The Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) has been forced to schedule a second auction for an unwanted ferry that has been a troublesome resident of the port for the past four years.

PPA is again inviting tenders for the 15,000-gt ro-ro passenger ferry European Express (built 1974), which has been docked at a repair yard in Perama since the collapse of ferry operator NEL Lines in 2013.

Sealed offers for the ship are due in at the PPA’s offices on 18 December, with the buyer agreeing to remove the ship as part of the purchase deal.

An attempt was made to auction the European Express back in early November, but no buyer was found.

The ship has proven problematic during its long lay-up, having broken free from its moorings twice and drifted into other vessels.

While the European Express is a very likely scrap candidate, an apparent revival of interest in elderly ropax ferries in Greek waters could make it a potential trading candidate.

This past year has seen two equally ancient ferries stage remarkable comebacks long after they had been written off as only being of interest to demo buyers.

High-speed ferry operator Sea Jets Maritime has recently taken on the former ANEK Lines 7,500-gt ferry Ierapetra L (built 1975).

The ship had been out of service since being severely damaged by an engine room fire in November 2014, but was recently given a full refurbishment and renamed Aqua Blue. Although painted up in Sea Jets colours, the operator has yet to reveal its plans for the ship.

Sea Jets currently operates one conventional ferry, the 3,900-gt Aqua Jewel (built 2002), which runs a subsidised service in the Aegean.

Well-placed observers say the company is keen to add more conventional ships to its large fleet of fast ferries in order to win more public service contracts as well as to ensure year-round income. The company’s high-speed monohull and catamaran ferries operate only on a seasonal basis.

Another former ANEK Lines ferry, the 25,500-gt Laton (built 1975), was recently sold to an entity called Talaton Shipping despite having reportedly been sold for scrap two years ago. Last month, the ship was hauled out of its long-time lay-up berth and put into dry dock.

The ship, now flagged in the Bahamas, is reportedly being prepared for a new role as an accommodation ship for housing refugees.