IONIA is a Cypriot-flagged feeder containership operated by Salamis Lines on the company’s regular services linking Greece, Cyprus and Israel. The vessel is a familiar caller at Piraeus and forms part of the commercial traffic connecting the port with Limassol and Israeli ports. Salamis acquired the ship as part of an expansion of its sea-transport activities and introduced her into its network under the name IONIA.
Built in Poland in 2000, IONIA measures 133.34 metres in length and 22.90 metres in beam, with a maximum draught of 7.70 metres. She has a gross tonnage of 8,737 GT and a deadweight of 9,113 tonnes. Salamis lists her with a container capacity of approximately 889 TEU, suitable for 20-, 40- and 45-foot containers, while the vessel is classed by DNV.
The ship has had a varied career under several names. She was originally associated with the name HOLANDIA and later traded as CALA PONENTE, CALA PHOENICIA and VENTO DI GRECALE, before reverting again to HOLANDIA and finally becoming IONIA in 2023. Her earlier career was spent in European feeder-container services before joining Salamis Lines.
Vessel Details
Name: IONIA
Former Names: HOLANDIA, CALA PONENTE, CALA PHOENICIA, VENTO DI GRECALE
IMO: 9204506
MMSI: 210989000
Call Sign: 5BFX6
Type: Fully Cellular Container Ship / Feeder
Flag: Cyprus
Port of Registry: Limassol
Built: 2000
Builder: New Szczecin Shipyard, Szczecin, Poland
Operator: Salamis Lines Ltd
Registered Owner: Ionian Blue Maritime Ltd
Classification: DNV
Length Overall: 133.34 m
Beam: 22.90 m
Depth: 11.10 m
Maximum Draught: 7.70 m
Gross Tonnage: 8,737 GT
Net Tonnage: 3,427 NT
Deadweight: 9,113 t
Container Capacity: approx. 889 TEU
Main Engine: MAN 6L58/64 diesel
Historical Service Speed: approx. 18.5 knots
History
During her career, the vessel changed identity several times according to different chartering and operational arrangements. She traded as CALA PONENTE and CALA PHOENICIA during the first decade of her career and later as VENTO DI GRECALE before returning to the HOLANDIA name. After acquisition by Salamis Lines, she was renamed IONIA and registered under the Cyprus flag. Salamis announced that the vessel would provide weekly container services between Greece, Cyprus and Israel.
Her connection with Piraeus is particularly strong. Recent AIS history shows repeated calls between Piraeus and Limassol, together with calls at Ashdod, Haifa and Thessaloniki. During the last year, Piraeus has been one of her most frequently visited ports, making IONIA a regular part of the commercial shipping scene of the port.
PiraeuShips Record
IONIA was recorded at Piraeus by PiraeuShips while operating within the Salamis Lines network. As a regular feeder containership linking Greece with Cyprus and Israel, she represents the type of regional commercial traffic that forms an important part of the everyday activity of the Port of Piraeus.
Original video footage © PiraeuShips. All rights reserved.
