Limassol, Cyprus. The Ro-Ro cargo vessel Patris, the largest ship ever operated by Salamis Lines, arrived at Limassol port on Wednesday on a scheduled voyage from Greece. The Cypriot-flagged vessel is part of the company’s regional freight rotation in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Port call and operations
The vessel docked at around 08.40 UTC (10.40 local time), according to shipping data, and remained in port throughout the day for loading and unloading. Operations included trailers, rolling cargo and other freight, reflecting its role as a freight-only vessel serving commercial traffic between Greece, Cyprus and Israel.
Onward route to Haifa
After completing port operations, the Patris was scheduled to continue to Haifa, maintaining Salamis Lines’ established Greece–Cyprus–Israel corridor. The vessel operates on a regular weekly rotation connecting Lavrio, Limassol and Haifa.
Acquisition and specifications
Acquired in late 2025 as part of Salamis Lines’ fleet renewal programme, the Patris represents a capacity upgrade for the Limassol-based operator. Built in Germany in 2002, it is 193 metres long with a beam of 26 metres and a gross tonnage of 26,525.
Capacity and performance
The vessel offers up to 3,200 linear metres of capacity, equivalent to around 177 trailers, and has a service speed of about 21.5 knots, supporting fixed weekly rotations on high-volume freight routes.
Previous service under DFDS
Before joining Salamis Lines, the vessel operated for more than two decades as Cappadocia Seaways on DFDS freight routes across the Mediterranean for around 23 years. Its sale in November 2025 was part of DFDS’s fleet optimisation strategy, after which it was renamed Patris and registered under the Cypriot flag.
What impact do you think the Patris will have on freight capacity on the Lavrio–Limassol–Haifa route?
