H/S/F Superfast III

H/S/F SUPERFAST III

Photo Superfast Ferries

Ship	Superfast III (1998) ΣΟΥΠΕΡΦΑΣΤ III	Building Spec.	1998 at Kvaerner Masa Yards, Turku, Finland N° 1340
Call Sign	SWHZ	IMO Number	9158434
GRT	29.067	DWT	5.600
Dimensions	194,3 x 25 x 6,4	Engines	4 Wartsila - Sulzer, 42.240 kW
Speed	28,5 knots, max 30,8	Passengers	1.400
Beds	810 in 222 Cabins	Cars	1.000
Lane Metres	1.852	Sister Ships	Spirit of Tasmania I
Registry Port	Patras	Flag	Greek
Former Owners		Former Names
New Owners	TT Line Tasmania 2002à	New Names	Spirit of Tasmania II 2002à
Line

The only order placed to the finnish yard “Kvarner Masa” by a Greek shipowner, the “Superfast III” enters on Ancona - Patras trade in 1998, connecting these ports in 19 hours when she wasn’t in delay (almost never). However, before her deployment between Ancona and Patras, Superfast Ferries fixed with this ship the record between Piraeus and Heraklion, covering the distance in only 5h50 during the night between 25 and 26 February 1998. On 10/10/1999, 45 minutes after the departure from Patras, a fire brokes out on G4 deck, probably due by ten stowaway, all died. The ship was not seriously damaged, however she returned in Patras. Kept under arrest by the Greek authorities for four months, repaired in Perama yard, she was again on her routes in February 2000. This tragedy has led the way to more strict controls at departures and arrivals of the ships (especially in Italy), however these decisions were too late and it is a very awful thing that ten persons had to lose their life for this thing. This excellent ship, together with her sister “Superfast IV”, was sold in 2002 to TT Line of Australia, due to start linking Devonport and Hobart on 01/09/2002. A very sad decision this one from the Attica Enterprises Board, also because I thought that a sale of the first pair of sisters would have been more logical, as long as they are slower and worst; by the way this statement was decided because of the high buying price payed by the Australian buyers. The sale of this pair of sister also involved the closure of Rostock – Södertalje link, due to the lack of tonnage to deploy on the link between Germany and Sweden.

Photo © Michele Lulurgas, Patras, 18/08/98

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