Strintzis Lines first to break out of Greek water boundaries

As of May 15, 2000, ferry operator Strintzis Lines<.> intends to ply the Italian sea route Brindisi-Ancona. Strintzis is the first Greek company to take advantage of open waters within the European Union – under special EU dispensation, Greek waters remain closed to open outside competition until 2004, but all other European waters are open to EU-company competition as of January 1, 2000.
A Strintzis executive says the company will place the first of two new ultra-modern vessels now under construction on the route Patras-Brindisi-Ancona. The second new vessel on order from the Dutch shipyard Van der Giessen de Nord will be placed on the same route on July 15. Both vessels, each with a capacity of 1,600 passengers and 850 vehicles, will ply the route daily….