The ferry route between the Greek port of Lavrio, in southeastern Attica, and the Turkish port of Çeşme on the Aegean Sea is expected to begin service in mid-June, it was announced on Wednesday.

The Izmir-based company Aegean Seaways will operate the 191-meter ferry, which was built in 1989 and is leased from a Ukrainian company.

The ship is certified by Lloyd’s Register, can carry cars, trucks and containers and features a helipad, a gym, a childcare facility and a casino.

The non-stop Lavrio-Çeşme journey will last eight hours, and is predicted to greatly reduce non-air transit times from Europe to Turkey for travelers and goods.

The boat will leave at 22.00 from Lavrio and arrive in Turkey at 06.00 the next day and vice versa.

The Aegean Seaways’ chairman is Bulent Ipek, and the company will be represented in Greece by Stefmar LTD-International Forwarders & Maritime Co., headed by Stefanos Karakanis.

This article was originally published by ekathimerini.com.