HSC HSS Discovery
 |
Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (December 2009) |
 Stena Discovery laid up in Belfast | |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
2009 onwards: HSS Discovery 1997–2009: Stena Discovery |
| Operator: |
2009 onwards: Albamar Shipping Company 1997–2009: Stena Line |
| Port of registry: |
 Nassau |
| Builder: | Finnyards, Finland |
| Cost: | £65,000,000 |
| Yard number: | 406 |
| Launched: | December 1996 |
| In service: | April 1997 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9107590 |
| Status: | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | HSS 1500 |
| Developed by: | Stena Rederi AB |
| Tonnage: | 19,638 GT (gross tonnage) |
| Length: | 126.6 m (415 ft 4 in) |
| Beam: | 40.0 m (131 ft 3 in) |
| Draught: | 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in) |
| Installed power: |
COGAG Turbines: 2× GE LM2500 2× GE LM1600 |
| Propulsion: | 4× Kamewa Type S Waterjets |
| Capacity: |
1,500 passengers 375 cars 800 lane metres |
HSS Discovery is a high-speed ferry owned by Albamar Shipping Company. It is a member of the HSS 1500 class of high-speed ferries built for and designed by Stena Line from 1996 onwards. The vessel was previously named Stena Discovery and operated for Stena Line between Harwich, in the United Kingdom and Hoek van Holland, in The Netherlands.
Design and construction
The Discovery was constructed by Finnyards in Rauma, Finland. Construction commenced in 1996 and the vessel entered service in April 1997.[1]
The vessel is a catamaran, and was designed with the aim of providing a comfortable and fast service.[2]
Power is provided by four GE Aviation gas turbines in a twin COGAG configuration.[3] The vessel employs four Kamewa waterjets for propulsion.[4]
The HSS class of ferries were designed to allow quick turnarounds at port. A specially designed linkspan 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 three doors.[4]
Career
As the Stena Discovery, the vessel operated between Harwich and Hoek van Holland for Stena Line from its introduction in 1997 until January 2007. The vessel was laid up at Belfast between January 2007 and September 2009, before departing for La Guaira, Venezuela under the ownership of Albamar Shipping Company. Prior to its departure from Belfast, the "Stena" prefix was removed from the vessel's name.[5][1]
Incidents
- In January 1998, Stena Discovery was travelling at full speed, when it hit a 3.5m swell, resulting in water being pushed up over the nose and hitting the bridge windows. The swell ripped through the underside of the nose. It was later discovered that this was beyond Stena Discovery's design capability. Small air holes were fitted on the underside of the nose to prevent a repeat incident.[6]
- In March 2001, the driver of an 18 tonne lorry (loaded with 12 tonnes of fresh fish) failed to put his vehicle's handbrake on during a crossing of the Stena Discovery from Hoek van Holland to Harwich. As the ferry accelerated, the lorry rolled back, crashed through the vessel's stern doors, and plunged into the North Sea. It took along with it three smaller vans as well as one of the stern doors . The vessel returned to Hoek van Holland and was taken out of service for repairs. Damage to the door and loss of the vehicles was estimated to be in the region of £200,000.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Stena Discovery" (in Swedish). Fakta Om Fartyg. http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/stena_discovery_1997.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
- ↑ "The story behind the building of the first Stena HSS". Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company. http://www.dlharbour.ie/content/stena/hss_story.php. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
- ↑ GE Aviation (2002-09-09). "GE Marine Engines' LM Gas Turbines Exceed 600,000 Hours Operating Aboard 16 Fast Ferries". Press release. http://www.geae.com/aboutgeae/presscenter/marine/marine_20020909.html. Retrieved 2009-12-24. "Each semi-swath fast ferry has two LM1600 and two LM2500 gas turbines in a COmbined Gas and Gas (COGAG) turbine configuration."
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Stena Explorer". Sealink-Holyhead. http://www.sealink-holyhead.com/stena/ships/explorer/home.html. Retrieved 2009-12-24.
- ↑ "Stena sacrifices speed for size". International Freight Weekly. 2007-01-12. http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/indexarticle.htm?artid=1167755319110.
- ↑ "Ferry News". Harwich Haven Ships and Yachts. http://www.harwichhavenshipsandyachts.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=291.
- ↑ "Lorry falls of back of ferry". Clacton Gazette. 2001-03-18. http://archive.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/2001/3/18/185328.html. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
