HSC One World Karadeniz

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One World Karadeniz, formerly Stena Explorer, is a high-speed catamaran ferry that was built in Finland for Stena Line. It is part of the HSS 1500 class and, for many years, was the fastest and largest of its kind.

Key facts
- Built by Finnyards in Rauma, Finland. Yard number 404.
- Construction: laid down June 1994; launched May 1995; completed February 1996; entered service April 1996.
- Cost: about £65 million.
- Size and capacity: length 126.6 m, beam 40.0 m, draft 4.8 m; tonnage 19,638 GT.
- Power and propulsion: four GE gas turbines (COGAG) and four KaMeWa waterjets; speed around 40 knots.
- Capacity: up to 1,500 passengers, 375 cars, and 800 lane metres of vehicle space.
- Registry: Liberia (1996–2015); then London, United Kingdom (2015–present).
- Original route: Holyhead to Dún Laoghaire (Ireland) from 1996 to 2014, with rapid loading using a ropeless linkspan. Typical crossing time was about 99 minutes.

Service history
- Operated for Stena Line on the Holyhead–Dún Laoghaire route for many years.
- The timetable was gradually reduced as fuel costs rose. Stena Line replaced the ship with other services, and the Holyhead–Dún Laoghaire route was withdrawn in 2014.
- The vessel remained in service until late 2014, after which it was taken out of the Stena Line fleet.

Later use and status
- In 2015 the ship was sold to Karadeniz Holding (Turkey) and renamed One World Karadeniz.
- It was moved to Yalova near Istanbul and repurposed as a floating office, research space, and power generator as part of Karadeniz’s Powerships project.
- By 2016 the vessel was on the market for sale, with asking prices around £4.5–£6.5 million.
- Current status: moored at Karmarine shipyard in Yalova, Turkey, used as a stationary facility.

Notable incidents
- 1998: An IRA attempt to smuggle cars loaded with explosives on board was detected and stopped.
- 2001: Generator fire in the engine room of the port pontoon during docking; injuries were avoided.
- 2004: Hull damage from a wave.
- 2006: Struck a submerged object and was holed beneath the waterline, but there were no injuries.