Mega Express Two
 Mega Express Two in Bastia | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | (2001–present): Mega Express Two |
| Owner | (2001–present): Corsica Ferries / Mega Express Due S.p.A. |
| Operator | (2001–present): Corsica Ferries |
| Port of registry | (2001–present): Genoa,  Italy |
| Route |
|
| Ordered | 1999 |
| Builder | |
| Yard number | 274 |
| Laid down | 1999 |
| Launched | 25 September 2000 |
| Completed | June 2001 |
| Acquired | June 2001 |
| Maiden voyage | June 2001 |
| In service | 2001 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Orlando Fast Cruise Ferry |
| Tonnage |
|
| Displacement | 14,500 t |
| Length | 176.01 m (577 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 24.80 m (81 ft 4 in) |
| Draught | 6.50 m (21 ft 4 in) |
| Depth | 9.30 m (30 ft 6 in) |
| Decks | 10 |
| Ramps | Stern loading ramps |
| Installed power | 4 × Wärtsilä 12V46C diesel engines (total 46,800 kW / 62,760 hp) |
| Propulsion | 2 × Lips controllable pitch propellers |
| Speed | 29.0 knots (53.7 km/h; 33.4 mph) (service) |
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 70 |
| Notes | Sister ship to Mega Express |
Mega Express Two is a fast ferry belonging to the Corsica Ferries - Sardinia Ferries group. Built between 2000 and 2001 by the Cantiere Navale Fratelli Orlando shipyard in Livorno, it is the sister ship of the Mega Express and the second fast ferry in the Corsica Ferries fleet. It has been operating since June 2001 connections to Corsica and Sardinia from the Italian and French coasts and also serves the Balearic Islands from Toulon since 2018.
History
[edit]Origins and construction
[edit]In 1996, the Bastia-based Corsica Ferries group inaugurated its first high-speed ships on the Corsica and Sardinia routes. On this occasion, a route from the port of Nice was opened, the company's first from the French mainland.
Although the high-speed ferries and the route were a resounding success, Corsica Ferries quickly realized that these vessels occasionally encountered operational difficulties, such as rough seas and strong gusts of wind. The company then commissioned a study for a new type of vessel. Based on the performance of Greek high-speed ferries operating in the Adriatic Sea, the Bastia-based shipowner ordered two initial vessels with similar characteristics in September 1998.[1]
Designed to be faster than conventional ferries, larger and more comfortable than high-speed ferries, they are intended to serve Corsica and Sardinia both day and night.
Construction was entrusted to the Cantiere Navale Fratelli Orlando shipyard in Livorno. The first ship, named Mega Express, was launched in March 2000.
The second, named Mega Express Two, was laid down on April 1, 2000 and launched the September 23. It was delivered to the Corsica Ferries group, in June 1, 2001.[2]
Service
[edit]The Mega Express Two is put into service on June 15, 2001 on the Corsica and Sardinia lines from the ports of Savona, Livorno and Civitavecchia. Transferred to the Sardinian lines in 2010, it finally return to the Corsican service in 2012.[2]
On April 21, 2018 the ship inaugurates the new Corsica Ferries - Sardinia Ferries group route between Toulon and Alcúdia on the island of Majorca.[3] It first arrives in port the following day at 6:30 a.m.[4].
On April 27, in 2018, the departure of the Mega Express Two to Porto Torres was cancelled due to a small crack in a water intake. The passengers therefore spent the night on board before being transferred to the Mega Express Three. The Mega Express Two, meanwhile, headed for Genoa where it was repaired in dry dock.[5]
Facilities
[edit]The Mega Express Two has 10 decks. Passengers occupy decks 5, 6, 7 and 8, while the crew is housed on deck 8. Decks 3 and 4 are used as garages, as well as part of decks 1 and 2.[1]
Common areas
[edit]The Mega Express Two offers its passengers three dining areas, with an à la carte restaurant and a pizzeria-spaghetteria on deck 7 and a self-service restaurant on deck 6 and a bar, a shop and a lounge on deck 7 and a bar-lido with swimming pool on deck 8.
