Dodekanisos Seaways Returns to GOT Marine After 20 Years
- Amalie Eilertsen
- 15. mai
- 3 min lesing
Twenty years after their last contract, Dodekanisos Seaways has returned to GOT Marine — signing on for a third catamaran, and reuniting with some of the same craftspeople who built their first. With vessels four and five already on the horizon, this looks like the beginning of a new chapter.
If you've ever taken a ferry between the Greek islands, between Rhodes and Kos, perhaps, or out to Samos — there's a good chance you were sitting in a boat built right here on the southern coast of Norway. That's not something most passengers would think about. But for us at GOT Marine, it's a source of quiet pride.
Dodekanisos Seaways, based in Rhodes, connects the islands of the Dodecanese and the northeastern Aegean. Their fleet already includes two GOT Marine-built catamarans: Dodekanisos Express and Dodekanisos Pride. The latter was delivered from our yard in Mandal in 2005. Twenty years on, the company has signed a new contract with us — for their third catamaran.
The same hands, a new boat
What makes this contract especially meaningful to us isn't just the commercial relationship. It's the people. Some of the same craftspeople who put hours into building Dodekanisos Express and Pride two decades ago are still here — and will be part of building this new vessel.
"It is rewarding to see that some of the same hands that built Dodekanisos Pride twenty years ago now have the opportunity to build vessel number three. That kind of continuity is something we are proud of — both in the quality we deliver and in the people who make it possible."
— André Rustad, Managing Director, GOT Marine
The new vessel is a Sealord 41 — GOT Marine's own design — measuring 41 meters in length and capable of carrying more than 300 passengers and six cars. Construction begins immediately, with delivery planned for autumn 2027. The contract is valued at just under NOK 200 million. Nearly 150 vessels in between
A lot has happened in the twenty years since Dodekanisos Pride left our yard. GOT Marine has built close to 150 vessels in that time — workboats, patrol craft, passenger ferries, fishing vessels, and specialised platforms for customers across the globe. But long-term relationships like this one are what remind us why we do this work. "We are genuinely grateful that Dodekanisos Seaways has chosen us again, twenty years after delivering Dodekanisos Pride. It tells us that the boats we build live up to what we promise — and that they last."
— Heine Østby, Group CEO, GOT The ferries operated by Dodekanisos Seaways aren't just tourist transport. For the people who live on the smaller islands, they're a lifeline — connecting communities to hospitals, schools and the mainland. Knowing that vessels built in Mandal play that role day after day is something we don't take lightly. Looking ahead
Dodekanisos Seaways has indicated interest in a fourth and fifth vessel — a signal that this is about more than a single order. It reflects long-term confidence in what we do together.
"The operator has signalled vessels four and five, which shows both satisfaction with our deliveries and long-term belief in our partnership. For us at GOT, this is a strong motivation to continue developing the next generation of high-speed passenger vessels alongside our customers."
— Hans Erlend Meland, CFO, GOT
Meanwhile, our facility at Gismerøya in Mandal keeps busy on multiple fronts. We are currently completing RS-178 — the largest rescue vessel in Norwegian history — while the hulls of two new fireboats are taking shape in the production hall.
We're looking forward to the work ahead — and to seeing the Sealord 41 make its way south to Rhodes in 2027.
