In response to a parliamentary question regarding the ferry connectivity of Kalymnos, the Minister of Shipping and Island Policy, Mr. Vasilis Kikilias, presented the approved ferry schedules for the summer season of 2025, along with the Ministry’s broader policy on servicing island regions.
According to the Minister, under the current legislative framework (Law 4948/2022), shipping companies are required to submit their ship routing declarations by January 31st each year, in order to cover the national indicative ferry network for the period from November 1st of the current year through October 31st of the following year.
For the summer season (June 2 – September 7, 2025), the following ferry routes serving Kalymnos have been approved:
- The passenger/vehicle ferry “Blue Star 2” will operate:
- One route every Wednesday and Thursday on the Piraeus–Syros–Patmos–Leros–Kalymnos–Kos–Rhodes line (round trip),
- One outbound route every Friday on the Piraeus–Syros–Kalymnos–Kos–Rhodes line,
- One return route every Sunday on the Rhodes–Kos–Kalymnos–Leros–Patmos–Syros–Piraeus line.
- One route every Wednesday and Thursday on the Piraeus–Syros–Patmos–Leros–Kalymnos–Kos–Rhodes line (round trip),
- The cargo/vehicle ferry “Blue Carrier 2” will operate one weekly route every Monday on the Piraeus–Kalymnos–Kos–Rhodes line (round trip).
- Through a public service contract, the passenger/vehicle ferry “Blue Star Patmos” will operate three distinct weekly lines including Kalymnos:
- Piraeus–Patmos–Lipsi–Leros–Kalymnos–Kos–Symi–Rhodes,
- Piraeus–Astypalea–Kalymnos–Kos–Nisyros–Tilos–Rhodes,
- Piraeus–Kalymnos–Kos–Nisyros–Tilos–Symi–Rhodes.
- Piraeus–Patmos–Lipsi–Leros–Kalymnos–Kos–Symi–Rhodes,
- The passenger/vehicle ferry “Asterion II” will also serve the islands with:
- Two weekly routes (Tuesdays and Thursdays) on the Piraeus–Vathy–Kos–Rhodes line,
- One additional route every Sunday via Vathy–Patmos–Leros–Kos–Rhodes.
- Two weekly routes (Tuesdays and Thursdays) on the Piraeus–Vathy–Kos–Rhodes line,
Mr. Kikilias emphasized that the Ministry closely monitors the needs of small and remote islands, and in constant collaboration with local authorities and the ferry sector, evaluates all proposals aimed at enhancing maritime connectivity — always taking into account the available financial resources.
