Soflusa "Almeida Garrett" – Damen Shipyards Singapore DFF 4912

Ferry operated by Soflusa seen on the Tejo River heading to Barreiro in September 2019. This ferry of the catamaran type, named "Almeida Garrett" and registered LX-3195-TL, is a Damen Shipyards Singapore ¹ DFF 4912 completed in 2004, hull/yard number 59/530107. Aluminum hull and superstructure. It has an overall length of 161.4 ft and can accommodate 600 passengers (600+4). Modell Møbler seats. It uses two 1740 kW (2366 hp) MTU 12V 4000 M70 main engines and two HamiltonJet HM811 water jets. Service speed is 22 knots. Its class originally includes nine vessels – "Damião de Goes", "Augusto Gil", "Miguel Torga", "Fernando Namora", "Gil Vicente", "Jorge de Sena", "Almeida Garrett", "Fernando Pessoa" and "Antero de Quental". In 2015 or 2016, the "Augusto Gil" leaves the Soflusa fleet to be operated in South Korea by the Korea Express Ferry Co., Ltd. (고려고속훼리(주)), named "Korea Star (코리아스타). Peculiarity of this class, the first four vessels in the order (53, 54, 55 and 56) are equipped with two 2320 kW (3111 hp) MTU 16V 4000 M70 main engines, while the remaining ones (57, 58, 59, 71 and 72) are equipped with two 1740 kW (2333 hp) MTU 12V 4000 M70 main engines. As a note of interest, in Damen's nomenclature, "DFF 4912" indicates a "Damen Fast Ferry" with a length and beam of approximately "49" and "12" m. In general, "fast ferries" are considered to be vessels capable of transporting more than 50 passengers at average speeds above 25 knots (29 mph).

Established in 1992 and based in Lisboa, Soflusa ² provides the connection between Lisboa (Terreiro do Paço) and Barreiro in the estuary of the Tejo River. It is, since 2001, part of the Transtejo group. Here, we see the "Almeida Garrett" heading to Barreiro, a crossing of approximately 4.7 nautical miles. Partially visible, the cruise ship "Celebrity Reflection". The name "Almeida Garrett" pays tribute to this Portuguese writer. ●

Ferry operado pela Soflusa visto no Rio Tejo a caminho do Barreiro em Setembro de 2019. Este ferry do tipo catamaran, com o nome de "Almeida Garrett" e registado LX-3195-TL, é um Damen Shipyards Singapore ¹ DFF 4912 completado em 2004, número de casco/construção 59/530107. Casco e superestrutura em alumínio. Possui um comprimento total de 49,20 m e pode acomodar 600 passageiros (600+4). Assentos Modell Møbler. Utiliza duas máquinas principais MTU 12V 4000 M70 de 1740 kW (2366 hp) e dois jactos de água HamiltonJet HM811. A velocidade de serviço é de 22 nós. A sua classe inclui originalmente nove embarcações – "Damião de Goes", "Augusto Gil", "Miguel Torga", "Fernando Namora", "Gil Vicente", "Jorge de Sena", "Almeida Garrett", "Fernando Pessoa" e "Antero de Quental". Em 2015 ou 2016, o "Augusto Gil" deixa a frota da Soflusa para ser operado na Coreia do Sul pela Korea Express Ferry Co., Ltd. (고려고속훼리(주)), com o nome de "Korea Star (코리아스타). Peculiaridade desta classe, as primeiras quatro embarcações da encomenda (53, 54, 55 e 56) são equipadas com duas máquinas principais MTU 16V 4000 M70 de 2320 kW (3111 hp), enquanto as restantes (57, 58, 59, 71 e 72) são equipadas com duas máquinas principais MTU 12V 4000 M70 de 1740 kW (2333 hp). Na nomenclatura da Damen, "DFF 4912" indica um "Damen Fast Ferry" (ferry rápido Damen) com comprimento e boca de aproximadamente "49" e "12" m. De uma forma geral, consideram-se "ferries rápidos", embarcações capazes de transportar mais de 50 passageiros a velocidades médias superiores a 25 nós (46 km/h).

