On Saturday 9th August 2025, the 10:00am Hellenic Seaways 'Flying Cat' from Piraeus was cancelled due to some 'technical problems'.  The high-speed catamaran experienced a mechanical failure in the port of Piraeus prior to its scheduled departure that morning.  The 'Flying Cat 3' was scheduled to travel to the Argo-Saronic ports of Poros, Hydra, Ermioni and Spetses with 340 passengers on board.  The owners, Hellenic Seaways said they would find alternative travel arrangements for all its passengers.  The Argo-Saronic route has been operating throughout the recent days of extremely strong winds, which have caused cancellations to ferries from the ports of Piraeus, Lavrio and Rafina to the Greek Islands.  The persistent winds have continually got stronger since the previous Thursday morning. 

Gusty gale-force winds stranded a large number of travellers from Friday, due to a ban on most ferry departures.  Greece's ferry departure ban system, which is enforced during severe weather conditions, operates under a regulatory framework established in the early 1970s, last updated in 1994, and inspired by the principle of 'better safe than sorry'.  The ban is issued by local port authorities based on forecasts from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, which are updated every six hours.  Factors taken into account include wind strength (typically 7 to 8 Beaufort) wind direction, wave height, vessel size and the chosen route.

Summer conditions make matters worse, as most sailings are fully booked well in advance.  When a ban is issued, passengers may receive a refund or credit to travel another day, but under Greek law, they are not entitled to further compensation.  Limited seating on later sailings often strands passengers for extended periods, not so good if you are trying to get back to Athens Airport to catch your flight.  At least visitors to Ermioni have a choice of return transport if their intended sailing is cancelled at short notice. 

The Hellenic Seaways 'Flying Cat' fleet of catermarans 3,4,5 & 6 were discontinued at the end of 2025 with the acquisition of two new 'AERO Highspeed' vessels.  The new catermarans are scheduled to be deployed on the Saronoc Gulf routes during the Summer 2026 season, operating as AERO Highspeed 4 and AERO Highspeed 5.

The new vessels, built in 2017 and 2018 respectively, are constructed from carbon fibre, similar to the AERO Highspeed 1, 2 & 3 vessels already deployed in the Saronic Gulf, offering air-conditioned aircraft type seats, enhanced energy efficiency and a reduced environmental footprint.  

AERO Highspeed 4 & 5 catamaran details   -   Length: 40.5m    Width: 10.8m    Max speed: 32.2 knots    Passenger capacity: 270