MS SeaFrance Molière

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Career
Name:	2002—2007: Superfast X 2007—2008: Jean Nicoli 2008 onwards: SeaFrance Molière
Owner:	2002—2007: Superfast Ferries 2007—2008: Veolia Transport 2008 onwards: SeaFrance[1]
Operator:	2002—2007: Superfast Ferries 2007: SNCM 2007: COTUNAV 2007: ANEK Lines 2008 onwards: SeaFrance[1]
Port of Registry:	2002—2007: Piraeus,  Greece 2007—2008: Ajaccio,  France[1] 2008 onwards: Unknown,  France[2]
Builder:	HDW Kiel, Germany
Yard number:	360[1]
Launched:	18 November 2000[1]
Christened:	26 February 2002 by Patricia Lederer[1]
Acquired:	26 February 2002[1]
In service:	27 February 2002[1]
Identification:	IMO 9211511[1]
Status:	Under rebuilding
General characteristics (as Superfast X)[1]
Class and type:	Superfast VII class fast ropax ferry
Tonnage:	29,800 GT (gross tonnage)
Displacement:	5,295 metric tons of deadweight (DWT)
Length:	203.30 m (667 ft)
Beam:	25.00 m (82 ft)
Draught:	6.50 m (21 ft 4 in)
Ice class:	1 A Super[3]
Installed power:	4 × Wärtsilä-Sulzer NSD ZA V40S diesels combined 46000 kW
Propulsion:	2 propellers[2]
Speed:	30.4 kn (56.30 km/h)[3]
Capacity:	626 passengers (728 after 2004 refit) 653 cars 1891 lane meters
General characteristics (planned as SeaFrance Molière)[2]
Tonnage:	30,285 GT (gross tonnage)
Decks:	10
Speed:	28.4 kn (52.60 km/h)
Capacity:	1200 660 cars 1900 lane meters
Notes:	Otherwise the same as above

MS SeaFrance Molière is a fast ropax ferry owned by SeaFrance, under reconstruction into a short-distance ferry, due to enter service on SeaFrance's Dover—Calais route in mid-2008.^[2][4] She was built in 2002 by the HDW shipyard in Kiel, Germany for Superfast Ferries as MS Superfast X. Between 2007 and 2008 she was owned by Veolia Transport, and sailed under the name MS Jean Nicoli for SNCM, COTUNAV and ANEK Lines.^[1]

[edit] Concept and construction

The Superfast X was the last ship in a series of four identical ice classed fast ferries built by HDW Kiel, Germany for Superfast Ferries' new Baltic Sea services. She was launched on 18 November 2000,^[1] on the same date as her sisters MS Superfast VII^[5] and MS Superfast IX^[6] The Superfast X was delivered to her owners on 26 February 2002, and christened on the same date by Patricia Lederer.^[1]

[edit] Service history

The Superfast X entered service for Superfast Ferries on 27 February 2002 on the Hanko—Rostock route. She remained on that route until 19 April 2002, when she was laid up at HDW Kiel. On 17 May 2002 she re-entered service, now on the Rosyth—Zeebrugge route. In January—February 2004 the Superfast X was rebuilt at Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder, Fosen, Norway with additional passenger berths.^[1] On 7 August 2006 Superfast Ferries announced they had sold the Superfast X to Veolia Transport for €112 million.^[7] The ship was delivered to her new owners on 12 February 2007 and renamed Jean Nicoli.^[1]

On March 2007 the Jean Nicoli made crossings from Le Havre to Marseille, carrying cars onboard. During April of the same year she was chartered to COTUNAV for traffic from Italy and France to Tunisia. At the end of April she was laid up, initially at La Seyne, later at Marseille. From 8 September until 2 October 2007 she was chartered to ANEK Lines for service on their Patras—Korfu—Igoumenitsa—Venice route. On 27 December 2007 the ship was sold to SeaFrance, with a delivery date set for April 2008.^[1]

In the beginning of April 2008 the Jean Nicoli was delivered to SeaFrance and renamed SeaFrance Molière. On 3 April 2008 she left Marseille for Arno Dunkerque for rebuilding into a short distance ferry.^[1][2] She is due to enter service with her new owners on the 1st of July, 2008.^[4]

[edit] References

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