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Model of Stena high speed catamaran passenger and car ferry From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
HSS 1500 was the name of a model of Stena HSS craft developed and originally operated by Stena Line on European international ferry routes. The vessels were the largest high-speed craft in the world. Several design patents were registered to Stena Line in the development of the HSS.
Stena Explorer at Dún Laoghaire | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | HSS 1500 |
Builders | Finnyards, Finland |
Operators |
|
Built | June 1994 - April 1997 |
In service | April 1996 - September 2014 |
Planned | 4 |
Building | 1996 |
Completed | 3 |
Cancelled | 1 |
Laid up | 1 |
Retired | 3 |
Scrapped | 2 |
General characteristics | |
Type | High-speed catamaran |
Tonnage | 19,638 GT |
Displacement | 90.50 |
Length | 126.6 m (415 ft 4 in) |
Beam | 40.0 m (131 ft 3 in) |
Draught | 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in) |
Depth | 100m |
Decks | 7 |
Deck clearance | 30 min |
Ramps | 3 |
Installed power | |
Propulsion | 4x Kamewa Type S Waterjets |
Speed | Unladen record 51 knots [citation needed] |
Capacity |
|
Notes | The Stena Explorer is mainly laid up, it only sails in Summer now. |
Three vessels were ultimately completed in 1996 and 1997. The first of the class, Stena Explorer, entered service in April 1996, serving the Holyhead - Dún Laoghaire route from 1996 to 2014.[1][2] Two others had served Stranraer to Belfast and Harwich to Hook of Holland.[3] On the 200-kilometre Hoek–Harwich route, the Stena HSS had cut the crossing time in half by cruising at 41 knots.[3][4]
Stena Explorer was constructed by Finnyards in Rauma, Finland.[5][6]
The HSS 1500 is a semi-small-waterplane-area twin hull (SWATH) catamaran, and was designed with the aim of providing a comfortable and fast service.[7]
Power is provided by four GE Aviation gas turbines in a twin COGAG configuration.[8] The vessels employ four Kamewa waterjets for propulsion.[1]
The HSS class of ferries were designed to allow quick turnarounds at port, in 30 minutes or less.[3] A specially designed linkspan for the Stena HSS 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 two doors.[1]
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