Hoverspeed
Encyclopedia
Seaspeed
Seaspeed was the joint hovercraft operations of British Rail in association with the French SNCF....
and Hoverlloyd
Hoverlloyd
Hoverlloyd operated a cross-Channel hovercraft service between Ramsgate, England to Calais, France. It operated four SR.N4 type hovercraft and was a rival to Seaspeed .-Company ownership:...
, was a ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
company that operated on the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
from 1981 until 2005.
The last owners were Sea Containers Ltd
Sea Containers Ltd
Sea Containers Ltd. is a Bermuda-registered company which operates two main business areas: transport and container leasing.In March 2006 the company sold its share of Orient-Express Hotels...
; the company ran a small fleet of two high-speed SeaCat
SeaCat
SeaCat was the marketing name used by Sea Containers Ferries Scotland for its services between Northern Ireland, Scotland and England between 1992 and 2004. The company was originally based in Stranraer later moving to Belfast...
Catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
ferries in its final year.
Hoverspeed is notable for its part in developing the hovercraft
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
, and ran six SR.N4 Mountbatten class hovercraft and one SEDAM N500 Naviplane
N500 Naviplane
The N500 Naviplane was a French hovercraft built by SEDAM in Pauillac, Gironde.- Manufacture :Two models were built:...
. Hoverspeed last operated hovercraft on its Dover to Calais service. They were withdrawn on 1 October 2000 and replaced by Seacat catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
s.
Routes
Throughout its history Hoverspeed has operated several routes. These were:Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
- Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
(1981–2005) Hovercraft, Seacat and SuperSeaCat service
- Hoverspeed's primary service was established by British Railways owned SeaspeedSeaspeedSeaspeed was the joint hovercraft operations of British Rail in association with the French SNCF....
in 1968 with the car carrying SRN 4 Hovercraft The Princess Anne and The Princess Margaret. Seaspeed were not the first hovercraft service between Dover and Calais, Townsend Car Ferries had operated a passenger only SRN 6 in 1966. Hoverlloyd also ran hovercraft services in 1966 to Calais but from RamsgateRamsgateRamsgate is a seaside town in the district of Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century and is a member of the ancient confederation of Cinque Ports. It has a population of around 40,000. Ramsgate's main attraction is its coastline and its main...
. Seacats were introduced on the route on 2 June 1991. It was intended that the Seacats would replace the remaining SRN 4 hovercraft but this did not happen until 2000. The Dover – Calais service has seen all members of the Hoverspeed fleet operation on it at some point. The route closed on 7 November 2005, the Seacat Diamant operating the last crossing.
Dover - Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
(1968–1993) Hovercraft and Seacat service.
- The Dover-Boulogne route was opened in 1966 by Townsend Car Ferries using an SRN6 passenger-only hovercraft. In 1993 Hoverspeed closed the Dover-Boulogne route after deciding that the Hoverport at Le Portel (near Boulogne-sur-Mer) was no longer required, and the SeaCat operation moved to nearby Folkestone.
Dover - Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
(1998–2003) Seacat and Superseacat service.
- After the failure of the Holyman Sally Line service from Ramsgate to Ostend HolymanHolymanHolyman was an Australian company that operated cargo ships and ferries in Australia and other countries worldwide. The company had three divisions; Domestic shipping and transport services, Ferries and Bulk commodity handling....
became partners with Hoverspeed and moved the service to Dover. The 81m IncatINCATINCAT is a part of Tata Technologies Limited, a company in the Tata Group and operates in the field of Automotive Industry providing Engineering and Design solutions. The company took over a much larger player in the field namely INCAT, a Europe based company, in 2005...
fastcraft used on the service lost their 'Holyman' prefix and became the Rapide and Diamant. Sea Containers later bought HolymanHolymanHolyman was an Australian company that operated cargo ships and ferries in Australia and other countries worldwide. The company had three divisions; Domestic shipping and transport services, Ferries and Bulk commodity handling....
's share in the operation and the fastcraft.
Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
- Boulogne (1993–2000) Seacat service.
- After transferring the Boulogne route to Folkestone, Hoverspeed used Hoverspeed Great Britain and kept the hovercraft at Dover. In 2000 the Hoverspeed service ended and in 2001 the port at Folkestone closed to all ferry traffic after the termination of the Falcon Marfreight service.
