Stena Discovery laid up in Belfast |
|
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | 1997–2009: Stena Discovery 2009 onwards: HSS 'Discovery |
| Operator: | 1997–2009: Stena Line 2009 onwards: Albamar Shipping Company |
| Port of registry: | 1997–2009: Hoek van Holland 2009 onwards: Nassau |
| Builder: | Finnyards, Finland |
| Cost: | £65,000,000 |
| Yard number: | 406 |
| Launched: | December 1996 |
| In service: | April 1997 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9107590 |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | HSS 1500 |
| Developed by: | Stena Rederi AB |
| Tonnage: | 19,638 GT (gross tonnage) |
| Length: | 126.6 m (415 ft 4 in) |
| Beam: | 40.0 m (131 ft 3 in) |
| Draught: | 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in) |
| Installed power: | COGAG Turbines: 2× GE LM2500 2× GE LM1600 |
| Propulsion: | 4× Kamewa Type S Waterjets |
| Capacity: | 1,500 passengers 375 cars 800 lane metres |
HSS Discovery is a high-speed ferry owned by Albamar Shipping Company. It is a member of the HSS 1500 class of high-speed ferries built for and designed by Stena Line from 1996 onwards. The vessel was previously named Stena Discovery and operated for Stena Line between Harwich, in the United Kingdom and Hoek van Holland, in The Netherlands.
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The HSS Discovery was constructed by Finnyards in Rauma, Finland. Construction commenced in 1996 and the vessel entered service in April 1997.[1]
The vessel is a catamaran, and was designed with the aim of providing a comfortable and fast service.[2]
Power is provided by four GE Aviation gas turbines in a twin combined gas and gas (COGAG) configuration.[3] The vessel employs four Kamewa waterjets for propulsion.[4]
The HSS class of ferries were designed to allow quick turnarounds at port. A specially designed linkspan provides ropeless mooring and allows quick loading, unloading and servicing. Vehicles are loaded via two of the four stern doors and park in a "U" configuration. When disembarking, vehicles drive straight off via the other three doors.[4]
As the Stena Discovery, the vessel operated between Harwich and Hoek van Holland for Stena Line from its introduction in 1997 until January 2007. The vessel was laid up at Belfast between January 2007 and September 2009, before departing for La Guaira, Venezuela under the ownership of Albamar Shipping Company. Prior to its departure from Belfast, the "Stena" prefix was removed from the vessel's name.[1][5]