Name: Aero 5 Highspeed Former name: Yu Zhu Hu Owner: Blue Star Ferries Single Member Maritime / Attica Group Operator: Hellenic Seaways Flag: Cyprus Port of registry: Not clearly confirmed in public sources Builder: Brødrene Aa Marine A/S, Norway Yard / hull number: 290 Built / Delivered: 30 September 2018 Acquired by Attica Group: 2026 Status: In service / active on Saronic Gulf routes
Class & type: High-speed passenger catamaran / Passenger Aero Catamaran Classification: China Classification Society / China Class Material: Carbon fibre sandwich / vinylester, based on the Brødrene Aa sister-vessel design Tonnage: 499 GT; Shippax lists 498 GT Deadweight: 33–34 DWT Length: 40.50 m official Hellenic Seaways figure; 40.80 m in builder/orderbook-style databases Beam: 10.80 m Depth: 3.65 m Draught: about 1.20 m design figure; AIS-reported draught around 1.4 m Speed: 32 knots official Hellenic Seaways figure; 34–35 knots in builder/orderbook-style data Passenger capacity: 270 passengers Vehicles: No vehicle garage Main engines: 2 × MTU 16V 2000 M72 Total engine power: 2,880 kW total / 1,440 kW each Propulsion: Waterjets, same Brødrene Aa / Rolls-Royce S63-4 family as the sister units Onboard services: Café/bar, Wi-Fi, charging points, aircraft-type seats, air-conditioning, telemedicine service
Name: Aero 4 Highspeed Former name: Mei Zhu Hu Owner: Hellenic Seaways Single Member Maritime / Attica Group Operator: Hellenic Seaways Flag: Cyprus Port of registry: Not clearly confirmed in public sources Builder: Brødrene Aa, Norway Yard / construction number: Construction no. 285 Built / Delivered: 2017 Acquired by Attica Group: 2026 Status: In service / active in Saronic Gulf routes
SUPERSPEED JET 4 is a Greek high-speed passenger catamaran operated by Seajets. The vessel is well known in Greek coastal shipping, having spent around a quarter of a century under the name FLYINGCAT 4 before joining the Seajets fleet and receiving her current identity in 2026. Built in the United Kingdom, she measures approximately 55 metres in length and is designed exclusively for passengers, with no vehicle deck. Seajets currently lists a capacity of 442 passengers and a maximum speed of 42 knots.
The vessel entered service as SUPERSPEED JET 4 from Piraeus in July 2026, operating a daily high-speed route to Paros, Naxos and Koufonisia. Her introduction marked a significant change in a vessel that had been strongly associated for decades with Hellenic Seaways and the Flyingcat brand. On the new service, SUPERSPEED JET 4 departs Piraeus in the morning and returns in the evening after completing the round trip through the Cyclades.
Her connection with Piraeus remains particularly strong. AIS records from the end of August 2026 show SUPERSPEED JET 4 continuing to perform regular Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Koufonisia rotations, with the vessel returning to Piraeus each evening. On 31 August, for example, she arrived back at Piraeus from Paros at 19:18.
Vessel Details
Name: SUPERSPEED JET 4 Former Names: FLYINGCAT 4, SEA SPEED 1 IMO: 9206748 MMSI: 240317000 Call Sign: SX7749 Type: High-Speed Passenger Catamaran Flag: Greece Built: 1999 Country of Construction: United Kingdom Builder: FBM Marine / Babcock Isle of Wight Operator: Seajets Length Overall: 55.07 m Beam: approx. 13.00 m Draught: approx. 2.5 m Gross Tonnage: approx. 794 GT Deadweight: approx. 100 t Passenger Capacity: 442 Vehicle Capacity: None Maximum Speed: approx. 42 knots On-board Services: Café-bar, pet kennels, e-ticket facilities and Wi-Fi
History
The vessel began her career under the name SEA SPEED 1 before becoming FLYINGCAT 4, the identity under which she became widely known in Greece. For many years she operated with Hellenic Seaways on high-speed passenger routes in the Aegean and Saronic Gulf, regularly sailing from Piraeus.
In 2026 the catamaran entered a new phase of her career after joining Seajets and being renamed SUPERSPEED JET 4. She returned to Cycladic service from Piraeus in July, connecting the port with Paros, Naxos and Koufonisia. Despite being more than 25 years old, the vessel remains in intensive high-speed passenger operation and retains a maximum advertised speed of 42 knots.
