HSC Champion Jet 3
ex Condor Rapide, Sea Leopard, SpeedOne, Winner, Incat 045, HMAS Jervis Bay, Incat 045
Departing Dover Western Docks © Nigel Thornton
Aluminium 86 Metre ‘Wave Piercing’ catamaran built in 1997 by International Catamarans (Incat) Australia Pty Ltd, Hobart, Australia (Yard No 045) as a car and passenger ferry for International Catamarans Pty Ltd, Hobart, Australia
Technical Data
- Length: 86.62m
- Breadth: 26.00m
- Draught: 3.628m
- Tonnage: 5,007 gross/2,059 net/415 deadweight
- Engines: Four 20-cyl, Ruston 20RK270 diesels.
- Power: 28,320 kW.
- Speed: 40,5 knots
- Capacity: 900 passengers, 200 cars
- Call Sign: MEPE8, C6YK8, EAVE, 5BGW6
- IMO Number: 9161560
- MMSI Number:209653000
- Registry: Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸, Madeira/Portugal 🇵🇱, Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸, Dover/United Kingdom 🇬🇧, Nassau/Bahamas 🇧🇸, Spain 🇪🇸, Limassol/Cyprus 🇨🇾
- Sister ships: Incat 042, Incat 043, Incat 044
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Current AIS Location
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History
November 25th 1996: Keel laid.
July 3rd 1997: Launched as INCAT 045.
© Justin Merrigan
July 12th 1997: Completed at her builders and registered owner recorded as International Catamarans Pty. Ltd., Hobart, Australia. (Registered in Bahamas).
© Incat
July 1997: Chartered to Transport Tasmania, Devonport, Australia for two weeks. Operated between Melbourne – Devonport.
April 1999: Chartered to the Australian Fleet. Renamed HMAS JERVIS BAY. Rebuilt at Incat with, amongst other things, bigger fuel tanks.
© Incat
June 10th 1996: Operated with the Australian Marine service.
May 11th 2001: Returned to her owners and renamed INCAT 045. Laid up with her builders.
April 2002: Chartered to Traghetti Isole Sarde, (TRIS), Italy. Renamed WINNER.
© Incat
© Justin Merrigan
May 2002: Commenced service between Genoa – Palau.
© Carlo Martinelli (Genoa, 23/08/2002)
September 2002: Charter to TRIS completed and laid up in Genoa.
November 2002: Laid up in Portland, Dorset.
© Incat
January 2004: Chartered to Speed Ferries.
2004: Renamed SPEED ONE
© Speed Ferries
April 30th 2004: Sea berthing/trials from Portland to Boulogne. Then fitting out and storing at Dover
© Nigel Thornton
May 19th 2004: Maiden voyage between Boulogne – Dover.
August 28th 2004 – August 30th 2004: Blew a cylinder-head gasket, when leaving Boulogne, which brought exhaust fumes onto the car deck. The vessel was evacuated and the sailing cancelled.
September 7th 2004: One of her four engines failed, but continued whilst running repairs were made, resulting in a loss of speed to 10 knots.
September 2004: Went for a minor refit, lasting 1 week, including technical refit and interior update
2004 (winter): Continued service, although on reduced sailings.
October 7th 2004: Minor collision with SEAFRANCE CEZANNE in Dover. The problem was put down to a mechanical fault and resulted in minor paint abrasions.
© Jean-Guy Hagelstein
2005: Re-emerged for the season with added “advertising” (only on the starboard side of her hull)!
© Jean-Guy Hagelstein
April 11th 2005: Laid up at Admiralty Pier (safety procedure exercises)
April 12th 2005: To Portsmouth for annual refit (expected date of return 25th/26th April 2005)
© Peter Wearing
April 25th 2005: Arrived back in Dover.
© Nigel Thornton
April 27th 2005: Resumed Dover – Boulogne.
© Nigel Thornton
2005 (summer): Minor damage received to the bow after a collision with the breakwater.
© Peter Wearing
March 13th 2006: To Portsmouth for refit.
March 26th 2006: Returned to Dover.
April 7th 2006: Following a fishermen strike, the Boulogne port was blocked, so the SPEED ONE tried to berth in Calais. She was unable to do so, with SeaFrance seafarers blocking the berth.
July 16th 2006: “Whilst at berth 1 Eastern Docks suffered the effects of a bow wave from SEAFRANCE BERLIOZ. A motorcycle and car on her car-deck were moved by the force of the movement. Not known whether there were any injuries. An investigation is taking place where the outcome…………..”.
