Sold to Minoan Flying Dolphins in 1999, and then transferred to Hellenic Seaways in 2005, the ship operated charters from 2007 to 2014 within the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores with Atlântico Line.

The Chartres was one of three Sealink multipurpose train ferries built in the early 1970s, complementing the British Rail's Vortigern and the Saint Eloi of Sealink UK's French subsidiary ALA.[1] The Chartres was built in Nantes by Dubigeon-Normandie S.A. (later Chantiers Dubigeon S.A.) in 1974 for SNCF (French Railways) operations between Dover-Dunkerque and passenger service between Dover-Calais.

[1] Although the three ships were similar, there were small structural differences that included size of windows and design of funnels.

[1] She continued to service the English Channel until the summer of 1990, along the Dover-Calais route, on behalf of ALA from her berth at Dover's Western Docks.

[1] She replaced the Saint Eloi (which had been rechristened the Channel Entente) when the latter was sold to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.

[1] She departed from Calais for Piraeus on 21 December, where there was a minor change in the ships livery following the takeover.

In 2005 while still operating on the same route, Hellas Flying Dolphins adopted the Hellenic Seaways name, and the ferry appeared in a revised blue hull colours.

[1] Beginning in the summer of 2007, Express Santorini was chartered by Atlantico Line to operate in the Azores between the islands of Faial, Pico and Sao Jorge, until 30 September.

She was assessed at 4,590 GRT – increased to 7,821 GT, 1,189 DWT on completion, and powered by two Pielstick 16PC2V400 diesel engines producing 11,768 kilowatts (15,781 hp).