Super SeaCat
Encyclopedia
The MDV1200 class fast ferry (sometimes known as SuperSeaCat after brand some of them operated under) are a series of high-speed craft
built by Fincantieri
in Genoa
for Ocean Bridge Investments and Sea Containers Ltd
between 1996 and 1999. There are six ships in this class of fastcraft.
The first two MDV1200 class ships, HSC Pegasus One and HSC Pegasus Two were built for Ocean Bridge Investments in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Four additional ships were built for SeaContainers between 1997 and 1999. SeaCo had originally ordered an Auto Express 78 class ship from Austal Ships, but the first in the class, the SuperSeaCat France, failed to meet the speed required by Sea Containers and was not accepted. As a result Sea Containers then turned to Fincantieri and initially ordered 2 of their MDV1200 designs, this was followed by another 2. The option for a further 2 ships was not taken up.
The exterior of the MDV1200 class is styled by Pininfarina
. SeaContainers marketed their MDV1200's as SuperSeaCats, after their predecessors in the SeaContainers fleet, the SeaCat
s. The term SuperSeaCat is a misnomer, as the MDV1200's have a deep V-shaped mono-hull and are not catamarans. The ships are constructed from 400 tonnes of aluminium.
High-speed craft
A high-speed craft is a high speed water vessel for civilian use, also called a fastcraft or fast ferry.The first high-speed craft were often hydrofoils or hovercraft, but in the 1990s catamaran and even monohull designs have become popular.Most high-speed craft serve as passenger ferries, but the...
built by Fincantieri
Fincantieri
Fincantieri - Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A. is a shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. It was formed in 1959 and is the largest shipbuilder in the Mediterranean, and one of the largest in Europe...
in Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
for Ocean Bridge Investments and Sea Containers Ltd
Sea Containers Ltd
Sea Containers Ltd. is a Bermuda-registered company which operates two main business areas: transport and container leasing.In March 2006 the company sold its share of Orient-Express Hotels...
between 1996 and 1999. There are six ships in this class of fastcraft.
The first two MDV1200 class ships, HSC Pegasus One and HSC Pegasus Two were built for Ocean Bridge Investments in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Four additional ships were built for SeaContainers between 1997 and 1999. SeaCo had originally ordered an Auto Express 78 class ship from Austal Ships, but the first in the class, the SuperSeaCat France, failed to meet the speed required by Sea Containers and was not accepted. As a result Sea Containers then turned to Fincantieri and initially ordered 2 of their MDV1200 designs, this was followed by another 2. The option for a further 2 ships was not taken up.
The exterior of the MDV1200 class is styled by Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
. SeaContainers marketed their MDV1200's as SuperSeaCats, after their predecessors in the SeaContainers fleet, the SeaCat
SeaCat
SeaCat was the marketing name used by Sea Containers Ferries Scotland for its services between Northern Ireland, Scotland and England between 1992 and 2004. The company was originally based in Stranraer later moving to Belfast...
s. The term SuperSeaCat is a misnomer, as the MDV1200's have a deep V-shaped mono-hull and are not catamarans. The ships are constructed from 400 tonnes of aluminium.
Ships
- HSC Speedrunner 2 (ex-Pegasus One, Stena Pegasus, St Matthew, Tallink Autoexpress 4)
- HSC Queen Nefertiti (ex-Pegasus Two, Shannon Alexis, Tallink Autoexpress 3)
- HSC Almudaina DosHSC Almudaina DosHSC Almudaina Dos is one of four high speed monohull ferries built by Fincantieri for Sea Containers. She is currently owned and operated by Acciona Trasmediterránea....
(ex-SuperSeaCat One) - HSC VikingHSC VikingHSC Hellenic Wind is a high-speed craft owned by Hellenic Seaways, having previously being owned by Sea Containers.-Isle of Man Steam Packet Company:...
(ex-SuperSeaCat Two) - HSC SuperSeaCat Three
- HSC SuperSeaCat Four
Layout
- Deck 1: Bridge
- Deck 2: Upper passenger deck, open deck
- Deck 3: Lower passenger deck, retail facilities
- Deck 4: Car deck
- Deck 5: Engine room, fuel tanks
External links
- SuperSeaCat service Helsinki - Tallinn by Sea Containers LtdSea Containers LtdSea Containers Ltd. is a Bermuda-registered company which operates two main business areas: transport and container leasing.In March 2006 the company sold its share of Orient-Express Hotels...