Salamis Lines’ largest cargo ship Patris arrives in Limassol

The Ro-Ro cargo vessel Patris, the largest ship ever operated by Salamis Lines, arrived at Limassol port on Wednesday, completing its scheduled voyage from Greece as part of the company’s regional freight rotation in the Eastern Mediterranean. 

The Cypriot-flagged vessel docked at around 08.40 UTC (10.40 local time), according to shipping data, and remained in port throughout the day to carry out loading and unloading operations.  

These included trailers, rolling cargo and other freight, reflecting its role as a freight-only vessel serving commercial traffic between Greece, Cyprus and Israel.  

Following the completion of port operations, the Patris was scheduled to continue its onward journey to Haifa, maintaining Salamis Lines’ established Greece–Cyprus–Israel corridor. 

Acquired in late 2025 as part of Salamis Lines’ fleet renewal programme, the Patris represents a significant capacity upgrade for the Limassol-based operator.  

Built in Germany in 2002, the Ro-Ro ship measures 193 metres in length, with a beam of 26 metres, and has a gross tonnage of 26,525.  

It offers capacity of up to 3,200 linear metres, equivalent to around 177 trailers, and has a service speed of approximately 21.5 knots, enabling it to serve high-volume freight routes with fixed weekly rotations. 

Before joining the Salamis fleet, the vessel operated for more than two decades under the name Cappadocia Seaways, serving DFDS freight routes across the Mediterranean for around 23 years.  

Its sale in November 2025 formed part of DFDS’s fleet optimisation strategy, with the ship subsequently renamed Patris and registered under the Cypriot flag following its acquisition by Salamis Lines. 

The vessel now operates on a regular weekly rotation connecting Lavrio, Limassol and Haifa, anchoring Salamis Lines’ Ro-Ro services in the Eastern Mediterranean.  

Designed for mixed cargoes, it is capable of transporting rolling vehicles, heavy machinery, project cargo, livestock and temperature-controlled produce, offering flexibility for a wide range of commercial transport needs. 

Salamis Lines has linked the acquisition to growing demand for reliable and high-capacity regional freight services, describing it as part of a broader strategy to modernise its commercial fleet and better serve the needs of the business community.  

According to the company, the investment reflects a focus on capacity, operational efficiency and adaptability, particularly as trade flows between Southern Europe, Cyprus and the Levant continue to expand. 

Salamis Lines forms part of the wider Salamis Organisation, a diversified Cypriot group with roots dating back to 1959, when it was founded in Famagusta as a customs clearing and transport services office.  

Over the decades, the group expanded into shipping, logistics, travel and tourism services across the Eastern Mediterranean.  

Salamis Lines itself was established in Limassol in 1993 and has since operated passenger, Ro-Ro and multipurpose vessels linking Cyprus with ports in Greece and Israel. 

Today, the company manages a fleet that includes the Ro-Ro vessels Patris, Vassilios and Akritas, alongside the multipurpose Ionia, serving ports such as Limassol, Lavrio, Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Haifa and Ashdod.  

Its shipping operations are complemented by integrated logistics and transport services, supporting rolling cargo, heavy equipment and project shipments. 

With the arrival of the Patris in Limassol, Salamis Lines has further strengthened its position as a key maritime link between Greece, Cyprus and Israel, reinforcing its role in facilitating regional trade through regular, high-capacity Ro-Ro services.