Estabelecida em 1992 e baseada em Lisboa, a Soflusa ² assegura no estuário do Rio Tejo a ligação entre Lisboa (Terreiro do Paço) e o Barreiro. Aqui, vemos o "Almeida Garrett" a caminho do Barreiro, uma travessia de aproximadamente 4,7 milhas náuticas. Parcialmente visível, o navio de cruzeiros "Celebrity Reflection". O nome "Almeida Garrett" presta tributo a este escritor português. ● 

¹  "Damen Shipyards Group", Gorinchem, Netherlands / "Damen Shipyards Singapore Pte Ltd. ", Singapore (1990–pd)

²  "TTSL – Transtejo Soflusa" ("Transtejo, S.A." and "Soflusa – Sociedade Fluvial de Transportes, S.A.")

Soflusa "Damião de Goes" Class  

Based in Lisboa, Soflusa operates the Lisboa (Terreiro do Paço)–Barreiro regular service in the estuary of the Tejo River.

Name	Registration	OL/TS	Built
Damião de Goes	LX-3197-TL	49,2 m 30 kn	Damen Shipyards Singapore 2003 #53/530101
Augusto Gil ¹  Korea Star	LX-3196-TL	49,2 m 30 kn	Damen Shipyards Singapore 2003 #54 (530102?)
Miguel Torga	LX-3201-TL	49,2 m 30 kn	Damen Shipyards Singapore 2003 #55/530103
Fernando Namora	LX-3198-TL	49,2 m 30 kn	Damen Shipyards Singapore 2003 #56/530104
Gil Vicente	LX-3199-TL	49,2 m 30 kn	Damen Shipyards Singapore 2004 #57/530105
Jorge de Sena	LX-3200-TL	49,2 m 30 kn	Damen Shipyards Singapore 2004 #58/530106
Almeida Garrett	LX-3195-TL	49,2 m 30 kn	Damen Shipyards Singapore 2004 #59/530107
Fernando Pessoa	LX-3203-TL	49,2 m 30 kn	Damen Shipyards Singapore 2004 #71/530108
Antero de Quental	LX-3202-TL	49,2 m 30 kn	Damen Shipyards Singapore 2004 #72/530109

¹  In 2015, the "Augusto Gil" is sold to Korea Express Ferry Co., Ltd. (고려고속훼리(주)) and renamed "Korea Star" (코리아스타). Used on the Incheon–Deokjeokdo and Incheon–Yeonpyeongdo services.

Due additions or corrections are welcome. 

● Where did the "Augusto Gil" go? Meet the KEF fleet (2023)

SOUTH KOREA

KEF (Korea Express Ferry) 

Based in Incheon, South Korea (Republic of Korea), Korea Express Ferry Co., Ltd. (고려고속훼리(주)) provides passenger and car ferry services from Incheon to Deokjeokdo Island, Yeonpyeongdo Island, Jinhae and Geojed.

Name	Registration	OL/TS/GT	Built
Korea Pride	9945588	72 m 41 kn 1680	Kangnam Corporation (South Korea) 2022 #?
Cat Nº1 ¹ Merilin  El Dorado Korea Prince	9194256	52,4 m 40 kn↘34 668	Austal Ships (Henderson, Australia) 1999 #80
Fjordkongen ² Korea King	9328998	45,5 m 35 kn 534	Kvaerner Fjellstrand (Omastrand, Norway) 2005 (2004-12) #1672
Korea Express Car Ferry	9834935	79 m 20 kn 903	Samkwang Shipbuilding & Engineering (South Korea) 2017 #250
Flying Viking ³  Termoli Jet Ongjin Family	9258399	44 m 31 kn↗33 452	Kvaerner Fjellstrand (Omastrand, Norway) 2002 #1661
Augusto Gil ⁴ Korea Star	9283356	49,2 m 30 kn↘25 494	Damen Shipyards Singapore 2003 #54 (530102?)
Hansestar ⁵ Willem Barentsz  Koreana	9172820	33 m 36 kn↘28 226	Lindstøl Skips & Båtbyggeri (Risør) 1997 #308
Delta 2 ⁶ Emir Sultan Korea Peace	9518684	37,5 m 33 kn 302	Damen Shipyards Singapore 2008 #60/538602
Fjorddronningen ² Korea Princess	9328986	43,6 m 36,5 kn↘35 534	Kvaerner Fjellstrand (Omastrand, Norway)   2005 (2004-10) #1671

↗↘ Based on published data, original value raised or decreased.

