Hellenic Seaways is growing again. Greece’s biggest ferry company launched the 30,400-gt ropax Nissos Samos (ex-Ionian Queen, built 1988) on an Aegean route last week. It marks the first addition to the company’s fleet after years of self-imposed contraction, highlighting its remarkable reversal of fortune under chief executive Antonis Agapitos.

“This purchase is of symbolic importance for us,” Agapitos told TradeWinds on board the vessel last week, before a ceremony at Piraeus Port to celebrate its deployment.