User:Mbruce/MS Bimini Superfast

MS Bimini Superfast is a fast ropax ferry operated by by Resorts World from Miami to their Bimini bay Resort and casino. Built in 2001 as Superfast VI by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel, Germany for Attica Group's subsidiary Superfast Ferries, she was sold to her current owners in 2013.

Concept and construction
The Superfast VI was built at HDW in Kiel for Superfast Ferries' Adriatic Sea services, along with her sister ship Superfast V. She was the second ship in the third pair of ropax ferries built for Superfast Ferries from various yards in Northern Europe. She was ordered in July 1998, alongside sister ship MS Superfast V and another pair for Baltic sea services, Superfast VII and VIII She was launched from dry dock on 11 March 2000 and was due to be delivered at the end of July 2000, but after many moths of delays due to technical problems, she was delivered to Superfast Ferries on 6 February 2001. After many moths of delays due to technical problems, Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) was forced to pay hefty penalties due to the late delivery.

2001-2013: Superfast VI
Superfast VI entered service on 2 March 2001 on Superfast Ferries Patras—Igoumenitsa-Ancona route. In March 2013 the Superfast VI was sold to Genting Group, she was handed over to her new owners on 6 April 2013.

2013 onwards: Bimini Superfast
After Genting Group took over their new ship, she was renamed Bimini Superfast. She departed Patras and sailed to Malaga in Spain for remodeling. After a few weeks she departed Malaga and sailed to USA for final fitting out works to be completed. Bimini Superfast was due to begin service on the 6 June 2013 but the US Coast Guard did not approve the ship to sail in US waters, due to deficiencies with the crew and the ship, even though it had been sailing in Europe for many years with no compliance issues. After several weeks of work, the US Coast Guard gave Bimini Superfast final clearance to sail. On 20 June 2013 she finally made her first crossing from Miami to Bimini. Once in Bimini, passengers disembark to visit Resorts World Bimini Bay Resort and Casino. Currently the ship anchors off the Bimini coast, and passengers are ferried to the island by tender, until the construction on the pier and terminal on the island is complete. Part of the business plan of Genting for the Bimini Superfast was to carry out evening gambling and party cruses to nowhere, but due to visa issues with the hotel staff being foreign nationals, the US government has ruled that they can no longer offer these cruises, as the passengers never set foot in anther country. As a consequence Bimini Superfast completed her last cruise to nowhere on 18 November 2012.