Tera Jet
Tera Jet is a high-speed Ro-Pax ferry operated by the Greek company Seajets. Built in 1999 by Fincantieri in Italy, she is recognized as the largest high-speed craft in the world. Originally named Scorpio, the vessel was a pioneer of the "Jupiter MDV 3000" [2] class of super-fast ferries designed for the Italian Mediterranean routes.
Career and Owners
Tirrenia di Navigazione (1999–2011): The ship was built for this Italian state-owned giant. It was the pride of their "Jupiter MDV 3000" class. They operated it as Scorpio until fuel costs forced them to lay it up in 2004.
- Karina Shipping / Sea Breeze Navigation (2011–2014): During the period after Tirrenia's financial troubles, the ship was sold to holding companies. It was briefly named Scorpio I and Sea Breeze III while it sat in lay-up, waiting for a buyer who could afford the high maintenance of its gas turbines.
- Seajets (2014–Present): Purchased by Marios Iliopoulos for Seajets, it underwent a massive renovation in Perama to become the Tera Jet we see today.
Italian Career (Scorpio)
Launched as Scorpio for Tirrenia di Navigazione, the ship was part of a prestigious four-ship series (including sisters Aries, Taurus, and Capricorn). During her early years, she served the Genoa–Porto Torres route, reaching speeds over 40 knots. However, due to the extreme fuel consumption of her gas turbines during the mid-2000s fuel crisis, she and her sisters were laid up in 2004. Unlike her sister ships, which were eventually sold for scrap, Scorpio was saved and sold to Greek interests in 2012.
Greek Career (Tera Jet)
After a major refit in Perama, the vessel debuted for Seajets in 2014 as Tera Jet. She became the flagship of the Seajets fleet, primarily serving the Heraklion–Santorini and Rafina–Cyclades routes. Her massive capacity of 2,100 passengers and 600 cars made her a "game-changer" in the Aegean, as she could carry the load of a conventional ferry at twice the speed. In 2020, she was used to transport refugees from the North Aegean islands to Athens, and more recently has served the Piraeus–Milos route.
History
MDV 3000 Class and Italian Service
Built by Fincantieri at the Riva Trigoso shipyard, Tera Jet was the third of four "Jupiter MDV 3000" class vessels ordered by Tirrenia di Navigazione in the late 1990s. Her sister ships were the Aries, Taurus, and Capricorn. At the time of their launch, they were the largest and fastest monohull high-speed craft in the world.
She served high-speed routes between mainland Italy and Sardinia, but the global increase in fuel prices in the mid-2000s made the operation of her massive gas turbines financially unsustainable. While her sisters Aries and Taurus were eventually sold for scrap in Turkey in 2011, Tera Jet and Capricorn remained laid up in Italy until being rescued by Greek interests.
Humanitarian Operations
In September 2015, during the European migrant crisis, Tera Jet was chartered[1] by the Greek Ministry of Shipping. She performed multiple emergency voyages from the island of Lesbos (Mytilene) to the Port of Piraeus, transporting up to 1,700 refugees per trip to alleviate the overcrowding on the islands.
Technical Specifications
The propulsion system of the ''Tera Jet'' is a CODAG (Combined Diesel and Gas) configuration. For maneuvering and lower speeds, she uses her four MTU diesel engines. For high-speed transit, her two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines—derived from aircraft engines—are engaged to provide a massive boost in power to her four waterjets.
Onboard Facilities
The vessel features four passenger decks connected by escalators and elevators.
- Seating: 2,100 numbered airplane-type seats divided into Economy, Business, and VIP/Platinum lounges.
- Dining: Three large bars, including a central 400-seat cafeteria and a smaller open-deck bar.
- Amenities: A boutique shop, specialized pet-holding areas, a clinic, and full air-conditioning throughout.
- Garage: Two main vehicle decks and two mezzanine decks, allowing for a total capacity of 600 cars or a combination of 30 trucks and 450 cars.
References
- ↑ BHMA, TO (2015-09-08). "Third ship chartered to transfer refugees from Mytilene". ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ (in Ελληνικά). Retrieved 2026-01-05.
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- Seajets Official Fleet Profile – Technical details from the current operator.
- HSC Tera Jet at The Ferry Site – Complete history, former names, and sister ship details.
- VesselFinder: TERA JET – Real-time AIS position and voyage history.
- ShipSpotting Gallery: Tera Jet – High-resolution photos of the vessel in both Tirrenia and Seajets liveries.
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