Apollon XI

Apollon XI was a passenger and cruise ship associated with Epirotiki Lines. The vessel was originally built for Coast Lines Ltd. of Glasgow under the name Irish Coast. In its early career it served regional routes connecting ports in the United Kingdom and Ireland, including Belfast–Liverpool, Cork–Fishguard, Dublin–Liverpool, and a Glasgow–Dublin–Liverpool service operated under charter by Burns & Laird Lines. Epirotiki acquired the vessel in 1968 and changed its name several times during the transition into its later cruise role. It was first renamed Orpheus, then Semiramis II and Achilleus in 1969. After reconstruction as a cruise ship, it received the name Apollon XI, also written as Apollon 11. The name referred both to Apollo, the Greek sun god, and to Apollo 11, the spacecraft mission that carried the first humans to the Moon. As Apollon XI, the ship operated cruise itineraries in the Aegean Sea and wider Mediterranean. Its routes later extended to the Antilles in the Caribbean Sea and to Africa, reflecting Epirotiki’s international cruise operations. In 1982 the vessel was renamed Regency. Its active career ended after it ran aground on 11 October 1989 during Typhoon Dan. The ship was subsequently towed to Manila in the Philippines, where it was demolished. Because Apollon XI was the name of a single vessel rather than an ongoing commercial brand, no current products, corporate website, public listing, or continuing operating business are documented.

The vessel later known as Apollon XI began its career as Irish Coast. It was built as a passenger ship for Coast Lines Ltd., based in Glasgow, and entered service on regional routes around the United Kingdom and Ireland. Burns & Laird Lines chartered the ship for several services, including Belfast to Liverpool, Cork to Fishguard, Dublin to Liverpool, and a longer Glasgow–Dublin–Liverpool connection. These routes placed the vessel within the short-sea passenger network linking British and Irish ports. In 1968, Epirotiki acquired the ship. The company changed its name to Orpheus, and further renamings followed: Semiramis II and Achilleus in 1969. During this period the vessel was rebuilt and adapted for cruise operations rather than remaining solely a regional passenger ship. It was subsequently given the name Apollon XI, sometimes written Apollon 11. The name combined a reference to Apollo, the Greek god associated with the sun, with a reference to the Apollo 11 lunar mission, which had achieved the first crewed Moon landing. Under the Apollon XI name, the ship operated cruises in the Aegean Sea and throughout the Mediterranean. Its deployment later reached the Antilles in the Caribbean and destinations in Africa, giving the vessel a broader international itinerary than its original short-sea ferry work. The ship therefore illustrates a common career transition in the passenger-shipping industry: a vessel built for scheduled regional transport was subsequently rebuilt and marketed for leisure cruising. In 1982, the vessel was renamed Regency. Its later career ended on 11 October 1989 when it ran aground during Typhoon Dan. Following the incident, the ship was towed to Manila in the Philippines for demolition. No continuing Apollon XI operation exists today, and the name refers historically to the vessel and its cruise-service period rather than to an active consumer brand or company.

• 1989

  Grounding and demolition

  [1]Apollon XIen.wikipedia.org

  The vessel ran aground during Typhoon Dan on 11 October and was later towed to Manila for demolition.

• 1982

  Renamed Regency

  [1]Apollon XIen.wikipedia.org

  The ship ended its service under the Apollon XI name and was renamed Regency.

• 1969

  Further renamings and cruise reconstruction

  [1]Apollon XIen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was renamed Semiramis II and then Achilleus before being rebuilt for cruise service and later adopting the Apollon XI name.

• 1969

  Adopts the Apollon XI name

  [1]Apollon XIen.wikipedia.org

  Following its conversion for cruising, the vessel became known as Apollon XI, or Apollon 11.

• 1968

  Acquired by Epirotiki and renamed Orpheus

  [1]Apollon XIen.wikipedia.org

  Epirotiki acquired the vessel and changed its name from Irish Coast to Orpheus.

• Built as Irish Coast for Coast Lines

  [1]Apollon XIen.wikipedia.org

  The ship was constructed as a passenger vessel for Coast Lines Ltd. of Glasgow and entered regional service under the name Irish Coast.

A renamed and rebuilt passenger vessel repositioned by Epirotiki Lines from regional ferry service into international cruise operations.

• Passenger ferry

  Irish Coast passenger service

  The ship's original operating role was regional passenger transport around the United Kingdom and Ireland. Under charter by Burns & Laird Lines, it served routes including Belfast–Liverpool, Cork–Fishguard, Dublin–Liverpool, and Glasgow–Dublin–Liverpool.

• Cruise ship · 1969

  Apollon XI cruise service

  After acquisition by Epirotiki and reconstruction, the vessel operated as Apollon XI on leisure cruises. Its documented cruising areas included the Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean, the Antilles in the Caribbean, and Africa.

• 1982

  Renaming to RegencyOther

  Background

  The vessel had completed its period of operation under the Apollon XI identity.

  Action taken

  Epirotiki or the vessel's operator renamed the ship Regency.

  Aftermath

  The Apollon XI name ceased to identify the active vessel, which continued under another name until its later loss and demolition.

  Source

• 1969

  Conversion from passenger ship to cruise shipStrategy

  Background

  After several name changes following its acquisition, Epirotiki repositioned the vessel for leisure cruising.

  Action taken

  The ship was rebuilt and placed into cruise service as Apollon XI, with itineraries extending beyond its original regional ferry role.

  Aftermath

  The vessel operated cruises in the Aegean, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and African markets before later being renamed Regency.

  Source

• 1968

  Epirotiki acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Epirotiki acquired a passenger ship that had previously operated as Irish Coast on regional British and Irish routes.

  Action taken

  The company took the vessel into its fleet and renamed it Orpheus, followed by additional name changes.

  Aftermath

  The ship was subsequently rebuilt and repositioned for cruise operations under the Apollon XI name.

  Source

• Unconfirmed

  Achilles and Orpheus partner on supply-chain cyber risk services[2]Achilles 与 Orpheus 合作提供供应链网络风险服务sourcesecurity.com

  Achilles and Orpheus formed a partnership under which Achilles will provide cyber risk ratings on suppliers and share them with buyer and supplier members of its networks. Achilles customers will also have access to preferential subscription rates from Orpheus.

Read more

1. 1Apollon XIen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Achilles 与 Orpheus 合作提供供应链网络风险服务sourcesecurity.com