© Ray Goodfellow
November 29th 2006: Operating but subject to delay of approximately 2 hours owing to technical problems.
November 29th 2006 – December 8th 2006: A period of severe gales interrupted operations from the Western docks with a number of crossings cancelled.
© Ray Goodfellow (Stormbound at the Prince of Wales pier in Dover 08/12/2006)
March 2nd 2007: Arrived at Portsmouth for refit.
March 3rd 2007: Dry docked.
March 28th 2007: Arrived back in Dover and berthed at the Hoverport ramp.
© Robert Fournier
March 30th 2007: Commenced service from the refurbished Hoverport ramp at the Western Docks.
© Ray Goodfellow (Departing on her second commercial crossing from the hoverport on the 30/03/07)
December 28th 2007: Whilst manoeuvring to her lay-by berth Speed One made contact with the Prince of Wales pier and holed herself below the waterline and started to take on water.
Posted 23:07 GMT “COASTGUARD COORDINATE PUMPING OPERATION FOLLOWING FERRY INCIDENT
At just after 8.00 pm this evening Dover Coastguard was informed that the ferry Speed 1 had been involved in an incident whilst alongside at Dover. The ferry was holed by the Port engine and was beginning to take water. Speed 1 was out of service so there were no passengers onboard , but there were eight crew.
The Coastguard requested Dover Lifeboat to launch and bring its pump and the Folkestone Coastguard Rescue Team picked up another pump and brought it to the ferry. Kent Fire and Rescue Service also attended and brought their four pumps, whilst a liaison officer worked alongside Coastguards who were co-ordinating the incident in the Dover Coastguard operations room. The crew remained onboard the vessel to assist with the pumping operation.
The flooding is now under control. Divers will inspect the damage inside the vessel and make temporary repairs tonight. Weather on scene has been challenging with 30 knot winds gusting to 42 knots.”
January 9th 2008 (09.00hrs): Due to arrive at Portsmouth for refit.
January 30th 2008: Left Portsmouth bound for Dover (ETA 20.30 hrs).
January 31st 2008: Resumed service.
© Robert Fournier
May 20th 2008: Incat announcement made that Speed Ferries had purchased the craft.
© John Mavin (Dover, 14/06/2008)
November 6th 2008: Arrested in Boulogne for non-payment of port taxes.
© Jean Guy-Hagelstein (Under arrest in the Port of Boulogne)
November 13th 2008: Announcement made that Speed Ferries had gone into Administration with assets to be sold.
November 19th 2008: Sailed to Tilbury to await disposal.
January 14th 2009: It appeared that SpeedFerries owed Dover Harbour Board £238,000 and Port of Boulogne £1.3million.They also had a Marine Mortgage of £10 million with Bank of Scotland. They owed Incat just over £1.5 million.
March 11th 2009: Information suggested that the vessel would be available for sale with sealed bids to be in by April 21st 2009.
May 12th 2009: Media reports stated “Epic Shipping are the new owners of SPEED ONE and she has been renamed SEA LEOPARD. She will remain at Tilbury until a charter is secured but she has lost her Speedferries markings
August 8th 2009: Departed Tilbury bound for refit at Falmouth.
August 10th 2009: Arrived at Falmouth.
Dover Ferry Photos Archives
August 21st 2009: To dry-dock number 3 at Falmouth.
September 14th 2009: Completed refit and returned to Tilbury where she continues to be laid up.
March 26th 2010: Announcement that she had been sold to Condor Ferries to operate St Malo – Jersey – Guernsey.
April 1st 2010: Renamed CONDOR RAPIDE and departed Tilbury for Weymouth.
April 1st 2010: Arrived in Weymouth
May 13th 2010: Commenced services between St Malo – Jersey – Guernsey.
September 2010: Suffered mechanical problems and taken out of service for repairs.
2011: Funnel painted in red instead of white.
© Nicholas Levy
February 6th 2014: Crew went on strike, claiming for the ship to be registered in France. “This would have enabled the crew to be paid at French wages, but also to benefit the French Welfare System. “. Remained berthed until agreement reached.
February 20th 2014: Resumes sailings between St Malo and the Channel Islands.
February 22nd 2014: To Falmouth for refurbishment and overhauling. Livery change where three stripes, Red, Blue and Green were added on her sides.
© Ray Goodfellow (Departing St Malo 19/04/2014)
May 4th 2014: Open days were made on board after which she continued St Malo – Jersey – Guernsey.
