MS SeaFrance Molière

MS "SeaFrance Molière" is a fast ropax ferry owned by SeaFrance, under reconstruction into a short-distance ferry, due to enter service on SeaFrance's Dover—Calais route in mid-2008.cite web |url=http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1127512.php?mpnlog=1 |title=SeaFrance acquires third modern ferry |accessdate=2008-04-10 |date=2008-03-28 |last=Davies |first=Phil |format= |work= |publisher=TravelMole |language= ] She was built in 2002 by the HDW shipyard in Kiel, Germany for Superfast Ferries as MS "Superfast X". Between 2007 and 2008 she was owned by Veolia Transport, and sailed under the name MS "Jean Nicoli" for SNCM, COTUNAV and ANEK Lines.

Concept and construction

The "Superfast X" was the last ship in a series of four identical ice classed fast ferries built by HDW Kiel, Germany for Superfast Ferries' new Baltic Sea services. She was launched on 18 November 2000, on the same date as her sisters MS|Superfast VII [cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/superfast_VII_2001.htm |title=M/S "Superfast VII" (2001) |accessdate=2008-04-10 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |format= |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish ] and MS|Superfast IX [cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/superfast_IX_2002.htm |title=M/S "Superfast IX" (2002) |accessdate=2008-04-10 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |format= |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish ] The "Superfast X" was delivered to her owners on 26 February 2002, and christened on the same date by Patricia Lederer.

ervice history

The "Superfast X" entered service for Superfast Ferries on 27 February 2002 on the Hanko—Rostock route. She remained on that route until 19 April 2002, when she was laid up at HDW Kiel. On 17 May 2002 she re-entered service, now on the Rosyth—Zeebrugge route. In January—February 2004 the "Superfast X" was rebuilt at Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder, Fosen, Norway with additional passenger berths. On 7 August 2006 Superfast Ferries announced they had sold the "Superfast X" to Veolia Transport for €112 million. [cite web |url=http://64.239.60.141/Adriatic/English/press/NewsDetailed.aspx?IDPrint=72 |title=Announcement—Sale of "Superfast X" |accessdate=2008-04-10 |date=2008-08-07 |last= |first= |format= |work=Superfast Ferries press release |publisher=Superfast Ferries ] The ship was delivered to her new owners on 12 February 2007 and renamed "Jean Nicoli".

On March 2007 the "Jean Nicoli" made crossings from Le Havre to Marseille, carrying cars onboard. During April of the same year she was chartered to COTUNAV for traffic from Italy and France to Tunisia. At the end of April she was laid up, initially at La Seyne, later at Marseille. From 8 September until 2 October 2007 she was chartered to ANEK Lines for service on their Patras—Korfu—Igoumenitsa—Venice route. On 27 December 2007 the ship was sold to SeaFrance, with a delivery date set for April 2008.

In the beginning of April 2008 the "Jean Nicoli" was delivered to SeaFrance and renamed "SeaFrance Molière". On 3 April 2008 she left Marseille for Arno Dunkerque for rebuilding into a short distance ferry. She entered service with SeaFrance in freight only operation on 19 August 2008, she will begin passenger service in September 2008 [cite web |url=http://www.seafrance.com/seafrance/export/download/press_releases_EN_2008/Communique_Premiere_traversee_commerciale_SFM_GB.pdf |title=The "SeaFrance Molière" makes her first commercial crossing |accessdate=2008-09-28 |date=2008-08-19 |last= |first= |format=PDF |work=SeaFrance press release |publisher=SeaFrance |language= ] .

References