H/S/F Superfast II

H/S/F SUPERFAST II

Photo © Spiridon E. Zervos, Patras, 1995

Ship	Superfast II (1995) ΣΟΥΠΕΡΦΑΣΤ II	Building Spec.	1995 at Schichau Seebeckwerft, Bermerhaven, Germany N° 1088
Call Sign		IMO Number	9086590
GRT	23.663	DWT	5.717
Dimensions	173,7 x 24 x 6,4	Engines	4 Zgoda - Sulzer, 31.680 kW
Speed	27,3 nodi	Passengers	1.400
Beds	686 in 200 cabins	Cars	830
Lane Metres	1.850	Sister Ships	Eurostar Roma
Registry Port	Patras	Flag	Greek
Former Owners		Former Names
New Owners	TT Line Tasmania 2003à	New Names	Spirit of Tasmania III 2003à
Line

Built at Schichau Seebeckwerft of Bremerhaven in Germany, she started her career in Superfast Fleet on 11/07/95 from Patras to Ancona. She was on that route until the first months of 1998, when she was put on the Bari line together with the “Superfast I”. She was again on Ancona Route for some months after the “Superfast III” accident on October 1999 and the consequential stop by the Greek authorities and the repair works at Perama. Probably the “Superfast II” had the most big delay of Superfast history: on 22/12/99 from Ancona to Patras, departing from Italy at 19.00 and arrival in Greece the following day at 17.00 (earlier it was 16.00 hours), I saw the ship from the “Superferry Hellas” at 19.30, about one hour far from Patras: probably she arrived in Patras after the scheduled departure for Ancona! On June 2003 Superfast board decided to sell also this ferry to TT Line Australia, with delivery December 2003. Taken off from the Bari service at the end of September 2003, was refitted and renamed “Spirit of Tasmania III”, starting her crossings from between Sydney and Devonport, with a 20-hour crossing time, as at her origins. Australians usually don’t change the original vessel livery and in fact today the “Spirit of Tasmania III” is still as she was on her Superfast days, except for company marks and name; however a black line was painted to unite the openings on her upper garage deck, improving very much the vessel’s appearance. Probably the black paint was on special offer! Hard times came also for Superfast, but this ferry was not very lucky: the Sydney – Devonport service where the ferry is engaged is not successful and often the ferry makes only one or two round trips per week instead of the three which were originally planned; moreover rumours started about a comeback of this ferry to Europe. I think we would know soon something more.

Photo © Alessandro Bertolini

Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Patras, 30/07/95

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