Newhaven
Newhaven, East Sussex
Newhaven is a town in the Lewes District of East Sussex in England. It lies at the mouth of the River Ouse, on the English Channel coast, and is a ferry port for services to France.-Origins:...
- Dieppe
Dieppe, Seine-Maritime
Dieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
(1999–2004) Superseacat and Seacat service
- Hoverspeed took over the high-speed passenger service after P&O Stena Line'sP&O Stena LineP&O Stena Line was formed in 1998 after the merger of P&O European Ferries Ltd and the Dover and Newhaven operations of Stena Line.-History:...
withdrawal the year before. The route was continued using SuperSeaCat One. Hoverspeed's last service on the route was at the end of the 2004 summer season. Despite taking bookings for 2005 they withdrew from the route: a deal that would have seen Transmanche Ferries charter Superseacat One for the route fell through.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
- Cherbourg (1990–1991)
- Hoverspeed's first Seacat route using the Hoverspeed Great Britain; this was closed on 6 January 1991 after a series of technical problems throughout the operating season.
Hoverspeed briefly ran services from Ramsgate Pegwell Bay
Pegwell Bay
Pegwell Bay is a shallow inlet in the English Channel coast at the estuary of the River Stour between Ramsgate and Sandwich in Kent. Situated in the bay is a large nature reserve, known for its migrating waders and wildfowl, with a complete series of seashore habitats including extensive mudflats...
Hoverport in 1982 which had been the base of Hoverlloyd hovercraft services.
Hovercraft
- The Princess Anne (built 1968).
- Built by British Hovercraft Corporation for Seaspeed and stretched in 1977. Transferred to Hoverspeed on creation of the company in 1981. Withdrawn in 2000. Currently at the Hovercraft MuseumHovercraft MuseumThe Hovercraft Museum, located in Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire, England, is dedicated to hovercraft.The museum has a large collection of various designs of hovercraft - numbering over sixty at the last count...
at HMS Daedalus.
- The Princess Margaret (built 1968).
- Built by British Hovercraft Corporation for Seaspeed and stretched in 1977. Transferred to Hoverspeed on creation of the company in 1981. Withdrawn in 2000. Currently at the Hovercraft Museum at HMS Daedalus.
- Swift (built 1969).
- Built by British Hovercraft Corporation for Hoverlloyd. Transferred to Hoverspeed on creation of the company in 1981. Withdrawn in 1991. Scrapped in 2004.
- Sure (built 1969).
- Built by British Hovercraft Corporation for Hoverlloyd. Transferred to Hoverspeed on creation of the company in 1981. Withdrawn in 1983. Scrapped at Pegwell Bay between 1983 and 1987.
- Sir Christopher (built 1972).
- Built for by British Hovercraft Corporation for Hoverlloyd. Transferred to Hoverspeed on creation of the company in 1981. Scrapped in 1998.
- The Prince Of Wales (built 1977).
- Built by British Hovercraft Corporation for Hoverlloyd. Transferred to Hoverspeed on creation of the company in 1981. Scrapped after an electrical fire in 1993.
- Ingénieur Jean Bertin (built 1977).
- A SEDAM N500 hovercraft built for Seaspeed by SNCFSNCFThe SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
. Transferred to Hoverspeed in 1983 after a number of modifications, but was returned to the SNCF later that year after Hoverspeed decided that she was not suitable for their services. Scrapped in 1985 at the Boulogne Hoverport.
Incat 74 m Catamarans
- Hoverspeed Great Britain (built 1990).
- Former holder of the Hales Trophy for fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. initially entered service on Portsmouth – Cherbourg but transferred to Dover – Calais/Boulogne and later to Folkestone – Boulogne. Chartered to Emeraude FerriesEmeraude FerriesEmeraude Ferries was a shipping company which operated vehicle and passenger ferries between the french city of Saint-Malo and the Channel Islands. The company ceased trading in May 2006 following strong competition and difficulties in finding a suitable vessel for the 2006 season.-History:Emeraude...
in 2004 and was renamed Emeraude GB. In 2005 she was chartered to Aegean Speed Lines in Greece running from Piraeus (Athens) - Folegandros as Speedrunner 1.
In service with Hoverspeed 1990 - 1991, 1993–2000 and 2002 - 2003. Left fleet in 2003, laid up.
- Hoverspeed France (built 1991).
