MS Mega Express Four

MS "Mega Express Four" is a fast ropax ferry owned by Corsica Ferries and operated on their ruotes from Nice and Toulon to Ile Rousse. She was built in 1995 by Schichau Seebeckwerft in Bremerhaven, Germany for Superfast Ferries as MS "Superfast II". Between 2003 and 2006 she sailed for TT-Line (Australia) as MS "Spirit of Tasmania III".cite web |url=http://www.theyellowlines.com/Fleet/Presentships/MegaExpressFour/history.html |title="Mega Express Four" history |accessdate=2008-04-10 |last= |first= |format= |work=The Yellow Lines |language= ]

Concept and construction

The "Superfast II" was the second ship built for Attica Group's subsidiary Superfast Ferries for their Adriatic Sea services from Patras to Ancona. [cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/superfast_ferries.htm |title=Superfast Ferries |accessdate=2008-04-10 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |format= |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=in Swedish ] She was a sister ship of MS|Superfast I.

ervice history

1995—2003: "Superfast II"

The "Superfast II" entered service on 11 June 1995 on Superfast Ferries' Patras—Ancona route. In April 1998, following the delivery of the new MS|Superfast IV, [cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/superfast_IV_1998.htm |title=M/S "Superfast IV" (1998) |accessdate=2008-04-10 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |format= |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=in Swedish ] the "Superfast II" was transferred to the Patras—Igoumenitsa—Bari route. From October 1999 until January 2000 she returned to the Patras—Ancona route as a replacement for MS|Superfast III that was undergoing repairs after an onboard fire. In July 2003 the "Superfast II" was sold to TT-Line (Australia), with a delivery date set in September of the same year. TT-Line (Australia) had already purchased the "Superfast III" and "Superfast IV" the previous year, renaming them MS|Spirit of Tasmania II and MS|Spirit of Tasmania I, respectively. [cite web |url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/TT-Line-Tasmania.html |title=TT-Line-Tasmania |accessdate=2008-04-10 |last=Boyle |first=Ian |format= |work=Simplon Postcards |language= ]

2003—2006: "Spirit of Tasmania III"

TT-Line took over their new ship on 30 September 2003 and renamed her "Spirit of Tasmania III". She subsequently sailed to Hobart, Tasmania, where she was rebuilt for her new service. On 15 January 2004 she entered service on TT-Line's new Sydney—Devonport route. Passenger demand for the new service proved smaller than had been expected, and the low passenger numbers combined with raising fuel costs led to the Government of Tasmania deciding to terminate the service in August 2006, and placed the ship up for sale. [Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Tasmania-axes-Sydney-to-Devonport-ferry/2006/06/05/1149359658704.html |title=Tassie scraps Sydney to Devonport ferry |work=The Age |date=2006-05-05 |accessdate=2007-01-14]

On 17 July 2006, it was announced that the "Spirit of Tasmania III" was sold to Mediterranean operator Corsica Ferries for €65 million (A$111 million). The ship left on its final voyage for TT-Line on 27 August 2006. [Cite news |url=http://www.directferries.co.uk/news/2006july.htm#L7 |title=Corsica snaps up Spirit of Tasmania III |work=Direct Ferries |date=2006-07-17 |accessdate=2007-01-14]

2006 onwards: "Mega Express Four"

Corsica Ferries took over the "Spirit of Tasmania III" on 5 September 2006 and renamed her "Mega Express Four". She subsequently sailed from Australia to Europe. She entered service for her new owners in November of the same year. Between January and April 2007 she was rebuilt at the Megatechnica shipyard in Perama, Greece with an expanded aft superstructure. [cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/mega_express_four_1995_omb_1.htm |title=M/S "Mega Express Four" (1995): Ombyggnadsbilder |accessdate=2008-04-10 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |format= |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=in Swedish ] She returned to service on 4 May 2007.

References

External links

* [http://www.corsica-ferries.co.uk/ Corsica Ferries official website]