HSC Express finds (another) new home on the Baltic.
HSC Express to become Viking FSTR. Baltic ferry operator Viking Line have announced that they will operate the former Larne – Troon fast craft HSC Express on their Helsinki – Tallinn route later in 2017. Renamed Viking FSTR, the vessel which is on charter, will operate from 10th April to October 22nd with a crossing time across the Gulf of Finland of 1 hour and 45 minutes. Viking FSTR (Viking Faster) joins the conventional ferry Viking XPRS on the route for Viking, operating in competition with Tallink’s Star, Silja Europa, and recently launched Megastar. A third operator on the route, Linda Line, operates the passenger only catamaran’s HSC Merlin and HSC Karolin with a 90 minute crossing time. By comparison Tallink complete the passage in 2 hours, whilst Viking XPRS lags behind at 2.5 hours. The Helsinki to Tallinn route is very popular with shoppers who are keen to take advantage of the difference in tax rates … Read more
