HSC Jaume II
ex Seacat Rapide, Rapide, Holyman Rapide, Condor 12, Incat 038
© Nigel Thornton
Aluminium 81 Metre ‘Wave Piercing’ catamaran built in 1996 by International Catamarans (Incat) Australia Pty Ltd, Hobart, Australia (Yard No 038) as a car and passenger ferry for International Catamarans Pty Ltd, Hobart, Australia
Technical Data
- Length: 81.15m
- Breadth: 23.00m
- Draught: 2.14m
- Tonnage: 4,112 gross/328 deadweight
- Engines: Four 10-cyl, Ruston diesels (as built)
- Power: 16,200 kW (as built)
- Speed: 38.7 knots (service), 44 knots (max)
- Capacity: 649 passengers and 80 cars
- Call Sign: C6OT3, IBXX (2005), EAES (2006 – 2018), 5BED5
- IMO number: 9116113
- Registry: Singapore 🇸🇬 (1996-1997), Luxembourg/Luxembourg 🇱🇺 (1997-2000), Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸 (2000-2005), Genoa/Italy 🇮🇹 (2005) Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸 (2005-2006), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria / Spain 🇪🇸 (2006-2018), Limassol/Cyprus 🇨🇾 (2018- )
- Sister ships: Stena Lynx III (Incat 040), Seacat Diamant (Incat 041)
Current AIS Location
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History
February 17th 1996: Launched.
February 24th 1996: Christened.
© Justin Merrigan
April 1996: Delivered to the Holyman Group as the CONDOR 12, registered in the Bahamas.
August 8th 1996 – January 30th 1997: In service with Condor Ferries between Weymouth – Jersey – Guernsey.
© Rob de Visser
February 1997: Transferred to Holyman Sally (Luxemburg) SA, Luxemburg. Renamed HOLYMAN RAPIDE.
© Ken Larwood
March 1st 1997: Commenced service between Oostende – Ramsgate.
© Andreas Wörteler
Dover Ferry Photos Archives
© Pieter Inpyn
February 9th 1998 – March 6th 1998: Chartered to Condor Ferries.
March 1998: Transferred to Hoverspeed Holyman Ltd, Luxemburg. Renamed RAPIDE.
March 6th 1998: Commenced service between Oostende – Dover. In the winter operated between Dover – Calais.
© Pieter Inpyn
March 1st 2001: Commenced service between Liverpool – Dublin.
March 28th 2002: Commenced service between Belfast – Heysham.
August 21st 2002: After an engine-room fire placed in service between Belfast – Heysham.
© Aubrey Dale (Donegall Quay, Belfast 10/09/2002)
March 27th 2003: Commenced service between Belfast – Troon.
September 2003: Transferred to the Bahamas flag, home port Nassau.
June 3rd 2004 – June 13th 2004: Chartered to Isle Of Man Steam Packet for services to and from the Isle Of Man.
June 2004 – November 1st 2004: Operated between Belfast – Troon
October 8th 2004: Arrived at Sunderland from Belfast for yard lay-up and repainted in the new Hoverspeed colours.
Dover Ferry Photos Archives (Leaving Sunderland 2005)
February 4th 2005: Arrived at Dover from Sunderland
© Nigel Thornton
March 17th 2005: Commenced seasonal sailings to Calais.
March 24th 2005: First of seasons sailings undertaken by the SEACAT DIAMANT.
June 29th 2005: Seen named as SEACAT RAPIDE.
© Nigel Thornton
November 4th 2005: Hoverspeed announces early closure on Dover-Calais route.
November 2005: Laid at up on the Tyne.
May 6th 2006: Joined DIAMANT and EMERAUDE FRANCE at Tilbury and remains laid up
June 2006: Sold to Balearia, Spain.
June 16th 2006: “It looks as though she is undergoing a refit and a getting a new paint job at the moment. She has had Balearia.com painted on the side.”
June 17th 1641 hrs: Sailed from Tilbury Dock to Palma.
July 2006: Renamed JAUME II.
© Carlos Poveda
© Ignacio (Courtesy of Incat)
2006: In Service Registered owner: Baleria Address: s/n, Estacion Maritima, Denia Spain. Ship manager: Baleria Address: s/n, Estacion Maritima, Denia Spain.
© Daniel Ferro
May 2016: In service Algeciras – Ceuta.
© Juan G Mata
February 2017: It was announced that the fast ferry JAUME II would receive a €5.5 million refit which would involve the replacement of her four main engines and a complete internal upgrade. The new engines will not only see a 10% reduction in fuel consumption and a 70% reduction in NOx (nitrogen dioxide) emissions but are stated to be more reliable than the old power plant. The work is to be completed at Astilleros del Guadalquivir shipyard.
“Baleària upgrades ‘Jaume II’ high-speed ship to improve energy efficiency, reliability and service
This week work begins on the construction of the Jaume II Balearic fast ferry at the Guadalquivir Shipyard, where it will be replaced by four main engines to improve its propulsion system and reduce both fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. The installation of the new engines, valued at more than 5.5 million euros, is part of the company’s investment plan to modernize its fleet and ensure a better service to customers.
Baleària’s president, Adolfo Utor, has indicated that the new engines “will be 10% more energy efficient”, which will reduce NOx emissions by more than 70%. Utor has also remarked that this intervention will increase the reliability and speed of the vessel, which “will be able to maintain a cruising speed of 35 knots”.
In addition to the remodelling works, it is also planned a renovation of the interior spaces of the ship to gain in comfort and modernity. All the seats and the carpet of the halls will be changed, a salon will be enabled, the cafes and their exhibitors will be reformed and more light installed in all the passage areas of the boat.
The vessel, which has a capacity for 600 passengers, has an 81-meter length and a 26-inch sleeve, offers accommodation in an armchair and upper armchair and has a cafeteria, shop and services for transporting pets and people with reduced mobility among others.”
Source: Balearia
December 11th 2018: Departed Algeciras and sailed for the Caribbean (via Tenerife).
December 2018: Re-registered to Cypriot flag.
© Alex Marrero (Santa Cruz, Tenerife, 13/12/2018)
January 2019: Under the banner “Balearia Caribbean” commenced four weekly sailings between Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Freeport on the island of Grand Bahama. She replaced her fleetmate the JAUME I (ex Stena Lynx II).
August 2019: Launched a new service between Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the island of Bimini in the Bahamas.
© Wil Weijsters (Departure from Port Everglades on 23/02/2020)
July 2020: Services suspended due to a spike in local COVID-19 cases in the Bahamas. The company hoped to resume services on the 5th November 2020.
October 30th 2020: Baleària Caribbean announced that they would postpone their scheduled November 5th, 2020 passenger transport reopening date until further notice due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
February 11th 2021: Services resumed following the a Covid-19 pandemic. During the first phase of the restart, the ferry will travel once a week (on Thursdays) to Freeport, Grand Bahama. They anticipate a second sailing on Sundays will be implemented at the end of February and, based on demand, the company hopes to increase the number of sailings per week by March.
August 2023: Still in service with Baleària Caribbean serving the Port Everglades to Freeport and the Port Everglades to Bimini routes.
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: Wil Weijsters, Aubrey Dale, Daniel Ferro, Rob de Visser, Pieter Inpyn, International Catamarans Pty Ltd (Incat), Ken Larwood, Alex Marrero, Juan G Mata, Justin Merrigan (Sealink-Holyhead), Carlos Poveda and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in compiling this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
