{{Short description|Ferry}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=HSS Discovery in Curacao 2.jpg |image_caption = ''Stena Discovery'' laid up in [[Curaçao]] }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header = |name = *1997–2009: ''Stena Discovery'' *2009 onwards: ''HSS 'Discovery'' |owner = |operator = *1997–2009: [[Stena Line]] *2009 onwards: Albamar Shipping Company |registry = *1997–2009: [[Hook of Holland]] {{flagicon|Netherlands}} The Netherlands *2009-2011: [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]] {{flagicon|Bahamas}} Bahamas *2011-2015: [[Puerto la Cruz]] {{flagicon|Venezuela}} Venezuela *2015: {{flagicon|Tanzania}} Tanzania |route = |ordered = |builder = [[STX Finland|Finnyards]], Finland |original_cost = £65,000,000 |yard_number = 406 |way_number = |laid_down = |launched = 14 December 1996<ref name="Fakta om Fartyg HSS Stena Disvovery">{{cite web|url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/stena_discovery_1997.htm|title=HSS Stena Discovery |access-date=2016-03-21}}</ref> |completed = |christened = |acquired = |maiden_voyage = |in_service = April 1997 |out_of_service = |identification = {{IMO Number|9107590}} |fate = Scrapped in [[Aliağa]], [[Turkey]] in 2015<ref name="scrap">{{cite web |title=Stena Discovery |work=Castles of the Seas |url = http://www.castlesoftheseas.nl/stena-discovery-2.html |access-date=10 January 2017}}</ref> |notes = }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header = |header_caption = |class = [[HSS 1500]] }}
|section4={{Infobox |child=yes |label1 = Developed by |data1 = Stena Rederi AB }}
|section5={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header = yes |tonnage = {{GT|19,638}}<ref name="Fakta" /> |displacement = |length = {{convert|126.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |beam = {{convert|40.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |draught = {{convert|4.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |depth = |decks = |deck_clearance = |ramps = |ice_class = |power = *[[Combined gas and gas|COGAG]] Turbines: *2× [[General Electric|GE]] [[General Electric LM2500|LM2500]] *2× GE [[General Electric LM1600|LM1600]] |propulsion = 4× [[Kamewa]] Type S [[Pump-jet|waterjets]] |speed = 40 knots<ref name="Fakta" /> |capacity = *1,500 passengers *375 cars *800 [[lane metres]] |crew = |notes = }} }}
'''''HSS Discovery''''' was a [[High-speed craft|high-speed ferry]] owned by Albamar Shipping Company. She was a member of the [[HSS 1500]] class of high-speed ferries, built for and designed by [[Stena Line]] from 1996 onwards. She was previously '''''Stena Discovery''''', and operated for Stena Line between [[Harwich International Port]] in the United Kingdom and [[Hook of Holland]], the Netherlands.
==Design and construction== [[STX Finland|Finnyards]] in [[Rauma, Finland]] built the ship. Building began in 1996, and the ship entered service in April 1997.<ref name="Fakta">{{cite web |title=Stena Discovery |work=Fakta Om Fartyg |url= http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/stena_discovery_1997.htm |language=Swedish |access-date=2009-12-24}}</ref>
The ship was a [[catamaran]], designed to provide a comfortable and fast service.<ref name="DLH">{{cite web |title=The story behind the building of the first Stena HSS |publisher=Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company |url= http://www.dlharbour.ie/content/stena/hss_story.php |access-date=2009-12-24 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091208023829/http://www.dlharbour.ie/content/stena/hss_story.php | archive-date=2009-12-08}}</ref>
Power was provided by four [[GE Aviation]] [[gas turbine]]s in a twin combined gas and gas ([[COGAG]]) configuration.<ref name="GE">{{cite press release |title= GE Marine Engines' LM Gas Turbines Exceed 600,000 Hours Operating Aboard 16 Fast Ferries |publisher= GE Aviation |date=2002-09-09 |url= http://www.geae.com/aboutgeae/presscenter/marine/marine_20020909.html |quote= Each semi-swath fast ferry used two LM1600 and two LM2500 gas turbines in a COmbined Gas and Gas (COGAG) turbine configuration. |access-date= 2009-12-24 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101211123020/http://geae.com/aboutgeae/presscenter/marine/marine_20020909.html |archive-date= 2010-12-11}}</ref> Four [[Kamewa]] [[Pump-jet|waterjets]] propelled the ship.<ref name="SLH">{{cite web |title=Stena Explorer |publisher= Sealink-Holyhead |url= http://www.sealink-holyhead.com/stena/ships/explorer/home.html |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130104153332/http://www.sealink-holyhead.com/stena/ships/explorer/home.html| url-status=usurped |archive-date=4 January 2013 |access-date=2009-12-24}}</ref>
