SPEED CAT 1 (ΣΠΙΝΤ ΚΑΤ 1)
-Hellas Speed Cat
Built in 1989 (age 35). Registered in Piraeus. Current line: None (laid-up in Salamina)
The high speed SPEED CAT 1 was built in 1989 in Norway, as the SLEIPNER for the Norwegian company Hardanger Sunnhordlandske Dampskipsselskap. She was deployed on the Bergen-Stavanger line on the North Sea, where she remained for eight years. In 1997 she was sold to the Estonian company Tallink, thus becoming their first-ever high speed catamaran. She was renamed TALLINK EXPRESS I and she was deployed on the Tallinn-Helsinki line on the Baltic Sea. In 2001 she was sold to the Greek company ANES Ferries, becoming their first-ever high speed catamaran as well. She was renamed PANORMITIS and she began service in 2002 on the Rhodes-Symi line on the Dodecanese, but her spell there was not successful and she was laid-up in Rhodes in 2006. In 2008 she was sold to the Northern Sporades and Evoia Shipping Company, which was immediately rebranded as Hellas Speed Cat. She was renamed SPEED CAT 1 and she underwent a small refit in Piraeus. She was due to begin service on the Piraeus-Hydra-Spetses line on the Saronic Gulf, but she eventually spent the entire 2008 season under lay-up in Piraeus. In 2009 she was deployed on the Volos-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos line on the Sporades, but her season was marred by multiple engine troubles. She returned to service in 2010, being deployed on the Agios Konstantinos-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos line, but she was once again plagued by several engine failures, one of which ended her season prematurely. She was subsequently laid-up in Perama for four years, due to her company facing financial difficulties. In 2014 she attempted to make a comeback on the Piraeus-Poros-Hydra-Spetses line on the Saronic Gulf, but she was denied permission by the Ministry of Shipping and Insular Policy. She eventually returned to service in 2015, being once again assigned to the Agios Konstantinos-Skiathos-Skopelos-Alonissos line, but she once again experienced several engine issues. In 2016 she was deployed on the Piraeus-Poros-Hydra-Spetses line, but after a few days she once again suffered an engine failure which caused her to miss the rest of the season, and she was laid-up in Perama during the summer before later heading to Salamina, where she remains today. Her future remains uncertain.
PHOTOS (2022):
The SPEED CAT 1 seen laid-up in Salamina, awaiting her fate (11/2022).
The SPEED CAT 1 seen laid-up in Salamina, awaiting her fate (11/2022).
The SPEED CAT 1 seen laid-up in Salamina, awaiting her fate (11/2022).