# HSC Superexpress

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Superexpress History Name Superexpress (2019 onwards) Golden Express (2018–2019) Express (2003–2018) Catalonia (2003) Express Fastcraft (2003) Catalonia (2002–2003) Portsmouth Express (2002) Catalonia (2001–2002) Portsmouth Express (2001) Catalonia (2000–2001) Portsmouth Express (2000) Catalonia L (1998–2000) Catalonia (1998) Owner Golden Star Ferries Operator Golden Star Ferries (2019-present) Viking Line (2017-2019) Gotlandsbåten (2015-2017) P&O Ferries (2005-2015) P&O Irish Sea (2005-2010) P&O Portsmouth (2000-2005) Buquebus (1998-2000) Port of registry 1998–2000: Las Palmas, Spain 2000–2003: Nassau, Bahamas 2003: Montevideo, Uruguay 2003–2016: Nassau, Bahamas 2016–2018: Uppsala, Sweden 2018 onwards: Piraeus, Greece Route Helsinki-Tallinn (From 10 April 2017) Ordered 1996 Builder Incat, Hobart, Tasmania Yard number 047 Laid down 12 May 1997 Launched 17 January 1998 Completed 1 May 1998 Maiden voyage 1998 In service 1998 Identification Call sign: SVCT8 IMO number: 9176046 MMSI number: 240139500 Status In service Notes [1] General characteristics Class & type Det Norske Veritas 1A1 HSLC R1 Car Ferry A E0 Tonnage 5,902 GT; 2,441 NT; 450 DWT Length 91 m (299 ft) Beam 26 m (85 ft) Draught 3.7 m (12 ft) Decks 3 Ramps 1 Stern ramp Installed power 4 x 7200kw Caterpillar 3618 marine diesel engine through 4 x Renk ASL60 Gearboxes Propulsion 4 x Lips LJ145D waterjet Speed 42 knots (78 km/h; 48 mph) Capacity 900 passengers 220 vehicles Crew 32 Notes [2]

**HSC *Superexpress*** is a 91-metre (299 ft) [wave piercing](/source/Wave_piercing) [catamaran](/source/Catamaran) built by [Incat](/source/Incat), owned by [Golden Star Ferries](/source/Golden_Star_Ferries) and chartered to [Viking Line](/source/Viking_Line). During her delivery voyage on 9 June 1998, as ***Catalonia***, she set the record for the fastest [Atlantic Eastbound Record](/source/Blue_Riband), previously held by another Incat craft *[Hoverspeed Great Britain](/source/HSC_High_Speed_Jet)*. She made the 3,125 mi (5,029 km) run from [Manhattan](/source/Manhattan), US to [Tarifa, Spain](/source/Tarifa%2C_Spain) in 3 days 7 hours 54 minutes, traveling at an average speed of 38.877 knots (72.000 km/h; 44.739 mph).

During that same voyage, the ship became the first passenger ship to cover 1,000 mi (1,600 km) or more in one 24-hour period. In covering 1,018 nautical miles (1,885 km) in one day, beating the 868 mi (1,397 km). record set by [SS *United States*](/source/SS_United_States) in 1952. Six weeks later, sister craft [HSC *Fjord Cat*](/source/HSC_Fjord_Cat) took the record.

As of January 2016 [P&O Ferries](/source/P%26O_Ferries) announced that they would end the Larne-Troon service provided by HSC Express, this has ended 25 years of fastcraft service between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

## Mediterranean service

Following her record-breaking [Atlantic Ocean](/source/Atlantic_Ocean) crossing, the vessel changed name to *Catalonia L* and entered service with [Buquebus](/source/Buquebus) between [Barcelona](/source/Barcelona) and [Palma, Majorca](/source/Palma%2C_Majorca) and later between [Ceuta](/source/Ceuta), [Málaga](/source/M%C3%A1laga) and [Algeciras](/source/Algeciras).

## English Channel service

In 2000 she was chartered to [P&O Portsmouth](/source/P%26O_Portsmouth) for service between [Portsmouth](/source/Portsmouth_Harbour) and [Cherbourg](/source/Cherbourg) replacing the smaller *Superstar Express* and adopted the trading name *Portsmouth Express* though her official name remained *Catalonia*.[3] Her first season as *Portsmouth Express* was marred by a series of serious technical problems which at one point resulted in the *Superstar Express* returning to the route from [P&O Irish Sea](/source/P%26O_Irish_Sea).[4] The ship operated with P&O Portsmouth during the 2000, 2001 and 2002 summer seasons and returned to Buquebus for the rest of the year, in each summer season on the Cherbourg route the ship experienced a number of technical problems which often resulted in the ship running on three or less of its four engines.[5] In 2002 the ship's marketing name became *Express* after P&O Portsmouth became part of [P&O Ferries](/source/P%26O_Ferries). In 2004 the ship was officially renamed *Express* but her marketing name became *Cherbourg Express* to differentiate the service from *Caen Express* which P&O started that year. In September 2004 the ship completed her final Portsmouth-Cherbourg sailing and the ship was laid up at A&P [Birkenhead](/source/Birkenhead).[6]

