Builders Fincantieri, Italy In service 1996 onwards Active 4 Length 100 m Builder Fincantieri | Built 1996—1999 Completed 6 Laid up 2 Draft 2.75 m | |
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Operators Aegean Speed Lines, Trasmediterránea, Hellenic Seaways, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company | ||
The MDV1200 class fast ferry (sometimes known as SuperSeaCat after brand some of them operated under) are a series of high-speed craft built by Fincantieri in Genoa for Ocean Bridge Investments and Sea Containers Ltd between 1996 and 1999. There are six ships in this class of fastcraft.
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The first two MDV1200 class ships, HSC Pegasus One and HSC Pegasus Two were built for Ocean Bridge Investments in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Four additional ships were built for SeaContainers between 1997 and 1999. SeaCo had originally ordered an Auto Express 78 class ship from Austal Ships, but the first in the class, the SuperSeaCat France, failed to meet the speed required by Sea Containers and was not accepted. As a result, Sea Containers then turned to Fincantieri and initially ordered 2 of their MDV1200 designs, this was followed by another 2. The option for a further 2 ships was not taken up.
The exterior of the MDV1200 class is styled by Pininfarina. SeaContainers marketed their MDV1200's as SuperSeaCats, after their predecessors in the SeaContainers fleet, the SeaCats. The term SuperSeaCat is a misnomer, as the MDV1200's have a deep V-shaped mono-hull and are not catamarans. The ships are constructed from 400 tonnes of aluminium.