HSC Express 4

Express 4 is a high speed catamaran built by Austal for Molslinjen.

HSC Express 4 at Austal, September 2018
History
Name	Express 4
Owner	Molslinjen
Operator	Molslinjen
Port of registry	Aarhus, Denmark
Builder	Austal, Perth, Western Australia
Cost	c. A$100 million (2016) (equivalent to A$117 million in 2022)[1]
Yard number	393
Laid down	2017
Launched	October 2018[2]
Completed	Late 2018 (scheduled)
Acquired	30 January 2019[3]
Maiden voyage	14 March 2019
Identification	IMO number: 9824564 MMSI number: 219705000 Callsign: OXND2
Status	In Service
General characteristics
Class & type	RoPax
Tonnage	10,500 GT
Length	109 m (358 ft)
Beam	30.9 m (101 ft)
Draft	3.4 m (11 ft)
Decks	2
Ramps	1
Installed power	4 x MAN 20V28/33D, 9.1 MW each 4x Scania generators
Propulsion	4 x Wartsila Waterjets
Speed	47.8 kn (55.0 mph)
Capacity	1,006 passenger, 425 cars
Crew	22
Notes	2 car decks

History

Molslinjen ordered Express 4 in June 2016, at a cost of about A$100 million.^[4] In April 2017, construction began at Austal's Henderson shipyard with the ceremonial first aluminum cutting.^[5] In August 2018, the ship was launched, with fitting out and sea trials scheduled to be completed by the end of the year ahead of entry into service in early 2019.^[6]

Express 4 left the construction hall on 27 August 2018 and was launched in October.^[7] Since being delivered, she has operated between Aarhus and Odden, Denmark.^[4]

Design

Express 4 measures 109 metres (358 ft) long, with a beam of 30.5 metres (100 ft) and a draft of 3.4 metres (11 ft).^[4] She can carry up to 1,006 passengers and 22 crew, and has two vehicle decks with space for 425 cars and an additional 610 lane meters for freight vehicles.^[4] She is powered by four 20-cylinder MAN engines producing 9,100kw at 1,000rpm that drive 4 Wartsila Waterjets via a reduction gearbox, giving her a service speed of 40 knots (46 mph) and a maximum speed of 47.8 knots (55.0 mph).^[4]