## Irish Sea service

In 2005 her charter was transferred to P&O Irish Sea and the ship once again replaced *Superstar Express*.[7] Prior to her entering service with P&O Irish Sea the Club Lounge was removed and standard seating installed with the Club Bar rebranded to P&O's Harbour Coffee Company. The large shop was divided into a smaller retail outlet, gaming area, quiet lounge and 'Poets' bar. *Express* sailed with P&O Irish Sea on the routes between [Troon](/source/Troon)/[Cairnryan](/source/Cairnryan), [Scotland](/source/Scotland) and [Larne](/source/Larne), [Northern Ireland](/source/Northern_Ireland). In 2010 she began operating sailings from Larne to [Douglas](/source/Douglas_Harbour) on behalf of the [Isle of Man Steam Packet Company](/source/Isle_of_Man_Steam_Packet_Company) during the [Isle of Man TT](/source/Isle_of_Man_TT) season. Leaving Larne at 23:59 - arrive Douglas 2:44, Leave Douglas - 03:00 - Arrive Larne - 05:45. By doing this they have fitted it in around the normal timetable on the Larne - Cairnryan and Larne - Troon Routes.[8][9]

In 2013 *Express* received a £500,000 interior refurbishment[10][11] which included reinstatement of the Club Lounge which was removed when the ship moved to the Irish Sea. From 2013 *Express* no longer makes a roundtrip between Larne and Cairnryan instead operating two roundtrips between [Larne Harbour](/source/Larne_Harbour_railway_station) and [Troon](/source/Troon_railway_station). The Express charter was not renewed after the summer season ending September 2015 and is believed to be heading to run on a Scandinavian route next year. She is currently laid up in Helsingborg (Feb 2016) her P&O livery has already been painted over. P&O announced on 13 January 2016 that the Troon-Larne service was to close with immediate effect.[12]

## Sister ships

*Express* is one of four 91-metre wave piercing catamarans built by [Incat](/source/Incat) but differs from the other three because of her addition lounge and large scenic window over the stern. The bridge of the *Express* and other Incat 91 metre craft is very similar to the Incat 81 metre craft Hull 038-Rapide, Hull 040-Stena Lynx 3, Hull 041-Diamant

**Sister ships**

- [HSC *Incat 046*](/source/HSC_INCAT_046)

- [HSC *Eurochampion Jet*](/source/Eurochampion_Jet)

- [HSC Eurochampion Jet 2](/source/HSC_Eurochampion_Jet_2)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [RINA](https://www.leonardoinfo.com/home/ship/26124/data/generalInfo)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [RINA](https://www.leonardoinfo.com/home/ship/26124/data/generalInfo)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Cowsill, Miles (Summer 2000). "Western Channel & Channel Islands". *European Ferry Scene*. **46**: 16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Cowsill, Miles (Autumn 2000). "Western Channel & Channel Islands". *European Ferry Scene*. **47**: 17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Cowsill, Miles (Autumn 2002). "Western Channel & Channel Islands". *European Ferry Scene*. **54**: 13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** News in brief *[Ships Monthly](/source/Ships_Monthly)* December 2018 page 10

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["HSC *Catalonia* (1998)"](http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/catalonia_1998.htm). *Fakta om Fartyg (Facts about Ships)* (in Swedish). Klubb Maritim. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["P&O Irish Sea - P&O *Express*"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081228015001/http://www.poirishsea.com/passenger/poexpress.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.poirishsea.com/passenger/poexpress.htm) on 28 December 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["nP&O *Irish Sea* - *Express* Information"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100704200157/http://www.poirishsea.com/information/poexpress.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.poirishsea.com/information/poexpress.htm) on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Blu Marine wins £500,000 P&O contract"](http://www.ulsterbusiness.com/articles/2013/03/11/blu-marine-wins-500000-po-contract). Ulster Business. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Blu Marine P&O Express"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131028051730/http://www.blumarine.co.uk/page30.html). Blu Marine Ltd. 29 May 2013. Archived from [the original](http://www.blumarine.co.uk/page30.html) on 28 October 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["P&O Ferries: Larne to Troon route to close with immediate effect"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-35301329). *[BBC News](/source/BBC_News)*. Retrieved 1 February 2016.