Since the late 2010s, the facilities now have a common name for all ships in the fleet.
Since then, the ferry facilities have been organized as follows:
- Riviera Lounge , a comfortable lounge bar located in the middle of deck 7;
- Lido Beach Bar , outdoor bar with swimming pool at the rear of the ship on deck 8;
- Dolce Vita , an à la carte restaurant located on deck 7 at the rear of the ship;
- Yellow's , a self-service restaurant located at the rear of deck 6 offering classic cuisine;
- Gusto , a self-service restaurant offering Italian-inspired cuisine located in the middle of deck 7;
- Sweet Cafe , a retail outlet located near Yellow's offering hot and cold drinks as well as various pastries;
- Main Street , a small fast-food restaurant sharing the same location as Gusto;
In addition to these facilities, a shop, a children's playroom and an arcade area are located on deck 7.[1]
Cabins
[edit]The Mega Express Two has 300 outside and inside cabins located on decks 5, 6, and 7. Accommodating two to four people, all cabins have private bathrooms, including a shower, toilet, and sink. Four of these are luxury cabins located at the front of deck 7. Like its sister ship, the Mega Express Two's outside cabins feature large portholes, offering unobstructed sea views. Two lounges with seating are also available on deck 5, providing a total of 351 seats.[6]
During a technical stop in 2024, the lounge seating located at the front of deck 5 will be removed and replaced by 18 new cabins.[7]
Features
[edit]The Mega Express Two is 176.38 meters long and 24.82 meters wide, with a tonnage of 26,024 GT. The ship can accommodate 1,756 passengers and has a garage with space for 550 vehicles spread over four levels. The garage is accessible via two ramp doors located at the stern for vehicles. A third, smaller ramp, parallel to the other two, allows pedestrians to directly access the ship's reception area on deck 5. The Mega Express Two is powered by four Wärtsilä-NSD 12V46C diesel engines, each producing 48,600 kW, driving two propellers and propelling the vessel at a speed of 29 knots (52.20 km/h). The ship carries four large lifeboats, a rigid inflatable rescue boat, and several life rafts.[2]
Routes served
[edit]At the beginning of its career, the Mega Express Two made crossings between Italy and Corsica from Savona and Livorno to Bastia and Ajaccio, but also to Sardinia from Livorno and Civitavecchia to Golfo Aranci.[1]
Currently, the ship is assigned to the Corsica Ferries group's routes between the French and Italian coasts to Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearic Islands. Depending on the season, it serves either Corsica from Toulon, Nice, Savona and Livorno to Bastia, Ajaccio, L'Île-Rousse and Porto-Vecchio, or Sardinia from Toulon, Nice and Livorno to Golfo Aranci, and Porto Torres, as well as Majorca from Toulon and Sète to Alcúdia.[2]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "M/S MEGA EXPRESS TWO (2001)". www.faktaomfartyg.se. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
- 1 2 3 4 "M/F Mega Express Two — The Ferry Site". www.ferry-site.dk. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
- ↑ "Es fahren wieder Fähren von Mallorca nach Frankreich". Mallorca Magazin. 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
- ↑ "Corsica Ferries ouvre sa ligne vers les Baléares". www.lemarin.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 2018-06-25. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
- ↑ rédaction, La (2018-04-28). "Un millier de passagers de la Corsica Ferries restent à quai une nuit à cause d'une fissure sur la coque". Nice-Matin (in French). Retrieved 2026-07-28.
- ↑ "'Mega Express' - Deltamarin Ltd". Deltamarin Ltd. Archived from the original on 2024-08-04. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
- ↑ "Mega Express / Mega Express II -". Ship Technology. Archived from the original on 2026-02-11. Retrieved 2026-07-28.