¹  Originally delivered to German operator Reederei Norden-Frisia and used on the Nord Sea in inter-island services. In 2007, sold to Estonian operator Lindaliini (Tallinn), renamed "Merilin" and used on the "Linda Line Express" Tallinn–Helsinki route. In 2017, sold to South Korean operator Daezer Shipping, renamed "El Dorado" and used on the Pohang (포항)–Ulleungdo (울릉)–Dokdo (독도) route. At some point, integrated in the Korea Express Ferry Co., Ltd. (고려고속훼리(주)) (Incheon) fleet.

²  "Fjorddronningen" and" Fjordkongen" are sister ships (#1671 and 1672) originally delivered to Norwegian operator Troms Fylkes Dampskibsselskap and used on the Tromsø–Finnsnes–Harstad coastal route (aprox. 2 ½ hours). In 2014, "Fjorddronningen" is sold to South Korean operator Taesung Marine Transport Co. (Ulreung) and renamed "Woori Nuri Nº 1". At some point, integrated in the KEF fleet and renamed "Korea Princess". Also in 2014, "Fjordkongen" is sold to South Korean operator KEF and renamed "Korea King".

³  Originally "Flying Viking", chartered to German operator Förde-Reederei Seetouristik Flensburg and briefly used (2002) on the Hamburg–Wedel–Cuxhaven–Helgoland route. In 2004, sold to Italian operator Logistica Trasporti Molise, renamed "Termoli Jet" and destined for connections in the Adriatic Sea between the Molise and Croatian coasts. In 2016, sold to South Korea. At some point, integrated in the KEF fleet, named "Hongjin Family".

⁴  In 2015, sold to Korea Express Ferry Co.,Ltd. (고려고속훼리(주)) and renamed "Korea Star". Used on the Incheon–Deokjeokdo and Incheon–Yeonpyeongdo services.

⁵  Delivered to german operator Elbe-City-Jet Schnellfähren (Drochtersen) and used on various services on the Elbe River. In 2008, sold to Dutch operator Eigen Veerdienst Terschelling, renamed "Willem Barentz" and used on the Harlingen–Terschelling route. In 2010, sold to South Korea. At some point, integrated in the KEF fleet, named "Koreana".

⁶  Delivered to Hong Kong Northwest Shipping Express Co., Ltd. (香港西北航運快線有限公司) and used on cross-border services between Hong Kong (Tuen Mun Pier) and Macau. In 2012 or 2013 sold to Turkish operator BURULAŞ (Bursa Ulaşım Toplu Taşıma İşletmeciliği) / BUDO (Bursa Deniz Otobüsleri İşletmesi) and used between Bursa and Istanbul. Later sold to South Korea. At some point, integrated in the KEF fleet, named "Korea Peace".

Due additions or corrections are welcome.

● References 

Wikipedia | "Transtejo & Soflusa" 

Wikipedia | "Transtejo & Soflusa" pt-PT

Wikipedia | "Damen"

Wikipedia | "MTU Friedrichshafen"

HamiltonJet | "Nine 49m HamiltonJet Powered Fast Ferries for Lisbon" JetBrief #365 August 2004

HamiltonJet | "HamiltonJet HM Series" brochure

ShipSpotting | "Almeida Garrett" 

Transtejo | "Damião de Goes"

Transportes XXI | "Classe Almeida Garrett"

Wikipedia | "Ferry"

Wikipedia | "Catamaran"

Wikipedia | "Lisboa"

Wikipedia | "Lisboa" pt-PT

Wikipedia | "Barreiro" 

Wikipedia | "Barreiro" pt-PT 

Wikipedia | "Almeida Garrett"

Wikipedia | "Almeida Garrett" pt-PT

1 kg → 2.205 lb avdp

1 t (metric) – 2204.623 pound (lb) (avdp)

1 kW → 1,360 hp (metric/PS)

1 kW → 1,341 hp

1 hp (metric/PS) → 0,986 hp

1 km → 0,621 mile (international)

1 m → 3.281 ft 

1 nautical mile → 1.15078  mile → 1,852 km

1 kn or knot → 1.15078 mph → 1,852 km