After more than a month in dry-dock repairs, the Ro-Pax ferry ‘Superfast V’ (IMO 9893369) left the Croatian yard at Kostrena on 29 July 2026 and is steaming toward Patras to resume its Venice–Igoumenitsa–Patras schedule. The Cyprus-flagged vessel suffered a propeller-shaft failure in late June, forcing operator Attica Group to cancel eight round-trips at the height of the tourist season. The outage disrupted a key maritime corridor used by tour coaches, camper-vans and supply trucks moving between Italy, Greece and, indirectly, Cyprus. Although the island is not on the ferry’s route, thousands of Cyprus-based travellers connect via Athens or Patras to reach Western Europe without flying—an option popular with pet-owners and logistics firms moving delicate equipment. Cargo had to be rerouted through Ancona or shipped by road through the Balkans, adding up to three days in transit time. Attica Group says Superfast V now sports upgraded seals and a redesigned bearing assembly intended to cut maintenance intervals by 20 per cent. The company has offered a €50 fuel-surcharge rebate for bookings made before 15 August and priority re-booking for passengers affected by cancellations. The resumption improves multimodal resilience for Cyprus exporters who truck goods to Greek ports before onward ferry shipment. Freight forwarders estimate that full timetable restoration will shave €150-€200 off the cost of a standard 13-metre trailer run from Nicosia to northern Italy. Tour operators likewise anticipate a late-season boost, especially among retirees and motorhome enthusiasts who prefer sea routes over complicated air connections. Global mobility teams arranging short-term assignments in Italy or delivering sensitive tech equipment to EU clients should revisit routing matrices and reinstate the Patras-Venice option where cost-effective. Travellers are advised to confirm cabin allocations early; pent-up demand could compress availability in August even with the ship back on line.
Source: Vesseltracker