Operated for Hoverspeed under several names, she was renamed Seacat Boulogne in 1993, transferred to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (IOMSPC) as Seacat Isle of Man in 1994 but returned under that name to Hoverspeed in 1996 and 1997. In 1996 renamed Seacat Norge and chartered to ColorSeacat, a joint venture between Sea Containers Ltd and Color Line. Renamed Seacat Isle of Man again in 1997 and had her final season with Hoverspeed on the Dover - Calais route in 1998 before returning to IOMSPC as Seacat Isle of Man. In 2005 she was chartered to Irish Sea Express and renamed Sea Express 1 for the duration. The charter ended later that year and she reverted to Steam Packet service. On February 3, 2007 she collided with the Alaska Rainbow in thick fog off in the River Mersey, sustaining severe damage to her Starboard hull. Over 2007 she was laid up and latterly repaired. She was renamed Snaefell in December 2007 and prepared for service in 2008 for the Steam Packet.
In service with Hoverspeed 1991 - 1992, 1993–1994, 1996–1997 and 1997 - 1998. Left fleet in 1998, sold.
- Hoverspeed Belgium (built 1991).
Was renamed Hoverspeed Boulogne before entering service in 1992. In 1993 she was transferred to Sea Containers Ltd route from Frederikshavn
Frederikshavn
This article is about a Danish town. For the German town, see Friedrichshafen, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Frederikshavn is a Danish town in Frederikshavn municipality, Region Nordjylland on the northeast coast of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. Its name translates to...
to Göteborg as Seacatamaran Danmark, this was shortened to Seacat Danmark in 1994. Up to 1997 she provided overhall cover on various Hoverspeed and Sea Containers Ltd ferry routes but remained on Dover - Calais between 2000 to 2003. She was transferred to SNAV in a joint venture with Sea Containers Ltd initially as Pescara Jet but is now named Zara Jet.
In service with Hoverspeed 1991 - 1993, 1996–1997 and 2000 - 2003. Left fleet in 2003, laid up.
- Seacat Tasmania (built 1990).
Operated for Hoverspeed in 1992 on the Folkestone - Boulogne route and in 1993 on Dover - Calais along with the Folkestone service. Renamed Seacat Calais in mid-1993 before being chartered out in late 1993. She returned to Hoverspeed in 1999 and ran on the Dover-Calais service. In 2000 she moved to the SNAV/Sea Containers Ltd joint venture as Croazia Jet before again returning to Hoverspeed in 2002 as Seacat France. She was chartered by Emeraude Ferries
Emeraude Ferries
Emeraude Ferries was a shipping company which operated vehicle and passenger ferries between the french city of Saint-Malo and the Channel Islands. The company ceased trading in May 2006 following strong competition and difficulties in finding a suitable vessel for the 2006 season.-History:Emeraude...
as Emeraude France for two months in 2005. She was sold to an unknown buyer for a reported US $2 million in February 2007 though has not yet departed her Tilbury lay-up. She was found to be sold to Maritime Charter Sales of Douglas, Isle of Man. She is to be used on the Isle of Man Steam Packet
Isle of Man Steam Packet
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Limited is the oldest continuously operating passenger shipping company in the world, celebrating its 180th anniversary in 2010....
's routes starting Monday 12 March 2007.
In service with Hoverspeed 1992 - 1993, 1999–2000, 2002 and 2004 - 2005. Left fleet in 2005. Sold in 2007 and currently on charter.
- Seacat Scotland (built 1992).
Built for Sea Containers Ltd Stranraer
Stranraer
Stranraer is a town in the southwest of Scotland. It lies in the west of Dumfries and Galloway and in the county of Wigtownshire.Stranraer lies on the shores of Loch Ryan on the northern side of the isthmus joining the Rhins of Galloway to the mainland...
- Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
SeaCat service, which in 2000 changed to Belfast - Troon
Troon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire. It is situated on the west coast of Scotland, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Lying across the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran can be seen. Troon is also a port with freight and ferry services...
which is only 30 minutes from Glasgow, the service closing altogether, on Monday 1 November 2004. SeaCat Scotland left Belfast seemingly for ever on Thursday 28 November 2002 at 0600. She has operated for Hoverspeed on the Dover - Calais route in 1992, 2003 and 2004.
In service with Hoverspeed 2003 - 2004. