Kissamos

Kissamos ( Greek : Κίσσαμος , Kíssamos ) is a ferry operated by the Greek company ANEK Lines . Built between 1991 and 1992 at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Shimonoseki for the Japanese company Highashi Nihon Ferry, it was originally named Hercules ( はあきゆり, Haakiyuri ) . Entering service in April 1992 on routes connecting the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu via the Sea of Japan , it was transferred in 1998 to operate from the Pacific coast. Sold in 1998 to ANEK Lines and initially renamed Kriti V , it entered service in July 2000 between Greece and Italy under the name Lefka Ori ( Greek : Λευκά Όρη , Lefká Ori ). Placed on the charter market in 2012 due to a crisis affecting Greek shipping lines, it operated in South Korea during this period before returning to Greece in 2013. Transferred in 2014 to Hellas 2 Leasing Maritime Co., it was subsequently chartered by Blue Star Ferries , which operated it between Piraeus and Crete from April 2015 to February 2024 under the name Blue Galaxy . Returning to the ANEK Lines fleet in February 2024 following its acquisition by the Attica group, it was renamed Kissamos .