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HSC Sunflower 2

ex Stena Lynx III, Elite, P&OSL Elite

Aluminium catamaran built in 1996 by Incat (International Catamarans) Australia Pty. Ltd., Hobart, Australia (Yard No. 040) for American Fast Ferries Ltd, Nassau, Bahamas. Chartered to Stena Line Ab, Göteborg as a car and passenger ferry. Launched May 18th, 1996.

Technical Data

Length

80.61m

Breadth of Hull

26.00m

Draught

3.145m

Tonnage

4,113 gross, 1,745 net, 310 deadweight

Engines

Four 16-cyl, Ruston diesels

Power

16,2000 kW

Speed

37.0 knots (service), 44 (max)

Capacity

670 passengers, 148 cars

Call Sign

C6NU2

MMSI Number

309524000

IMO Number

9129328

Registry

Bahamas

History

May 18th 1996: launched.

May 26th 1996: Delivered to American Fast Ferries Ltd, Nassau, Bahamas. Chartered to Stena Line Ab, Göteborg.

June 28th 1996: Arrived in Dover.

July 4th 1996 - March 22nd 1996: Operated between Dover - Calais.

July 9th 1996: Christened in Dover by television personality Anthea Turner.

March 26th 1997: Commenced service between Newhaven - Dieppe.

March 10th 1998: Transferred to P&O Stena and renamed ELITE. Still operated Newhaven - Dieppe.

1998: Registered to P&O Stena Line. Renamed P&O STENA ELITE.

November 1st 1998: Renamed STENA LYNX III.

December 7th 1998: Commenced service between Fishguard - Rosslare.

October 2002: Laid up for the winter at A&P Tranmere Basin, England.

2003 - September 27th 2003: Operated between Fishguard - Rosslare.

September 28th 2003: Charter to Stena Line completed . Renamed ELITE. Left Fishguard for A&P Birkenhead.

September 28th 2003: Laid up at A&P Birkenhead.

2004: Sold to Stena Line, Nassau, Bahamas.

March 28th 2004: Renamed STENA LYNX III.

March 28th 2004: Left Belfast for Fishguard.

April 4th 2004: Commenced service between Fishguard - Rosslare.

September 29th 2004: Laid up for the winter at A&P Appeldore.

April 2005 - September 2005: Operated between Fishguard - Rosslare.

September 2005: Laid up.

April 24th 2006 - September 25th 2006: Operated between Fishguard - Rosslare.

October 2006: Laid up at NSL Bidston.

May 2nd 2007 - September 23rd 2007: Operated between Fishguard - Rosslare.

January 1999: Operated Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire.

February 1999: Belfast - Stranraer.

September 2007: Laid up at NSL Birkenhead.

May 2nd 2008: Commenced Fishguard - Rosslare.

August 6th 2008: Experienced engine problems.

September 2008: Finished service between Fishguard and Rosslare

May 4th 2009: Re-enters service between Fishguard and Rosslare.

September 2009: Finishes service between Fishguard and Rosslare, lays up in Dublin.

February 19th 2010: Damaged following a collision with a shore installation in Holyhead.

March 15th 2010: Enters service between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire.

September 5th 2010: Completes service between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire.

April 1st 2011: Enters service between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire.

May 26th 2011: Completes service between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire.

July 1st 2011: Enters service between Fishguard and Rosslare.

September 4th 2011: Completes service between Fishguard and Rosslare.

October 2011: It was announced that the Stena Lynx III had been sold to Dae-A Express Shipping Ltd, Pohang, South Korea. She was renamed Sunflower 2.

October 21st 2011: Departs Dun Laoghaire for South Korea.

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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: Ian Collard, Stéphane Poulain and Andreas Wörteler for there assistance in compiling this feature.