HSC Champion Jet 2

	HSC Champion Jet 2 in Santorini
History
Name	HSC Champion Jet 2
Owner	2015 onwards: Seajets; 1997-2014: Condor Ltd;
Operator	2015 onwards: Seajets; 1997-2014: Condor Ferries;
Port of registry	Limassol, Cyprus
Route	1997-2015 Poole/Weymouth - Channel Islands 2015 onwards - Santorini - Rethymno
Builder	Incat, Tasmania, Australia
Cost	£27 million
Yard number	042
Laid down	18 March 1996
Launched	24 November 1996
Completed	1996
Maiden voyage	31 January 1997 [1]
Identification	IMO number: 9135896
Status	In Service
General characteristics
Tonnage	5,007 gt
Length	86.62 m (284.2 ft)
Beam	26 m (85.3 ft)
Draft	3.5 m (11.5 ft)
Installed power	4 × 9,490bhp (7,080kw) Ruston 20RK270 diesel engines
Propulsion	4x Lips LJ145D waterjets
Speed	up to 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph)
Capacity	800 passengers; 200 vehicles;

The HSC Champion Jet 2 is a catamaran ferry owned by Seajets. Between 1997 and early 2015, she was operated by Condor Ferries and ran between England and the Channel Islands as Condor Express .

History

Champion Jet 2 was built in 1996 by Incat in Hobart, Australia originally for use by Condor Ferries then joint owned by Commodore Shipping of Guernsey and Holyman. The vessel known then as Condor Express, was the first of a series of four 86 metre catamarans.

Condor Express arrived in her home waters from her builders in January 1997 and was opened to the public in Poole before taking up service between Weymouth and the Channel Islands later that month replacing Condor 12. On 1 March 1997, Condor Express opened the Poole-Channel Islands service for Condor Ferries after operating what was planned to be the last sailing from Weymouth for the company the day before. Condor Express' first year in service was marred by a series of technical problems resulting in delays and cancellation of what was now the only car and passenger ferry service to the Channel Islands. As a result of these problems the governments of Guernsey and Jersey put the licence to operate the service to England out to tender. Condor Express' engines were subsequently modified along with those of her sister ships and she provided a more reliable service based in Weymouth year round with seasonal services from Poole. As part of a bid to improve service as part of the tender agreement Condor Express and her sister Condor Vitesse were fitted with a Club Lounge and an area of reclining seats.

Condor Express received an updated version of the Condor Ferries livery in 2003.

In August 2005 Condor Express briefly ran on the Brittany Ferries Poole-Cherbourg service. She had been experiencing technical problems and so Condor Vitesse was transferred to the more taxing Channel Islands service. During this time Condor Express did not sail to St Malo, instead running an afternoon round trip to Cherbourg to ensure she would return to Poole in time for the 07:30 Brittany Ferries departure time. Condor Express ran once again for Brittany Ferries on 19 May 2008.

On 14 January 2015, it was announced that she would be sold to Greek firm Seajets with her sister ship HSC Condor Vitesse, owing to her replacement by Condor Liberation. Seajets renamed it HSC Champion Jet 2.^[1]