The management of MINOAN LINES is in the pleasant position to announce the delivery of H/S/F EUROPA PALACE on Friday, May 10, 2002 from the Italian shipyards of Fincantieri. The vessel is expected to arrive at the port of Heraklion in Crete, on Sunday, May 12th 2002.

H/S/F EUROPA PALACE is another addition of an ultra modern highspeed ferry to the company's fleet, strengthening the company's position in the Adriatic market and contributing to the further upgrading of the Greek shipping sector.

The vessel will be deployed on the Patras · Igoumenitsa · Ancona sea route on May 14th, 2002.

Her technical characteristics are: length 214 m., width 26.4 m., 4 WARTSILA 12V46C engines of 16,800 KW (each), while her carrying capacity is of 1900 passengers, 150 trucks and at the same time 100 vehicles or 600 vehicles and her service speed is 31.5 knots.

The vessel is also equipped with: conference center, shopping-center, restaurants, discotheque with panoramic view, cinema, children playground, lounges, videogames, gym, nursing area with a Tele-heart device connected to a cardiologic medical center, 732 beds and 108 business class seats with private TV sets and radio.

The H/S/F EUROPA PALACE, the sister vessel of the H/S/F OLYMPIA PALACE, is the fourth and last ultra modern passenger ferry for MINOAN LINES from the Italian shipyards of Fincantieri.

Following the delivery of the H/S/F ARIADNE in the near term from the shipyards of Samsung Heavy Industries, the ambitious and very important investment program with the construction of 7 new vessels of total cost ? 670 million will be completed, and the Company will enter this new era with a fully renewed fleet of vessels combining speed, comfort and luxury on board.