PiraeuShips Record
SUPERSPEED JET 4 was recorded at Piraeus by PiraeuShips during her first season under her new Seajets identity in 2026. The recording has additional historical interest because the same vessel had previously been documented for many years as FLYINGCAT 4. Her transformation into SUPERSPEED JET 4 therefore represents a new chapter in the career of one of the most familiar high-speed passenger craft associated with Piraeus.
HYPERSPEED JET 4 is a Greek high-speed passenger and vehicle catamaran operated by Seajets. The vessel is one of the best-known large fast ferries in Greek coastal shipping, having spent the first 26 years of her career under the name HIGHSPEED 4. Built by Austal in Australia in 2000, she was originally delivered to Minoan Flying Dolphins and later became a long-serving member of the Hellenic Seaways fleet before her transfer to Seajets in 2026.
The transfer formed part of Attica Group’s 2026 fleet-renewal programme. HIGHSPEED 4 was sold together with FLYINGCAT 3, FLYINGCAT 4, FLYINGCAT 5 and FLYINGCAT 6 in an en-bloc transaction worth €25 million. Following the sale, the vessel underwent refit and repainting work and was renamed HYPERSPEED JET 4.
Her first commercial service for Seajets took place on 28 May 2026, when HYPERSPEED JET 4 entered service from Piraeus on the Piraeus–Paros–Naxos–Koufonissi–Amorgos route. During the summer she continued operating from Piraeus on Cycladic routes, and AIS records at the end of August showed regular calls at Piraeus, Serifos, Sifnos and Milos.
Vessel Details
Name: HYPERSPEED JET 4 Former Name: HIGHSPEED 4 IMO: 9216183 MMSI: 239658000 Call Sign: SWJD Type: High-Speed Passenger / Vehicle Catamaran Flag: Greece Port of Registry: Piraeus Built: 2000 Delivered: July 2000 Builder: Austal Ships, Fremantle, Australia Yard Number: 97 Design: Austal Auto Express 92 Original Owner: Minoan Flying Dolphins Former Operator: Hellenic Seaways Current Operator: Seajets Length Overall: 92.60 m Beam: 24.00 m Depth: 7.80 m Draught: approx. 3.90 m Gross Tonnage: approx. 6,274–6,330 GT Deadweight: 470 t Passenger Capacity: 1,050 Vehicle Capacity: 188 cars, or approximately 150 cars and 4 buses Main Engines: 4 × Caterpillar 3618 Power: 4 × 7,200 kW – 28,800 kW total Propulsion: 4 × KaMeWa 112 SII waterjets Service Speed: approx. 40.5 knots Maximum advertised speed by Seajets: 42 knots
History
The vessel was delivered in July 2000 as HIGHSPEED 4 to Minoan Flying Dolphins and entered service in the Aegean shortly afterwards. Austal described her at the time as a 92-metre Auto Express fast ferry designed specifically for Greek island operations, carrying 1,050 passengers and 188 cars. Her initial service included intensive rotations between Piraeus, Paros and Naxos.
Through the successive corporate changes from Minoan Flying Dolphins to Hellas Flying Dolphins and eventually Hellenic Seaways, the vessel retained the HIGHSPEED 4 name and became closely associated with high-speed services from Piraeus to the Cyclades. She remained under that identity until 2026.
In March 2026, Attica Group agreed to sell HIGHSPEED 4 and four Flyingcats to Seajets. After refit work and a change to Seajets colours, the vessel emerged as HYPERSPEED JET 4, beginning a new chapter while remaining based largely around the same Piraeus–Cyclades market in which she had operated since delivery.
HYPERSPEED JET 4 and Piraeus
The vessel’s connection with Piraeus stretches back to the beginning of her career. Austal recorded HIGHSPEED 4 operating from Piraeus immediately after delivery in 2000, and she remained a regular presence at the port for more than two decades.
Her first appearance at Piraeus under the new HYPERSPEED JET 4 identity took place on 28 May 2026, marking her return to the port in Seajets colours after her long career with Hellenic Seaways.
PiraeuShips Record
HYPERSPEED JET 4 was recorded at Piraeus by PiraeuShips during her first season under Seajets ownership in 2026. The recording is particularly significant because the same vessel had been part of the Piraeus shipping scene since 2000 as HIGHSPEED 4. Her change of name and operator therefore represents a new chapter in the career of one of the most recognisable high-speed ferries associated with the port.
