The Express Skopelitis (or Express Scopelitis) is the local ferry serving Naxos and Amorgos and the islands in beween.
This Danish website gives some technical details about the Express Skopelitis.
The Express Scopelitis is the star of a film - Express Scopelitis – Mother of the Islands Express Scopelitis – Mother of the Islands
There is a new book about the Scopelitis family and their boats, published in June 2011. "Scopelitis' Story - The Metro of the Microcyclades" by Giovanni Perotti and Mila de Franco. There is no IBN number. I bought my copy from the Brekas Travel Agency in Katapola; I also saw the book on sale at Zoom in Naxos.
Express Skopelitis / Express Scopelitis Timetable
- In recent years the Express Skopelitis typically has had two sorts of route, what we call a "Long Skop" and a "Short Skop"! The "Short Skop" goes from Naxos to Katapola, calling at Iraklia, Schinoussa and Koufonissi. The "Long Skop" goes from Naxos to Katapola, calling at Iraklia, Schinoussa, Koufonissi, Donoussa and Aegiale.
Greek Travel Pages currently (30 March 2012) shows the times of the Express Scopelitis until 28 September 2012
Short Skop
Leaves Katapola at 07.00 on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, arriving in Naxos at 10.50.
Leaves Naxos at 14.00 on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, arriving in Katapola at 17.55.
Long Skop
Leaves Katapola at 06.00 on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, arriving in Naxos at 12.05.
Leaves Naxos at 14.00 on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, arriving in Katapola at 20.20
For the latest timetable check on Greek Travel Pages
Some tips:
- In Naxos the Express Skopelitis leaves from the small quay in Naxos, not the large quay used by the larger ferries.
- The Express Skopelitis is a very small ferry, and may not run in stormy weather. And may not run in weather that is OK for larger ferries.
- The Express Skopelitis does not usually run on Sundays. On Sundays in summer 2011 the Express Skopelitis went from Katapola to Santorini and Ios (see below), and back.
- In some of the photos below, the Express Skopelitis looks a little rusty. This is because I took the photos in February! The Express Skopelitis usually goes "off duty" in late February / early March for her annual maintenance. She is back in service by Easter. In 2011 the Express Scopelitis went to the mainland for her annual service on 5 March (the time each year may vary in line with Greek Easter).
In 2011 the Express Skopelitis was "off duty" for maintence in the autumn, and the current timetable suggests she will not be "off duty" in Spring 2012.
- Express Skopelitis or Express Scopelitis. The name plate at the rear of the boat reads "Express Scopelitis", a sign inside the boat reads (in Greek) "Skopelitis".
- I usually travel on the deck of the Express Skopelitis, but the ship has a very pleasant lounge. I did a "Long Skop" on a cold and wet and wintry day, and spent the whole journey in the lounge. It was too wet even to paddle up to the deck, so I peered through the car deck at the islands we called at!
- There are other ferries going to Amorgos (Katapola or Aegiale). All year round there are usually several "Blue Star" ferries a week - usually leaving Piraeus at 17.30 and arriving at Amorgos in the early hours of the morning (the exact arrival time depending on the stops en route), and leaving Katapola at 6 a.m., or Aegiale at usually 6.55 a.m. The boats from Aegiale often starts from Astypalia. But as always, do check the times! In peak season there is a wider choice of ferries.
Do check the latest details on Greek Travel Pages if you want to travel on her!
You can check her current position on MarineTraffic.com. MarineTraffic.com shows the position of ships worldwide, and is hosted by the Department of Product & Systems Design Engineering - University of the Aegean.
The Express Skopelitis in port on a very windy day - 28 February 2012
Here is a photo of the Express Skopelitis in Naxos on 22 October 2011 from the "Marine Traffic" site
In 2010 when the Express Scopelitis came back from her maintenance her funnels and the "Small Cyclades Lines" words were painted in red, not blue. In 2011 the Express Skopelitis is again in blue, not red!
This photo shows the Expess Skopelitis at Naxos, near to easycruiseone.
This photo shows the Express Skopelitis moored at Katapola on a stormy day in September 2007, the sort of day on which you wonder if the sea will ever be blue again.
I took the following sequence of photographs in February 2005
The Express Scopelitis approaching Katapola
The Express Scopelitis - unloading at Katapola. This was not a very busy day! Often when the Express Scopelitis arrives the harbour at Katapola is a hive of activity. Not only are there passengers arriving, but all the goods are being unloaded as well.
The Express Scopelitis at Katapola on 19 February 2007
The Express Scopelitis at Katapola - 21 February 2007
In Spring 2010 the Express Scopelitis emerged from her annual overhaul with a new colour scheme (the smoke stacks and "Small Cyclades Line" were formerly painted blue).
The Express Scopelitis in May 2011 - again painted blue! The weather on Amorgos now (16 May 2011) is normal for May, nice and warm, but last week when I took this photo it was cold! The reason for the colour change is mention in the book I refer to above, "Scopelitis' Story" - the reason is to do with football, not politics!
The Express Scopelitis near Naxos in May 2011
A plaque inside the Express Scopelitis. The plaque is in the small lobby at the back of the car deck, leading to the lounge and the stairs to the deck.
