Attica Group

Attica Holdings S.A. is an operator of international ferry services in Europe. Attica Group's operations include its subsidiaries Superfast Ferries, which began in 1995 with the launch of its first ships, Superfast I and Superfast II, and Blue Star Ferries, which operates ferries in the Aegean Sea to the Greek islands. In June 2018, Attica Group increased its share in Hellenic Seaways to 98.83%. Hellenic Seaways is a subsidiary of the Attica Group following the acquisition of a minority interest of 1.17% in July 2019. In December 2023, it acquired ANEK Lines, rendering the operator number two in the volume of passengers commuted in Europe.

The company was established in 1918 in Piraeus, Greece, under the name "General Company of Commerce and Industry of Greece". In the beginning, it specialised in producing and trading flour under the name of "Attica Flour Mills SA". In 1922, the company changed hands and was renamed Attica Enterprises S.A. This was later revised to Attica Enterprises Holding S.A. before being shortened to Attica Group.

1924
The Attica Group was listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, marking a key step in its growth and public presence.

Throughout the mid-20th century, Attica Group remained primarily engaged in commercial trading and non-shipping activities, without major operations in ferry transport.

1993
A new management team, chaired by Pericles S. Panagopulos, created the shipping subsidiary Attica Maritime S.A., later renamed Superfast Ferries Maritime S.A. The first two Superfast car-passenger ferries, Superfast I and Superfast II, were ordered from Schichau Seebeckwerft AG in Bremen, Germany.

1995
April and June: The two ordered car-passenger ferries, Superfast I and Superfast II, were delivered and employed in the Patras–Ancona–Patras service. The two ferries cut the crossing time between Patras and Ancona by up to 40%.

1996
July: Two new Superfast car-passenger ferries, Superfast III and Superfast IV, were ordered at Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Turku, Finland.

1998
April: Superfast III and Superfast IV were delivered and deployed on the Patras–Ancona–Patras route, while Superfast I and Superfast II launched a new route linking Patras and Igoumenitsa with Bari in southern Italy.