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Private company

Maritime Company of Lesvos

Ferry companies of Greece

NEL Lines (Greek: Ναυτιλιακή Εταιρία Λέσβου, Naftiliaki Eteria Lesvou) was established in 1972, as a community-based company with shareholders from the island of Lesvos, Greece and the primary aim of acquiring a liner vessel for the Mytilene-Chios-Piraeus route. Over the years, the company expanded, serving many Aegean sea destinations.2 It ceased to exist in 2015.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1972Founded1
  • HeadquartersMytilene1
  • Websitewww.nel.gr
  • Legal formAnonymi Etaireia1

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Aeolos Kenteris ii
Photo: Robin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

NEL Lines (Greek: Ναυτιλιακή Εταιρία Λέσβου, Naftiliaki Eteria Lesvou) was established in 1972, as a community-based company with shareholders from the island of Lesvos, Greece and the primary aim of acquiring a liner vessel for the Mytilene-Chios-Piraeus route. Over the years, the company expanded, serving many Aegean sea destinations.2

Products and brands

Sappho (1973-2002) scrapped as Santori in Alang, India in 2004

Arion (1975-1981) When the ship was in Haifa with 250 passengers on board, a bomb exploded on board. The ship was towed out and sunk outside the harbor in 1981. It was then towed and laid-up in Elefsina and later sold for scrap in Barcelona, Spain

Homerus (1977-1993) scrapped as Veesham IX in Alang, India in 2003.

Alcaeos (1981-2002) scrapped as Sochi Express in Aliaga, Turkey in 2004.

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Odysseas Elytis (1982-1985) scrapped as Safa in Alang, India in 2005.

Agios Rafael (1989-2001) sank in 2013 near China when she went for scrapping.

Mytilene (1990-2015) Laid up from 2015 to 2022. Sold for scrap as Lene in Aliaga, Turkey in 2022.

Theofilos (1995-2015) Laid up from 2015 to 2022. Sold for scrap as Ilos in Aliaga, Turkey in 2022.

Taxiarchis (1999-2015) laid-up in Lavrio from 2015 to 2018. Laid-up in Salamis since 2018. Sold for scrap in September 2023.

Aeolos Kenteris I (2000-2011) laid-up in Salamis since 2011. Sold to Anen Lines in 2019 and renamed Aspasia T in 2022.

Aeolos Kenteris II (2001-2011) laid-up in Salamis since 2011.

Aeolos Kenteris (2001-2011) partially sunk in Augusta, Italy since 2018.

Panagia Tinou (2007-2009) caught up fire in Tripoli, Lebanon in 2016 and sold for scrap in Aliaga, Turkey in 2016.

Panagia Hozoviotissa (2007-2010) scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey in 2010.

Panagia Thalassini (2007-2015) sold to Idomeneas Lines as Kalli P but is laid-up in Perama since 2015.

Panagia Parou (2007-2018) partially sank in Algeciras port in 2017, towed up and went for scrap in Aliaga, Turkey in 2018.

Aqua Jewel (2010-2014) as Aqua Jewel for Seajets since 2017.

European Express (2010-2019) scrapped as Express in Aliaga, Turkey in 2019.

Colossus (2010-2013) scrapped in Alang, India in 2013.

Mykonos (2010-2013) as Talos for Creta Cargo Lines since 2014.

Alkioni (2010-2019) as Cat I for Magic Sea Ferries since 2019.

Ippotis (2010-2014) scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey in 2014.

Cyclades Express (2010-2016) as Naxos Jet for Seajets since 2016.

Aqua Maria (2010-2016) laid-up in Drapetsona as Alexandra L since 2019.

Olympus (2010-2017) Scrapped in Alang, India in 2017.

Aqua Hercules (2010-2017) partially sank in Iskenderun since 2021.

Aqua Spirit (2010-2015) as Northern Sea Wolf for BC Ferries since 2017.

Ionian Sky (2013-2020) scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey in 2020.

From Wikipedia’s article on Maritime Company of Lesvos, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 2015Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1972Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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