MS Superfast VIII

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


MS Superfast VIII near Helsinki, June 2007.
Career
Name: Superfast VIII
Owner: 2002—2006: Superfast Ferries
2006 onwards: Tallink[1]
Operator: 2002—2006: Superfast Ferries
2006 onwards: Tallink[1]
Port of Registry: 2002—2006: Piraeus, Flag of Greece Greece
2006 onwards: Paldiski, Flag of Estonia Estonia[1]
Route: TallinnHelsinkiRostock (as of 2008)
Builder: HDW Kiel, Germany
Yard number: 358[1]
Launched: 28 November 2000[1]
Acquired: 11 July 2001[1]
Maiden voyage: 15 July 2001[1]
In service: 15 July 2001[1]
Identification: IMO 9198953[1]
Status: In service
General characteristics (as built)[1]
Class and type: Superfast VII class fast ropax ferry
Tonnage: 30,285 GT (gross tonnage)
Displacement: 5,990 metric tons of deadweight (DWT)
Length: 203.30 m (667 ft)
Beam: 25.42 m (83 ft 5 in)
Draught: 6.60 m (21 ft 8 in)
Decks: 10[2]
Ice class: 1 A Super[2]
Installed power: 4 × Wärtsilä-Sulzer NSD ZA V40S diesels
combined 46000 kW
Speed: 30.4 kn (56.30 km/h)[2]
Capacity: 626 passengers
661 cars
1920 lane meters

MS Superfast VIII is a fast Ro-Pax ferry operated by the Estonian ferry company Tallink on the route Tallinn (Estonia) — Helsinki (Finland) — Rostock (Germany). She was built in 2001 by Howaltswerke Deutsche Werft AG, Kiel, Germany for Attica Enterprises's subsidiary Superfast Ferries' Hanko (Finland) — Rostock service.

In March 2006 Superfast sold their Baltic Sea operations to Tallink. Like her sisters, the Superfast VIII was moved from Finnish to Estonian registry, and her route changed to Hanko—Paldiski—Rostock from April 2006 onwards. The call at Paldiski proved to be impractical, an already in June of the same year the route reverted back to Hanko — Rostock. Around this time the ship's hull marking where changed to "Superfast operated by Tallink". Although there were rumours that the ships would be moved under Silja Line's brand from January 2007 onwards, they were instead officially made a part of Tallink's fleet. At the same time their route changed to Tallinn—Helsinki—Rostock. Between 5 and 12 April 2007 the ship was used on the Helsinki—Tallinn route due to a delay in the delivery of the new MS Star. After this she joined her sisters in the Rostock service.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Asklander, Micke. M/S Superfast VIII (2001) (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. Retrieved on 2008-04-02.

[edit] External links

Languages