SOUDA I, today known as CHRISTOS LIII, is a Greek harbour tug built in 2002 by NAFSI in Athens, Greece. The vessel spent the earlier part of her career associated with Souda Bay, Crete, before moving to the Piraeus area and later joining the Spanopoulos tug fleet. She was acquired by Spanopoulos Group in 2018 and subsequently renamed CHRISTOS LIII.
The tug has a gross tonnage of 118 GT and is approximately 20 metres long, with a beam of about 6.5 metres. She sails under the Greek flag and retains MMSI 237573900 and call sign SY2658. Current AIS records identify the vessel under the CHRISTOS LIII name and show her continuing to operate from Piraeus in 2026.
Vessel Details
Current Name: CHRISTOS LIII
Name at time of PiraeuShips recording: SOUDA I
IMO: 9246205
MMSI: 237573900
Call Sign: SY2658
Type: Tug
Flag: Greece
Built: 2002
Builder: NAFSI, Athens, Greece
Length: approx. 20 m
Beam: 6.50 m
Gross Tonnage: 118 GT
Former Owner: Georgios Tzanakos
Acquired by Spanopoulos Group: 2018
Current Status: Active
The original PiraeuShips record already confirms the ship's IMO, MMSI, Greek flag, 2002 construction, 118 GT and NAFSI as builder.
From SOUDA I to CHRISTOS LIII
As SOUDA I, the tug was closely associated with Crete. She was photographed working at Souda Bay in December 2013, including within the naval-base area, confirming that the name reflected an actual operational connection with the port rather than simply being a vessel name.
By 2018 the tug was appearing regularly in the Piraeus area. She was documented at Piraeus on 4 May 2018 and at Perama later that year. Contemporary Greek maritime information citing Marine Information Services reported that Spanopoulos Group acquired SOUDA I from Georgios Tzanakos in 2018, after which she was renamed CHRISTOS LIII.
Her name history is therefore:
SOUDA I → CHRISTOS LIII
Service as CHRISTOS LIII
Under her new name, the tug has continued to undertake harbour and coastal towage work. One documented operation took place in the Argolis Gulf in July 2021, when CHRISTOS LIII was mobilised from Salamis to reposition three floating fish-farm cages, each 39 metres in diameter. The operation was successfully completed over several days.
Recent photographic evidence confirms CHRISTOS LIII at Drapetsona Bay in October 2025 and at Piraeus on 16 March 2026. AIS records during 2026 also repeatedly show the tug operating in and around Piraeus.
Piraeus Connection
SOUDA I was recorded by PiraeuShips at Piraeus in 2018, shortly before the change of ownership and name. This makes the original footage particularly useful today, as it preserves the tug during the final stage of her career under the SOUDA I identity.
Following her acquisition and renaming, CHRISTOS LIII became a regular presence around Piraeus, Perama and Salamis, and she remains active in the area in 2026.
PiraeuShips Record
SOUDA I was recorded at Piraeus by PiraeuShips in 2018, during the final period of her career under that name. Built in Greece in 2002 and previously associated with Souda Bay in Crete, the tug was acquired by Spanopoulos Group later in 2018 and renamed CHRISTOS LIII. Still active in the Piraeus area, IMO 9246205 provides a clear example of how the PiraeuShips archive preserves earlier identities and stages in the careers of working vessels connected with the port.
Original video footage © PiraeuShips. All rights reserved.
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