 Olympic Champion Jet at Piraeus | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name |
|
| Owner | (2018–present) Minoan Lines |
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry | |
| Builder | |
| Yard number | 285 |
| Launched | 20 March 2005[1] |
| Completed | 2005 |
| Maiden voyage | 2005 |
| In service | 2005 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | in service |
| General characteristics (as built)[2] | |
| Class & type | Auto Express 85-class catamaran |
| Tonnage | 4,913 GT |
| Length | 85.0 m (278 ft 10 in)[2] |
| Beam | 21.2 m (69 ft 7 in)[2] |
| Draft | 3 m (9 ft 10 in) |
| Depth | 6 m (19 ft 8 in) |
| Installed power | 4 x Caterpillar 3618 diesel engines[2] |
| Propulsion | 4 × KaMeWa 112 s11 waterjets[2] |
| Speed | 39 knots (72 km/h; 45 mph)[2] |
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 26 / 24 (HS7[3] / HS5[2]) |
HSC Olympic Champion Jet is an 85-metre (278 ft 10 in) high speed catamaran, built as Highspeed 5, later Highspeed 7, for Hellenic Seaways. She is now owned by Minoan Lines and ran for them as Santorini Palace. In 2024 she was chartered to Seajets and renamed Olympic Champion Jet.
History
The vessel was launched on 20 March 2005 as Highspeed 5 by Austal at Henderson, Australia and completed later that year for the Greek ferry operator Hellenic Seaways.[1][2] She entered service with Hellenic Seaways in July, initially sailing between Piraeus and the Cyclades, and subsequently between Heraklion and central Cyclades.
Fire incident
On 23 March 2015, while Highspeed 5 was docked at Drapetsona for modification works and inspections, a fire broke out on board that resulted in the death of the chief electrician and the destruction of her bridge and upper decks.[4] In September 2015, the vessel was towed to Fincantieri shipyards in Trieste, where she underwent extensive repairs. During them, the upper car deck was substituted with a passenger lounge, increasing her capacity to 1,160 passengers. After being repaired, she was renamed Highspeed 7 and resumed her Heraklion – Cyclades service in mid-June 2016.[3]
Continued service
In early summer 2018, Highspeed 7 was transferred to Minoan Lines as part of the arrangements in the sale of Minoan's stake in Hellenic Seaways to Attica Group. She was renamed Santorini Palace and painted in Minoan's colors on 13 June.[5] It was reported in January 2024 that the ferry has been taken on charter by Seajets on their Heraklion – Santorini – Naxos – Mykonos – Syros – Piraeus routes,[6] and was renamed Olympic Champion Jet.[7]
Gallery
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Highspeed 5 during a docking maneuver at Paros.
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Highspeed 5 at Paros in 2009.
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Highspeed 5 in older colors at Ios.
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Highspeed 5 at Piraeus.
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Highspeed 7 at Heraklion.
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Highspeed 7 at Santorini.
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Highspeed 7
References
- ^ a b c "HIGHSPEED 5". ship-db.de. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Auto Express 85" (pdf; 760 KB). Austal. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Highspeed 7 Returns to Piraeus Refurbished, Ready to Begin Summer Service". gtp.gr. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- ^ "Πυρκαγιά στο Highspeed 5". ellinikiaktoploia.net. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ "Santorini Palace: Φόρεσε το νέο όνομα και τα νεα σινιάλα". arxipelagos.com. Retrieved 24 June 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Seajets charter Minoan Lines' HSC Santorini Palace". Ferry Shipping News. IJmuiden: Ferry Shipping Summit BV. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Olympic Champion Jet". Ferries in Greece. Piraeus. Archived from the original on 12 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
External links
- Austal Ships - Auto Express 85 - Highspeed 5 specifications
- Santorini Palace at Minoan Lines Website Archived 14 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine
