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Mega Express Four history





1995-07-22: the ship, with the name of Superfast II, takes service for the company Superfast Ferries (Attica Group) on the Patras-Ancona line. From 1998 to 2003 is used on the Patras-Igoumenitsa-Bari line, but from October 1999 to January 2000, it is used again on the Patras-Ancona to substitute the Superfast III.

2003-06: the ship is sold to the TT-Line Company Pty Ltd for about 60 millions €. In September is transferred to the shipyards Neorion of the island of Syros in Greece, where carries out works of refit, among which the removal of the swimming pool of the deck 8. On the 10th of October it begins its transfer to Tasmania with the new name of Spirit of Tasmania III, reaching Hobart on the 30th of October. In four weeks 32 cabins are added for the crew, between the forebridge and the funnel and the ex lido-zone astern the funnel is modified, becoming an enclosed space.

2003-12-19: the ceremony of the baptism takes place and, in January 2004, the boat begins its service between Sydney and Devonport, with 3 weekly departures and a journey of 20 hours.

2004-05-02: due to the bad weather during the journey, the bow visor of the superior garage is damaged, therefore it is decided to remove it and the access is definitively closed, brazing a sheet steel.

2006-07: the ship is sold to the Corsica Ferries for about 65 millions €, and accomplishes its last journey between Sydney and Devonport on the 27th of August. It is consigned during the month of September and takes the new name of Mega Express Four. The transfer to Europe begins on the 9th of September from the port of Melbourne and foresees calls in Gladstone, Singapore and Suez. On the 4th of October the boat calls at the port of Bastia, where it is presented to the French Press.

2006-10-05: the ship arrives in Italy at the port of Vado Ligure, where the first works of adaptation start. From the 19th of October to the 3rd of November the ship carries out dry docking works in Genoa, assuming the colours of the Corsica Ferries Sardinia Ferries; besides, the typical "wings" of the Superfast Ferries ships funnels are removed.

2006-11-06: maiden voyage with the new colours on the line Savona-Bastia. The Mega Express Four is employed on the lines to Corsica together with the Mega Express Two in November and with the Mega Express in December; its entrance into service allows in fact to send the two Mega Express to the annual maintenance.

The timetable foresaw therefore during two weeks the following journeys:
  • on Monday Bastia-Savona (dep. 08.15, arr. 12.45), Savona-Bastia (dep. 15.00, arr. 19.30) and Bastia-Toulon (dep. 21.00, arr. 07.00);
  • on Tuesday Toulon-Bastia (dep. 21.00, arr. 07.00);
  • on Wednesday Basia-Livorno (dep. 08.15, arr. 11.30), Livorno-Bastia (dep. 13.30, arr. 16.45) and Bastia-Toulon (dep. 21.00, arr. 07.00);
  • on Thursday Toulon-Bastia (dep. 21.00, arr. 07.00);
  • on Friday Bastia-Savona (dep. 08.15, arr. 12.45), Savona-Bastia (dep. 15.00, arr. 19.30) and Bastia-Toulon (dep. 21.00, arr. 07.00);
  • on Saturday Toulon-Ajaccio (dep. 08.15, arr. 14.30), Ajaccio-Nice (dep. 15.30, arr. 21.00) and Nice-Bastia (dep. 22.30, arr. 07.00);
  • on Sunday Bastia-Nice (dep. 08.10, arr. 13.30), Nice-Bastia (dep. 14.30, arr. 19.50) and Bastia-Toulon (dep. 21.00, arr. 07.00);
  • on Monday Toulon-Ajaccio (dep. 08.15, arr. 14.30), Ajaccio-Toulon (dep. 15.30, arr. 21.45) and Toulon-Bastia (dep. 22.30, arr. 07.00);
  • on Tuesday Bastia-Nice (dep. 08.10, arr. 13.30), Nice-Bastia (dep. 14.30, arr. 19.50) and Bastia-Toulon (dep. 21.00, arr. 07.00);
  • on Wednesday Toulon-Bastia (dep. 21.00, arr. 07.00);
  • on Thursday Bastia-Toulon (dep. 21.00, arr. 07.00);
  • on Friday Toulon-Ajaccio (dep. 08.15, arr. 14.30), Ajaccio-Toulon (dep. 15.30, arr. 21.45) and Toulon-Bastia (dep. 22.30, arr. 07.00);
  • on Saturday Bastia-Nice (dep. 08.10, arr. 13.45), Nice-Calvi (dep. 14.30, arr. 18.15) and Calvi-Nice (dep. 21.00, arr. 07.00);
  • on Sunday Nice-Ajaccio (dep. 08.15, arr. 13.30), Ajaccio-Toulon (dep. 15.30, arr. 21.45) and Toulon-Bastia (dep. 22.30, arr. 07.00).

2006-12-21: the ship is transferred on the Livorno-Golfo Aranci line, where it sails together with the Mega Express Three. The journeys have been carried out prevalently during the night (dep. 21.00, arr. 07.00), with the exception of the 23rd and 24th of December and of the 5th and 6th of January, when it sailed also during the day. The ship is in service on this line till the 8th of January, when it is transferred in Greece, to carry out works of transformation.

2007-01-10: the ship arrives in Perama and is subjected to intense works of transformation, like the addition of superstructures on the stern. These recall in their aspect the ones present on the Mega Express 1 and 2, with the typical "tower" with inside the helicoidal stairs; the new spaces are used also to create chair-rooms, bar-self service, a new information bureau and, on the superior deck, a new swimming pool.