HSC Benchijigua Express
| 300 px Benchijigua Express leaving Los Cristianos. | |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | 2005-present: Benchijigua_Express |
| Operator: | 2005-present: Fred Olsen S.A. |
| Port of registry: | 2005-present: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 22x20px Spain |
| Builder: | Austal |
| Launched: | 2003 |
| Completed: | 2000 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 8,973 tonnes |
| Length: | 126.65 m (415.5 ft) |
| Beam: | 30.40 m (99.7 ft) |
| Installed power: |
4 MTU Diesel, 32,800 kW in total |
| Speed: | 42 kn (78 km/h) |
| Capacity: |
1291 passengers 341 vehicles |
| Notes: | IMO 9299056 |
Benchijigua Express is a fast ferry, operated by shipping company Fred. Olsen S.A. between the Canary Islands, Tenerife, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma in the Atlantic. It was delivered to Olsen in April 2005. With a length of 127 meters, the Benchijigua Express is the second-longest trimaran in the world, less than a metre shy of the USS Independence, a Littoral Combat Ship design based on Benchijigua Express's hull. Her body is made of aluminum and with a special offshore coating. Thus the Benchijigua Express also is the second-largest vessel with an aluminum hull. The ship's name was previously used twice since 1999.
The up to 1291 passengers are distributed on two decks. For vehicle transport there are 450 meters of truck lane length + 123 car spaces or 341 car spaces available. The vehicle deck can be loaded and unloaded in 30 minutes. Due to the short crossing time, there are no passenger cabins.
The Benchijigua Express was built in Henderson, Western Australia by Austal. With a length of 127 metres, a width of 30 metres and a depth of 4 metres. The normal service speed is 36 knots.
It is powered by four diesel engines of MTU Series 8000 (20V), each with 8200 kW at 1150 rpm driven, housed in two engine rooms. Each of the two diesels in the rear engine-room drive one Kamewa 125 SII steerable waterjet propulsion from Rolls-Royce. The overall performance of both machines at the front engine room is transferred to a Kamewa 180 BII booster waterjet. The electrical energy is generated by four MTU 12V 2000 M40 generator units.
Predecessor
The ship's name is now used for the third time since 1999. The first Benchijigua Express (1) (IMO number: 9206712) was entered into service in 1999 and renamed in Bentayga Express in 1999. The Benchijigua Express (2) (IMO No: 9213337) started its service between Los Cristianos and San Sebastian in January 2000. In November 2004 she was renamed Bentago Express to make free the name Benchijigua Express for Benchijigua Express (3).
Related Designs
Austal and General Dynamics based the hull design of the USS Independence (LCS-2) littoral combat ship on the Benchijigua Express design.
External links
- Fred. Olsen Express
- Project description at ship-technology.com
- data sheet at ship-technology.com
- Info at AUSTAL
- Video by AUSTAL
- Data at vesseltracker.com
| Benchijigua Express (3)
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