HSC SuperSeaCat Three
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 HSC SuperSeaCat Three departing Helsinki, October 2006 |
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| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | HSC SuperSeaCat Three |
| Operator: | 1999-2003: Sea Containers 2003-2006: Silja Line 2006-present: SuperSeaCat |
| Builder: | Fincantieri, Riva Trigoso, Italy |
| Yard number: | 2003 |
| Acquired: | March 1999 |
| In service: | 8. 4. 1999 |
| Homeport: | La Spezia,  Italy |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Tonnage: | 4465 GT |
| Displacement: | 340 TDW |
| Length: | 100.30 meters |
| Beam: | 17.10 meters |
| Height: | 10.70 meters |
| Draught: | 2.60 meters |
| Installed power: | 4 × Ruston V20RK 270 |
| Propulsion: | 4 × KaMeWa 112F11 waterjets combined 27500 kW |
| Speed: | 35 knots service speed 40 knots maximum speed |
| Capacity: | 688 passengers 120 cars 4 busses |
HSC SuperSeaCat Three is a fast ferry capable of carrying passenger and cars operating for SuperSeaCat between Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia. She was built in 1999 at Fincantieri, Riva Trigoso, Italy, for Sea Containers Ltd.
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[edit] History
SuperSeaCat Three was the third mono-hulled fast ferry to be built for Sea Containers. She was initially set in traffic between Liverpool, England and Dublin, Ireland. In 2000 Dublin was switched to Douglas, Isle of Man. The following year SuperSeaCat Three started operating between Dover, England and Calais, France.[2]
Since the year 2000 Sea Containers had operated HSC SuperSeaCat Four between Helsinki and Tallinn, marketed as a part of their Silja Line brand. The route was highly profitable and in 2003 It was decided that SuperSeaCat Three should join her sister in that service. Due to the Baltic Sea freezing during winter, the service could not be operated between January and April each year, so the ship spent those month laid up.[2] For the summer season of 2005 a third ship, HSC SuperSeaCat One was added to the service.[3]
In late 2005 Sea Containers decided to sell their ferry operations, including the profitable Silja Line. However, the company that bought Silja Line, Estonian ferry operator Tallink, already operated several fast ferries (as well as traditional ferries) between Helsinki and Tallinn. As a result they could not take over the SuperSeaCats as that would have given them a dominant market position on the route. Hence Sea Containers decided, despite their earlier decision, to continue operating SuperSeaCat Three and Four under the SuperSeaCat brand.[4]
On October 12, 2007 the SuperSeaCat Three collided with HSC Tallink AutoExpress 2 in Tallinn harbour. Due to strong winds the SuperSeaCat Three was assisted by a tug, but this could was not enough to prevent the collision. No passengers were harmed, but the SuperSeaCat Three tore a meter-long hole on the side of the AutoExpress 2.[5][6]
[edit] References
- ^ SuperSeaCat: Specifications, retrieved 1. 10. 2007
- ^ a b (Swedish) Fakta om Fartyg: HSC SuperSeaCat Three (1999), retrieved 12. 10. 2007
- ^ (Swedish) Fakta om Fartyg: HSC SuperSeaCat One (1997), retrieved 12. 10. 2007
- ^ (Finnish) Valkeat laivat: Uudet tuulet puhaltavat, retrieved 12. 10. 2007
- ^ (Finnish) Ilta-Sanomat: SuperSeacat ajoi päin Tallinkin AutoExpressiä, retrieved 12. 10. 2007
- ^ (Finnish) / (English) FCBS Forum: SuperSeaCat Three osui Tallink AutoExpress 2:een, retrieved 12. 10. 2007
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- SuperSeaCat Three at Fakta om Fartyg (in Swedish)
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