Yard number 028 Identification IMO number 8919518 Length 74 m Builder Incat | In service 1992 Launched 1991 Draft 2.4 m | |
 | ||
Name 1992–1994 Seacat Scotland
1994–1995 Q Ship Express
1995–2007 Seacat Scotland
2007-2007 Shikra
2007–2010 Al Huda I
2010 onwards Cyclades Express Operator 1992–1994 SeaCat
1994–1995 Q Ships
1995–1997 SeaCat
1997–1998 Navegacion Atlantica
1998–2003 SeaCat
2003–2004 Hoverspeed
2004–2007 laid up
2007–2010 Fortune Maritime
2010-2016 NEL Lines
2016 onwards Seajets Port of registry 1992–1997 Bahamas
1997–2007 United Kingdom
2007 onwards Panama | ||
Cyclades Express is a high speed catamaran operated by NEL Lines in the Aegean.
Contents
History
The Cyclades Express was built in 1992 as Seacat Scotland for Sea Containers. She was built to inaugurate a new fast ferry service between Stranraer and Belfast. Before commencing service on the North Channel she briefly operated on the Dover to Calais route for Hoverspeed.
During the winter of 1994/1995 she was chartered to middle eastern operator Q Ships for service across the Red Sea. for this role she was renamed Q Ship Express. During her charter the Stranraer – Belfast route was operated by Seacat Isle of Man. On completion of the charter she returned to the Stranraer – Belfast route, changing back to her original name.
Seacat Scotland was chartered again during the winter of 1997/1998. This time to Uruguayan ferry operator Navegacion Atlantida S.A. for service on the River Plate. She returned to the North Channel for the 1998 summer season. Sea Containers left Stranraer in 2000 in favour of Troon following heavy competition from Stena Line and P&O Irish Sea at Loch Ryan. Seacat Scotland operated the Belfast – Troon route until 2003 when she was replaced by the Rapide.
Seacat Scotland transferred to the Hoverspeed Dover – Calais route which she operated with Seacat Danmark and Seacat France. She remained on the English Channel until September 2005 when she was once again replaced by the Rapide.
She left Dover in September 2004 bound for the Pallion shipyard in Sunderland. She remained dry docked in Sunderland until she was sold to Fortune Maritime Enterprises . She left Sunderland in April 2007 bound for Keratsini as the Shikra. Before entering service between Safaga and Dhuba she was renamed Al Huda I.
In July 2010 the Al Huda I arrived in Perama. During her refit she was repainted in NEL Lines livery and renamed Cyclades Express.
In early 2016, Cyclades Express was sold to the ferry company Seajets and is planned to be renamed Naxos Express.
Sister ships
There are also two other 74m hulls built by Incat but show clear differences to the standard 74m design ships above. These are:-