## External links

- [Incat hull 047](https://www.incat.com.au/incat-vessels/047/)

- [P&O Irish Sea Ferries official website](https://web.archive.org/web/20080715032523/http://www.poirishsea.com/)

- [*Express* current position](http://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Express-9176046.html) at *VesselTracker*

Records Preceded by Hoverspeed Great Britain Atlantic Eastbound Record 1998 Succeeded by Cat-Link V Preceded by Hoverspeed Great Britain Hales Trophy 1998 Succeeded by Cat-Link V

v t e Incat catamarans Early craft Our Lady Pamela Our Lady Patricia Recent river & bay ferries Bellarine Express Bungaree Catherine Hamlin Fred Hollows Galaxy Clipper May Gibbs Mona Roma Neptune Clipper Ocean Adventurer Ocean Flyer Ocean Surfer Ocean Tracker Ocean Wave Pemulwuy Victor Chang K-Class Captain Inoke Juan Patricio Sun Flower Miscellaneous Brooke Street Pier Muslim Magomayev 74m Atlantic III Atlantic Express Caldera Vista Cat High Speed Jet Naxos Jet Pinar del Rio Seacat Moorea Tiger 78m Fares 2 Jaume I Mega Jet 81m Elite Jet Jaume II Jaume III 85m Levante Jet 86m Champion Jet 1 Champion Jet 2 Champion Jet 3 Tarifa Jet 91m Eurochampion Jet Eurochampion Jet 2 Incat 046 Superexpress 96m Alboran Bencomo Express Bentago Express Giga Jet Manannan Volcan de Teno 98m Hai Xia Hao HSV-2 Swift Milenium Dos T&T Spirit Volcan de Tirajana Voyager 99m Francisco 109m Express 3 110m Saint John Paul II 111m Volcán de Tagoro 112m Express 1 Express 2 Tera Jet 2 Tera Jet 3

v t e Ferries of the Irish Sea Current ships Brittany Ferries MV Armorique MV Commodore Clipper MV Cotentin MV Galicia MS Norbay MV Pont-Aven MV Santona Irish Ferries HSC Dublin Swift MS Isle of Innisfree MS Isle of Inisheer MS James Joyce MS Ulysses MV W.B. Yeats Isle of Man Steam Packet Company MS Ben-my-Chree HSC Manannan MV Manxman P&O Ferries European Causeway European Highlander CLdN MS Seatruck Point MS Seatruck Panorama MS Seatruck Power MS Seatruck Progress MS Seatruck Performance MS Seatruck Precision Stena Line MS Stena Adventurer MS Stena Edda MS Stena Embla MS Stena Estrid MS Stena Nordica MS Stena Hibernia Stena Horizon MS Stena Scotia MS Stena Superfast VII MS Stena Superfast VIII Hibernia Line MS Akka MS St Patrick Ferry ports Belfast Harbour Cairnryan Harbour Port of Cork Douglas Harbour Dublin Port Fishguard Harbour Heysham Port Port of Holyhead Larne Harbour Port of Liverpool Pembroke Dock Rosslare Europort

v t e Ships of P&O Current fleet English Channel Spirit of Britain Spirit of France P&O Pioneer P&O Liberté Irish Sea European Causeway European Highlander2 North Sea Norbank Norbay Pride of Hull Pride of Rotterdam v t e Former fleet Atlantic Freighter Baltic Ferry Berrima Bison Bore Mari Brave Merchant Buffalo Calibur Celtic Star Cerdic Ferry Cherbourg Express Coromandel 1 Coromandel 2 Doric Ferry Egypt Envoy Equine European Ambassador European Clearway European Diplomat European Endeavour 1 European Endeavour 2 European Enterprise European Envoy European Freeway European Freighter European Highlander 1 European Highway European Leader European Mariner European Navigator European Pathfinder European Pathway European Pioneer European Seafarer European Seaway European Tideway European Trader 1 European Trader 2 Europic Ferry Express Free Enterprise V Free Enterprise VI Free Enterprise VII Global Carrier Global Freighter Ibex Jetliner Landi Lehola Leopard Lion Max Mols (Caen Express) Merchant Brilliant Merchant Valiant Norcape Norcove Nordic Ferry Norland Norsea Northern Star Oriental P&OSL Aquitaine P&OSL Calais P&OSL Canterbury P&OSL Dover P&OSL Kent P&OSL Picardy P&OSL Provence Panther PO Aquitaine PO Calais PO Canterbury PO Dover PO Kent PO Provence Portsmouth Express Pride of Ailsa Pride of Aquitaine Pride of Bilbao Pride of Bruges 1 Pride of Bruges 2 Pride of Burgundy Pride of Calais Pride of Canterbury 1 Pride of Canterbury 2 Pride Of Cherbourg 1 Pride of Cherbourg 2 Pride of Cherbourg 3 Pride of Cherbourg A Pride of Cherbourg II Pride of Dover Pride of Flanders Pride of Free Enterprise Pride of Hampshire Pride of Hythe Pride of Kent 1 Pride of Le Havre 1 Pride of Le Havre 2 Pride of Portsmouth Pride of Provence Pride of Rathlin Pride of Sandwich Pride of Suffolk Pride of Walmer Pride of Winchester Pride of York Puma Rodona RR Triumph Sapphire Southern Carrier Stena Cambria Stena Empereur Stena Fantasia Stena Royal Stena Shipper SuperStar Express Tidero Star Tor Futura Ursine Vega Viking Trader Viking Valiant Viking Venturer Viking Viscount Viking Voyager 1,2,3 - Denotes order in which different vessels carried the name

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [HSC Superexpress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSC_Superexpress) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSC_Superexpress?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.