Thanks Florian for the additional informations. I remember back in winter of 2009 with Anek Lines th estop just took a few minutes. We couldn't even turn around after unloading to take a picture, she has already left. (only about 5 cars where unloaded then)

Sorry, I spelled Minoan Line incorrect.

Thank You, Florian 1860, for this complete information. A few years ago I spent holiday in Pargas, on the Greek coast, some distance south of Igoumenitsa (which I never ferried from/to, but passed by bus on a day trip up to Albania). From Parga I remember big ferries at good speed out in the sea, both day and night. So I could have seen Minioan Lines at that time. Spending some holidays both in Croatia and in Greece, the main land and the islands, I always like to see the local and regional ships in lines at the Adriatitic and the Ionianian sea and the Aegian sea. Different types, but as far as I could see, with clever captain and crew.

Stefan:

Unloading the huge CRUISE ferries in Igoumenitsa takes normally around 30-45 minutes, in summer season often 1 hour or more.

Since finishing of the A 2 motorway from Igoumenitsa to the Greek-Turkish border in 2009, I think, that the major part of passengers (especially in high season) and also a considerable increased number of trucks is now leaving the ship already in Igoumenitsa.

Kind regards.

Thanks for your nice compliment, Trygve !!

This absolutely is a usual scene of greek ferry docking.
The ship is opening its ramps already when entering the port, in order to accelerate the procedure of arrival.
As the port of Igoumenitsa is just a stopover there is not much time for unlading (45-60 minutes).
When departing the ramps are closed, in order to ensure a safe crossing.

This ferry (and her sister CRUISE OLYMPIA) has three decks for trucks, busses and caravans:
The main garage (deck No 3), the lower garage (deck No 1; under the sea level) and the upper garage (Deck No 5)
Together they can accomodate about 200 trucks (3050 lane meters).
In addition there is further deck only for cars (forward part of deck No 7/height: 2,10 meters ) with a capacity of approximately 250 cars.
When the ship is fully loaded, I guess, it´s understandable that the loading procedure is taking that long. Even with these huge stern ramps.

The ship is currently doing two round trips per week:
1) Ancona-Igoumenitsa-Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona-Trieste
2) Trieste-Ancona-Igoumenitsa-Patras-Igoumenitsa-Ancona

Duration of the trip in early season:
From Ancona to Patras: 24 hours
From Trieste to Patras: 32 hours
(service speed: ~24 knots)

In summer season she´s only sailing on Ancona-Igoumenitsa-Patras route.
Duration: 21,5 hours / service speed: ~27,5 knots.

If interested, you can find the exact timetable here:
http://minoan.gr/en/routes

A video of the embarcation with a car can be found on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk-PEKnG7NA

I belive they stay in Igoumenitsa only for unloading and just for a few minutes. She then sails on to Patras where most of the cars and trucks will be unload, I belive. I think this is normal at this stop-over.

Nice picture. Even if this ship is full loaden I suppose that the stern ramps (?) are closed and locked in upper position during the voyage. Now when the skip is in harbour and now turning around for going backwards to the qay (perhaps, for some usually, with the anchor out), I think it is normal to open these big doors(stern ramps?) to prepare for the unloading, separating, with passengers on each side, and with cars/trucks in the middle. With cars on two decks in this way, I do not wonder if loading and unloading takes a lot of time. But if this ships normally sails at nights, and spend a lot of the day in port, "they have plenty of time." Perhaps.

Thanks, John ;-)
ship was loading its huge garage in Ancona for almost four hours !!

Very nice Flo,fully loaded :O