Kalymnos holds a prominent place in Greece’s new subsidised ferry network, featuring in numerous routes connecting the island with Piraeus, the Dodecanese, Samos, Astypalaia and Kos.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs has named the provisional operators for most public-service ferry routes covering the period from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2029, following the opening and evaluation of the financial bids. Routes affected by pending preliminary appeals have been excluded from the decision.
Kalymnos’ main ferry connections
Blue Star Ferries has been provisionally awarded three major routes serving Kalymnos:
- Piraeus or Lavrio – Patmos – Lipsi – Leros – Kalymnos – Kos – Symi – Rhodes and return, operated by the “Blue Star Patmos” at €53,855 per sailing.
- Piraeus or Lavrio – Astypalaia – Kalymnos – Kos – Nisyros – Tilos – Rhodes and return, at €34,418 per sailing.
- Piraeus or Lavrio – Kalymnos – Kos – Nisyros – Tilos – Symi – Rhodes, at €28,012 per sailing.
The Dodekanisos Seaways Consortium has been provisionally awarded the Rhodes – Kos – Kalymnos – Leros – Lipsi – Patmos or Agathonisi route, at €17,590.22 per sailing.
The same operator will also serve the Pythagoreio, Samos – Patmos – Lipsi – Leros – Kalymnos – Kos route, with a bid of €24,345.82 per sailing.
Local and inter-island services
IKARIAN SEAWAYS will operate routes connecting Agia Marina on Leros with Kalymnos and Mastichari, with subsidies ranging from €725 to €1,472 per sailing. It will also serve the Mastichari – Pserimos – Kalymnos route for €647.
ANE Kalymnou has been provisionally awarded three separate connections to Astypalaia and Kos, with payments of €5,207.10, €4,488 and €11,030.40 per sailing.
ANEM will operate, among other services, the Kalymnos – Pserimos – Mastichari, Kos route and the Mastichari – Leros connection, at €1,921 and €5,100 per sailing respectively.
The awards remain provisional, as participating companies may file a preliminary appeal within ten days of being notified of the decision. Once the procedure is completed, it is expected to secure an extensive ferry network for Kalymnos and the other islands through the autumn of 2029.
Source: www.metaforespress.gr
