HSC Naxos Jet

SeaCat Scotland departs Belfast for Scotland.
History
Greece
Name	1992–1994: Seacat Scotland 1994–1995: Q Ship Express 1995–2007: Seacat Scotland 2007-2007: Shikra 2007–2010: Al Huda II 2010–2016: Cyclades Express 2016–Present: Naxos Jet
Operator	1992–1994: SeaCat 1994–1995: Q Ships 1995–1997: SeaCat 1997–1998: Navegacion Atlantica 1998–2003: SeaCat 2003–2004: Hoverspeed 2004–2007: laid up 2007–2010: Fortune Maritime 2010–2016: NEL Lines 2016–present: Seajets
Port of registry	1992–1997:  Bahamas 1997–2007:  United Kingdom 2007–2010:  Panama 2010–present:  Greece
Builder	Incat, Tasmania, Australia
Yard number	028
Launched	29 October 1991
Maiden voyage	1992
In service	1992
Identification	IMO number: 8919518
Status	In Service.
General characteristics [1]
Tonnage	3,003 GT
Length	74 m (243 ft)
Beam	26 m (85 ft)
Draught	2.4 m (7.9 ft)
Propulsion	4 × Ruston 16RK 270 Diesels 4 × Lips water-jets
Speed	36 knots (67 km/h)
Capacity	500 Passengers 88 Vehicles

Naxos Jet is a high speed catamaran operated by Seajets in the Aegean.

History

The Naxos Jet was built in 1992 as Seacat Scotland for Sea Containers. She was built to inaugurate a new fast ferry service between Stranraer and Belfast. Before commencing service on the North Channel she briefly operated on the Dover to Calais route for Hoverspeed.

During the winter of 1994/1995 she was chartered to middle eastern operator Q Ships for service across the Red Sea. for this role she was renamed Q Ship Express. During her charter the Stranraer – Belfast route was operated by Seacat Isle of Man. On completion of the charter she returned to the Stranraer – Belfast route, changing back to her original name.

Seacat Scotland was chartered again during the winter of 1997/1998. This time to Uruguayan ferry operator Navegacion Atlantida S.A. for service on the River Plate. She returned to the North Channel for the 1998 summer season. Sea Containers left Stranraer in 2000 in favour of Troon following heavy competition from Stena Line and P&O Irish Sea at Loch Ryan. Seacat Scotland operated the Belfast – Troon route until 2003 when she was replaced by the Rapide.

Seacat Scotland transferred to the Hoverspeed Dover – Calais route which she operated with Seacat Danmark and Seacat France. She remained on the English Channel until September 2005 when she was once again replaced by the Rapide.

She left Dover in September 2004 bound for the Pallion shipyard in Sunderland. She remained dry docked in Sunderland until she was sold to Fortune Maritime Enterprises . She left Sunderland in April 2007^[2] bound for Keratsini as the Shikra. Before entering service between Safaga and Dhuba she was renamed Al Huda I.

In July 2010 the Al Huda I arrived in Perama. During her refit she was repainted in NEL Lines livery and renamed Cyclades Express.

In early 2016, Cyclades Express was sold to the ferry company Seajets and is planned to be renamed Naxos Jet. Since 2016 in under the name of Naxos Jet and works every Summer from Piraeus to Aegean Islands

Sister ships

• Cat
• Speedrunner 1
• Master Jet
• Pescara Jet
• Condor 10
• Mandarin

There are also two other 74m hulls built by Incat but show clear differences to the standard 74m design ships above. These are:-

• Patricia Olivia – Modified passenger accommodation and forward windows.
• Atlantic III – Has the appearance of an Incat 78m design.

References