The HSC Olympic Champion Jet , built as Highspeed 5, later Highspeed 7, for Hellenic Seaways, is an 85m high speed catamaran owned by Minoan Lines. In January 2024 she was chartered to Seajets. It has been renamed Olympic Champion Jet.

Santorini Palace at Santorini.
History
Name
  • (2005–2015): Highspeed 5
  • (2016–2018): Highspeed 7
  • (2018–2024): Santorini Palace
  • (2024-Presemt): Olympic Champion Jet
Owner(2018–present) Minoan Lines
Operator
Port of registry
Builder
Yard number285
Launched20 March 2005[1]
Completed2005
Maiden voyage2005
In service2005
Identification
Statusin service
General characteristics (as built)[2]
Class and typeAuto Express 85
Tonnage4,913 gt
Length85.0 m (278.9 ft)[2]
Beam21.2 m (69.6 ft)[2]
Draft3 m (9.8 ft)
Depth6 m (19.7 ft)
Installed power4 x Caterpillar 3618 diesel engines[2]
Propulsion4 x KaMeWa 112 s11 waterjets[2]
Speed39 knots (72 km/h; 45 mph)[2]
Capacity
  • 1,160 / 810 passengers (HS7[3] / HS5[2])
  • 105 / 154 cars (HS7[3] / HS5[2])
Crew26 / 24 (HS7[3] / HS5[2])

History

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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

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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 1160 passengers. After being repaired, she was renamed Highspeed 7 and resumed her Heraklion - Cyclades service in mid June 2016.[3]

Continued service

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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 June 13.[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 route.[6]


References

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  1. ^ a b c "HIGHSPEED 5". ship-db.de. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Auto Express 85" (pdf; 760 KB). Austal. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d "Highspeed 7 Returns to Piraeus Refurbished, Ready to Begin Summer Service". gtp.gr. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Πυρκαγιά στο Highspeed 5". ellinikiaktoploia.net. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Santorini Palace: Φόρεσε το νέο όνομα και τα νεα σινιάλα". arxipelagos.com. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Seajets charter Minoan Lines' HSC Santorini Palace". Ferry Shipping News. IJmuiden: Ferry Shipping Summit BV. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
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