HSC Jaume II

Last updated

JAUME II.jpg
Jaume II in Fort Lauderdale
History
Name
  • 1996–1997: Condor 12
  • 1997–1998: Holyman Rapide
  • 1998–2005: Rapide
  • 2006–present: Jaume II
Owner
Operator
  • 1996–1997: Condor Ferries
  • 1997–1998: Holyman
  • 1998–2001: Hoverspeed
  • 2001–2005: Sea Containers
  • 2005–2006: Hoverspeed
  • 2006–present: Baleària
Port of registryFlag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus [1]
Route Fort LauderdaleBimini / Freeport
Ordered1995
Builder Incat (Tasmania, Australia)
Yard number038
Launched1996
Completed1996
Maiden voyage1996
In service1996
Identification IMO number:  9116113
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Tonnage4,305 GT
Length81.15 m (266.2 ft)
Beam26 m (85.3 ft)
Draft3.15 m (10.3 ft)
Installed power4 × 16-cylinder Ruston diesel engines
Propulsion4 × Lips LJ145D waterjets
Speed37 knots (69 km/h; 43 mph)
Capacity
  • 654 passengers
  • 155 vehicles

HSC Jaume II is a high-speed catamaran built in 1996 by Incat in Tasmania, Australia.

Contents

History

The vessel entered service in 1996 as Condor 12. For her first season, she operated alongside Condor 10 on Condor Ferries Channel Island services. In 1997, the vessel was renamed Holyman Rapide and operated on the English Channel. When Hoverspeed acquired Holyman, the vessel became known as Rapide and continued service on Hoverspeed's English Channel routes.

In March 2001, Rapide was reassigned to Sea Containers Irish Sea services between Liverpool and Dublin, and Liverpool and Douglas.

From March 2002, Rapide operated between Belfast and Heysham and on routes to/from the Isle of Man until a fire occurred on 21 August 2002 during the 07:00 sailing. The fire, reported in the port engine room at 08:00, forced the vessel to return to Belfast. Passengers were offered alternative arrangements, and the service did not resume. [2]

Rapide remained laid up in Belfast until repairs were completed by March 2003. With Seacat Scotland moving to the English Channel in November 2002, the Belfast–Troon route required a vessel, previously served by SeaCat Isle of Man.

On 1 November 2004, Rapide completed the Belfast–Troon service and occasionally covered Manx routes. She departed Belfast for the final time on 8 November 2004, bound for Sunderland.

In 2005, as Seacat Rapide, she operated between Dover and Calais for Hoverspeed until the company's closure on 7 November 2005. The vessel was subsequently laid up at Tilbury.

In June 2006, Rapide left the Channel for the Mediterranean, joining the Spanish shipping company Baleària and being renamed Jaume II.

In February 2016, four new main engines were installed at the Astilleros del Guadalquivir shipyard in Seville to reduce fuel consumption and NOx emissions and increase speed. At the same time, the ship's interior areas were upgraded and modernised. [3]

As of 2019, Jaume II operates as a high-speed ferry between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Grand Bahama and Bimini in The Bahamas. [4] [5]

See also

References

  1. MarineTraffic.com vessel information for the HSC Jaume II
  2. "Investigation after fire on passenger ferry". The Daily Telegraph. London. 21 August 2002.
  3. "Baleària to repower high speed cat Jaume II". MarineLog. 10 February 2016.
  4. "Fleet". Balearia Caribbean. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  5. "Routes and Schedules". Balearia Caribbean. Retrieved 17 October 2019.