The HSS class of ferries was designed to allow quick turnarounds at port. A specially designed [[linkspan]] provides ropeless mooring, and allows quick loading, unloading and servicing. Vehicles were loaded via two of the four stern doors, and parked in a "U" layout. When disembarking, vehicles drove straight off via the other three doors.<ref name="SLH"/>
==Career== As ''Stena Discovery'', the ship ran between Harwich and Hook of Holland for Stena Line, from her introduction in 1997 until January 2007, when she was taken out of service due to her high fuel consumption. She was laid up at Belfast between January 2007 and September 2009, before leaving for [[La Guaira]], [[Venezuela]] under the ownership of Albamar Shipping Company. Before leaving Belfast, the "Stena" prefix was deleted from the ship's name.<ref name="Fakta"/><ref name="speed-for-size">{{cite news |url= http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/indexarticle.htm?artid=1167755319110 |work=International Freight Weekly |title=Stena sacrifices speed for size |date=2007-01-12}}</ref>
She served only briefly in Venezuela, and was taken out of service again in 2009. In November 2011, she was moved to [[Curaçao]] in an attempt to attract investors for a new ferry service between Curaçao and La Guaira.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.amigoe.com/english/93408-initiators-seek-investors-to-take-over-ferry-|work=Amigoe |title=Initiators seek investors to take over ferry |date=2011-12-04}}</ref> She was subject to a criminal investigation soon after, regarding irregular trade of diesel fuel from her ballast tanks.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.dutchcaribbeanlegalportal.com/news/latest-news/1840-criminal-investigation-into-disappearance-of-diesel-from-hss-discovery |work=Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal |title=Criminal investigation into disappearance of diesel from hss discovery |date=2012-03-20}}</ref> She was scrapped in [[Aliağa]], [[Turkey]] between August and November 2015.<ref name="scrap"/>
==Incidents== *In January 1998, ''Stena Discovery'' was travelling at full speed when she hit a {{convert|3.5|m|0}} swell, resulting in water being pushed up over her nose and hitting her bridge windows. It tore 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ferry News |url= http://www.harwichhavenshipsandyachts.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=291 |work=Harwich Haven Ships and Yachts}}</ref> * 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 ''Stena Discovery'' from Hook of Holland to Harwich. As the ferry accelerated, the lorry rolled back, crashed through the ship's stern doors, and fell into the [[North Sea]]. It took with it three smaller vans, as well as one of the stern doors. The ship returned to Hook of Holland, and was taken out of service for repairs. Damage to the door and loss of the vehicles was estimated to be about £200,000.<ref>{{cite web |work=Clacton Gazette |title=Lorry falls of back of ferry |date=2001-03-18 |url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/5493883.harwich-lorry-falls-off-back-of-ferry |access-date=2009-02-03 }}</ref>
<gallery widths=180> File:HSS Discovery front.jpg|After the 1998 incident, 'shark fin' covered air holes were fitted on the underside of the nose. File:Waterjet on HSS Discovery.jpg|One of the four Kamewa waterjets. File:HSS Discovery backside.jpg|Laid up in Curaçao. The dirt on the back is [[soot]] from the diesel generators. File:Stena Discovery in Musgrave Channel - geograph.org.uk - 394998.jpg|Laid up in Belfast, April 2007. File:Hoek_van_holland_stena_line.jpg|Glory days: mooring at Hook of Holland on return from Harwich (2005). File:HSS Discovery in Curacao.jpg|Inactive, in the [[Caribbean Sea]] in Curaçao. </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:HSS Discovery}} [[Category:Ships built in Rauma, Finland]] [[Category:1996 ships]] [[Category:High-speed craft]] [[Category:Ships of the Stena Line|Discovery]]