© Nicholas Levy
© Frank Heine (St Malo, 05/07/2014)
March 2016: To Falmouth for dry-docking and was repainted to new Condor Ferries’ brand colours . Her accommodation decks were also refurbished.
March 24th 2016: Back in service.
© Nicholas Levy
© Ray Goodfellow (July 2016)
April 17th 2017: Operated on reduced power and on a revised schedule. One of her engines was taken off line while the engineering team carried out an investigation. No conclusive results were found.
© Frank Heine (St Malo, 17/06/2017)
June 27th 2018: In Cherbourg for a scheduled week-long refurbishment. Work included minor structural repairs, electrical upgrades and work on the Wärtsilä waterjet propulsion system on the ferry’s port outer main engine.
© Brigitte Barnes (09/10/2018)
May 6th 2019: Suffered an electrical problem with one of the engines. Had to spend the night in Saint-Malo.
May 7th 2019: Again suffered electrical problems, The ferry which was due to depart at 8 a.m., finally left the port only at 11 a.m. The delays continued all day.
March 23rd 2020: Services France to the Channel Islands suspended owing to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
© Carsten Dettmer (Departing St Malo, 02/07/2020)
July 5th 2020: First passenger service to Guernsey after Coronavirus Pandemic “lockdown”. Then sailed to Poole.
July 3/4/5th 2020: Proposed sailings between Jersey and France cancelled owing to industrial action by stevedores in the port of St Malo.
July 11/12/13th 2020: Proposed sailings between Jersey and France cancelled for the second time because of industrial action by dock workers.
July 16th 2020: Repositioned to St. Malo and laid up.
November 25th 2020: St Malo to Portsmouth for berthing trials.
January 16th 2021: Poole to Falmouth for annual maintenance. The programme of work included repairs to the ferry’s jetivators, aluminium structure and car deck ramp repairs. Its hull was also prepared before being repainted.
© Geoff Hoather (Falmouth, 17/01/2021)
February 2nd 2021: Left dry-dock.
February 4th 2021: Arrived in Poole before sailing to St Malo.
April 14th 2021: Sailed “in Ballast” to Poole for maintenance/lay up.
April 18th 2021: Arrived at Poole from St Malo and further lay up.
May 6th 2021: Sea trials.
May 19th 2021: Sailed to St Malo.
May 20th 2021: Departed St Malo and sailed to Jersey – Guernsey – Jersey.
May 24th 2021: Jersey – St Malo.
May 25th 2021: Departed St Malo.
May 25th 2021: Arrived Poole and laid-up owing to “….. no Condor Rapide sailings between the Channel Islands and France until at least 11 June 2021. The ferry company says it’s because of low passenger numbers and the ongoing Covid situation in France and other parts of Europe.
“Services were due to resume this Friday (29th May), when international travel is allowed from Jersey again.”.
© Brigitte Barnes (Poole, 01/06/2021)
July 2021: Announcement that the vessel was sold to Trasmapi, a Spanish ferry operator for services Algeciras – Tanger.
July 7th 2021: Departed Poole for Vigo. (eta: 09/07/2021).
July 9th 2021: Arrived in Vigo where she will be refurbished at Metalships facilities for service with Trasmapi.
Artists Impression
April 29th 2022: Registered Owner: Condor Ltd, Channel Islands. Registered Manager; Carrer d’Arago 71, 07800 Ibiza/Eivissa (Illes Balears), Spain.
May 1st 2022: Renamed INCAT45.
August 2022: Remains laid up in Vigo. Port Authority in Algeciras has refused docking permission.
© Quique Blanco Tarrela
May 2023: Conducted sea trials
August 2nd 2023: Sold to Seajets, Piraeus, Greece.
“The Greek shipping company Seajets has finalized another acquisition in the high-speed ferry market, the latest purchase being the high-speed catamaran Incat 045 (ex Condor Rapide) owned by the Spanish shipping company Trasmapi.
The Greek company Seajets also has in its fleet the 2 twin catamarans Champion Jet 1 (ex Condor Vitesse) and Champion Jet 2 (ex Condor Express).
August 30th 2023: AIS indicated that the vessel had been renamed CHAMPION JET 3, registered in Cyprus.
October 14th 2023: Left Vigo on her delivery voyage to Greece.
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: Brigitte Barnes, Carsten Dettmer, Robert Fournier, Frank Heine, International Catamarans Pty (Incat), Nicholas Levy, Carlo Martinelli, John Mavin, Stéphane Poulain, Justin Merrigan, Peter Wearing and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in compiling this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
