MS Stena Superfast VIII near Helsinki, June 2007. |
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| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Stena Superfast VIII |
| Owner: | 2002—2006: Superfast Ferries 2006 onwards: Tallink[1] |
| Operator: | 2002—2006: Superfast Ferries 2006-2011: Tallink 2011 onwards: Stena Line[1] |
| Port of registry: | 2002—2006: Piraeus, Greece 2006-2011: Paldiski, Estonia 2011 onwards: Belfast, United Kingdom[1] |
| Route: | Belfast—Cairnryan |
| 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 number: 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 t (5,900 long tons) deadweight (DWT) |
| Length: | 203.3 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 46,000 kW (62,000 shp) |
| Speed: | 30.4 kn (56.3 km/h)[2] |
| Capacity: | 626 passengers 661 cars 1920 lane meters |
MS Superfast VIII is a fast Ro-Pax ferry owned by the Estonian ferry company Tallink servicing the route Tallinn (Estonia) – Helsinki (Finland) – Rostock (Germany). Built in 2001 by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW), Kiel, Germany for Attica Group's subsidiary Superfast Ferries, she was sold to her current owners in 2006.[1]
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.
In March 2011, Stena Line announced they will be chartering the Superfast VIII and sister ship Superfast VII. The vessels will operate between Belfast and Cairnryan.[3]
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