication and ingenuity. The organisation opened a branch office in Athens in 2020 as a response to increased demand and to be closer to its clients in Greece as it remains at the centre of the global maritime industry.
Nikos Papapanagiotou, Director, C-Job Athens, said: “We’re proud to have been chosen as partner to Saronic Ferries to develop their zero-emission ferry and support their sustainable ambitions. We’ve been researching alternative fuels and energy sources for nearly a decade and have applied this knowledge and other innovations to our designs. Thanks to our experience and R&D team, we’re able to show how design choices will affect operations and create the optimal design for each situation.”
C-Job has delivered an initial design to Saronic Ferries following an extensive sustainable fuel feasibility study. The zero-emission vessel will have a capacity of 800 passengers and will feature a variety of sustainable aspects, including fully electric propulsion. The ferry will recharge in the port of Piraeus. The design will include energy-saving solutions, offering passenger comfort at no expense to the environment.
The vessel is expected to join the fleet in 2026, sailing between Piraeus and the islands of Aegina and Agistri, provided the infrastructure required in the port of Piraeus is in place.
