HSC Levante Jet

HSC Levante Jet is a high speed craft ferry operated by DFDS Seaways on a route connecting Jersey in the Channel Islands to Poole, England.

Akane in 2020
History
Name	2015-2021: Akane 2021-present: Levante Jet
Owner	2015-2021: Sado Kisen 2021-2024: FRS Iberia/Maroc 2024-present: DFDS Seaways
Operator	2015-2021: Sado Kisen 2021-2024: FRS Iberia/Maroc 2024-present: DFDS Seaways
Port of registry	Dover, United Kingdom[1]
Route	Poole⇄Jersey
Builder	Incat, Tasmania, Australia
Yard number	068
Launched	March 12, 2015
In service	2015
Identification	IMO number: 9722819 MMSI number: 210287000 Callsign: 5BYV5
Status	in active service
General characteristics
Type	HSC ferry
Tonnage	5,337 GT
Length	85.2 m (279 ft 6 in)
Beam	26.2 m (85 ft 11 in)
Draft	3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
Installed power	4 × 20 cylinder Waterjets Caterpillar C280-16 diesel engines 22600 kW
Speed	max 40.0 knots (74.1 km/h; 46.0 mph)
Capacity	692 passengers 151 cars

History

HSC Levante Jet was completed in 2014 by Incat Australia Pty. Ltd. and was delivered in March 2015. She was first named Incat 068 by Incat.

Sado Kisen

Levante Jet entered service with Sado Kisen in 2015 as Akane. She operated routes linking Jōetsu and Ogi before being put up for sale on November 15, 2020.^[2]

FRS

In 2021, the vessel was sold and entered service with FRS Iberia/Maroc^[3] and was renamed Levante Jet. She connected Ceuta to Algeciras while in service.^[4]

DFDS

In December 2024, after DFDS Seaways won the bid to be Jersey's new ferry company,^[5] DFDS said it would deploy the Levante Jet on services between Poole and Jersey.^[6] On 3 January 2025, DFDS Seaways announced that the Levante Jet would be reflagged to the UK prior to her deployment on Poole to Jersey route on 17 April 2025.^[7]

Meanwhile, the sister island of Jersey, Guernsey chose Brittany Ferries in their tender bid.^[8]

Layout

The catamaran has an overall length of 85.20 meters, a beam of 26.20 m and a draft of 3.40 m, the gross tonnage amounts 5,537 GT. The machinery consists of four 20 - cylinder Waterjet Catterpillar C280-16 engines with a total output of 226000 kW (38,500 HP) allowing a maximum service speed of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph). 692 passengers and 151 cars can be accommodated on board; the car deck is accessed via stern ramps.^[9]