HSS 1500
{{Short description|Model of Stena high speed catamaran passenger and car ferry}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:StenaLine-StenaExplorer-DunLoaghaire-2008-04-07 5.jpg | Ship caption = Stena Explorer at Dún Laoghaire }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = HSS 1500 | Builders = Finnyards, Finland | Operators =*Stena Line
| Subclasses = | Built range = June 1994 - April 1997 | In service range = April 1996 - September 2014 | Total ships building = 1996 | Total ships planned = 4 | Total ships completed = 3 | Total ships cancelled = 1 | Total ships laid up = 1 | Total ships retired = 3 | Total ships scrapped = 2 }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Header caption = | Ship type = High-speed catamaran | Ship tonnage = {{GT|19,638}} | Ship displacement = 90.50 | Ship length = {{convert|126.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|40.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draught = {{convert|4.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = 100m | Ship decks = 7 | Ship deck clearance = 30 min | Ship ramps = 3 | Ship ice class = | Ship power =*COGAG Turbines: | Ship propulsion = 4x Kamewa Type S Waterjets | Ship speed = Unladen record 51 knots {{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} | Ship capacity =*1,500 passengers
| Ship crew = | Ship notes = The Stena Explorer is mainly laid up, it only sails in Summer now. }} |
HSS 1500 was the name of a model of Stena HSS craft developed and originally operated by Stena Line on European international ferry routes. The vessels were the largest high-speed craft in the world. Several design patents were registered to Stena Line in the development of the HSS.
Three vessels were ultimately completed in 1996 and 1997. The first of the class, Stena Explorer, entered service in April 1996, serving the Holyhead - Dún Laoghaire route from 1996 to 2014.{{cite web | title = Stena Explorer | publisher = Sealink-Holyhead | url = http://www.sealink-holyhead.com/stena/ships/explorer/home.html| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130104153332/http://www.sealink-holyhead.com/stena/ships/explorer/home.html| url-status = usurped| archive-date = 4 January 2013|accessdate=2009-12-24}}{{Cite news |last=Ashmore |first=Jehan |title=Farewell to Stena's HSS |url=https://archive.org/stream/Ships_Monthly_June_2015_UK/Ships_Monthly_June_2015_UK_djvu.txt |via=archive.org |magazine=Ships Monthly |date=June 2015 |accessdate=2022-12-04}} Two others had served Stranraer to Belfast and Harwich to Hook of Holland.[https://books.google.com/books?id=xNA9X3UNbRcC&pg=PA43 "Fast Ferries"], by Ian Manser, in The Global Change?, International Ports Congress 1999, page 43. Online at Google Books. On the 200-kilometre Hoek–Harwich route, the Stena HSS had cut the crossing time in half by cruising at 41 knots.[http://bonairereporter.com/news/2001issues/05-02-01/page9.htm "A Ferry for the Future"], Bonaire Reporter, 2001-05-02. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
Design and construction
Stena Explorer was constructed by Finnyards in Rauma, Finland.{{cite web | title = Stena Explorer| work = DNV Exchange | publisher = Det Norske Veritas | url = https://exchange.dnv.com/exchange/main.aspx?extool=vessel&subview=summary&vesselid=18235|accessdate=2009-12-24}}{{cite web | title = Stena Explorer| publisher = Fakta Om Fartyg | url = http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/stena_explorer_1996.htm | language = Swedish|accessdate=2009-12-24}}
The HSS 1500 is a semi-small-waterplane-area twin hull (SWATH) catamaran, and was designed with the aim of providing a comfortable and fast service.{{cite web | title = The story behind the building of the first Stena HSS | publisher = Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company | url = http://www.dlharbour.ie/content/stena/hss_story.php | accessdate = 2009-12-24 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091208023829/http://www.dlharbour.ie/content/stena/hss_story.php | archivedate = 2009-12-08 }}
Power is provided by four GE Aviation gas turbines in a twin COGAG configuration.{{cite press release |title= GE Marine Engines' LM Gas Turbines Exceed 600,000 Hours Operating Aboard 16 Fast Ferries |publisher= GE Aviation |date= 2002-09-09 |url= http://www.geae.com/aboutgeae/presscenter/marine/marine_20020909.html |quote= Each semi-swath fast ferry has two LM1600 and two LM2500 gas turbines in a COmbined Gas and Gas (COGAG) turbine configuration. |accessdate= 2009-12-24 |url-status= dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101211123020/http://geae.com/aboutgeae/presscenter/marine/marine_20020909.html |archivedate= 2010-12-11 }} The vessels employ four Kamewa waterjets for propulsion.
The HSS class of ferries were designed to allow quick turnarounds at port, in 30 minutes or less. A specially designed linkspan for the Stena HSS provides ropeless mooring and allows quick loading, unloading and servicing. Vehicles are loaded via two of the four stern doors and park in a "U" configuration. When disembarking, vehicles drive straight off via the other two doors.
Ships
- Stena Explorer (now: One World Karadeniz) - Sold for use as office space in Turkey
- Stena Voyager - scrapped in Sweden
- Stena Discovery (later: HSS Discovery) - scrapped in Turkey