HSC Seacat Moorea
ex Mandarin, Ocean Flower, Avant, Stena Lynx, Stena Sea Lynx
© Andreas Wörteler
Aluminium catamaran built in 1993 by Incat (International Catamarans) Australia Pty. Ltd., Hobart, Australia (Yard No. 031) for Buquebus International, Nassau, Bahamas as a car and passenger ferry. Launched February 7th 1993
Technical Data
- Length: 74.90m (overall)
- Breadth of Hull: 26.00m
- Draught: 2.40m (3.035m max)
- Tonnage: 3,331 gross, 2,982 net, 200 deadweight
- Engines: Four 16-cyl, Ruston 16RK270 diesels
- Power: 16,200 kW
- Speed: 35 knots
- Capacity: 582 passengers, 88 cars
- Call Sign: D9QB (@ 2008)
- IMO Number: 9001538
- Registry: UK , Nassau/Bahamas , Pohang/Korea , Cambodia/Phnom Penh
- Sister Ships: Patricia Olivia (024), Seacat Tasmania (023), Hoverspeed France (026), Hoverspeed Great Britain (025), Hoverspeed Belgium (027), Seacat Scotland (028), Condor 10 (030), Juan L (032)
History
March 1st 1992: Keel laid.
February 7th 1993: Launched.
June 4th 1993: Completed.
June 9th 1993: Delivered to Buquebus International, Nassau, Bahamas.
June 3rd 1993: Chartered to Stena Sealink Line Ltd, Ashford.
June 9th 1993: Left builders for Europe.
Stéphane Poulain Collection
July 1st 1993: Arrived Holyhead.
July 15th 1993: Dedicated to the Welsh port by Mrs Glenys Kinnock, wife of Neil Kinnock MP.
July 16th 1993: Commenced service between Holyhead – Dun Laoghaire.
© Andreas Wörteler
June 25th 1994: Final day in operation between Holyhead – Dun Laoghaire.
June 28th 1994: Commenced operations between Fishguard – Rosslare.
June 1995: Covered STENA SEA LYNX II at Holyhead.
© Aubrey Dale (Rosslare, 07/07/1995)
October 15th 1995: Completed her season at Fishguard.
October 18th 1995 – October 31st 1995: Operated between Holyhead – Dun Laoghaire.
1996: Renamed STENA LYNX. Began operations between Holyhead – Dun Laoghaire.
Stéphane Poulain Collection
April 13th 1996 – June 25th 1996: Operated between Newhaven – Dieppe.
© Stéphane Poulain
🆕 © A G Jones
July 4th 1996: Briefly operated between Holyhead – Dun Laoghaire, then sailed direct to Dover.
🆕 © Ken Smith (Dover 27/07/1996)
August 1996: Commenced service between Dover and Calais.
© Andreas Wörteler
October 1996: Commenced Fishguard – Rosslare.
November 8th 1997 – February 1998: Operated between Dover – Calais.
© Stéphane Poulain
February 12th 1998: Commenced service between Stranraer – Belfast.
April 28th 1998: Commenced operations between Fishguard – Rosslare.
September 30th 1998: Charter completed and returned to owners.
1999: Renamed AVANT. Laid up in Valletta, Malta.
1999: Chartered to Virtu Ferries, Valletta, Malta. Operated between Valletta – Pozzallo/Sicilia.
1999: Laid up in Valletta, Malta.
© Elke Wörteler
June 2006: Sold to Dae A Gosok (Dae-A Express Shipping Co. Ltd.) South Korea. Renamed OCEAN FLOWER.
2002: Operated between Busan – Kokura./Mokpo -JeJu (Cheju Do) Island
© Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd
2004: Renamed MANDARIN
© Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd
July 2008: Reported to have been sold and was undergoing refit before sailing to Tahiti.
May 1st 2009: Renamed SEACAT MOOREA and re-flagged to Cambodia with Phnom Penh as her homeport. Its unknown if she ever entered service. Sold to an undisclosed buyer.
March 2017: Last known location is still Cambodia, presumed laid up.
All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions found. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Aubrey Dale, A G Jones, Stéphane Poulain, Ken Smith, Elke Wörteler, Andreas Wörteler, and Incat Tasmania Pty Ltd for their assistance in compiling this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
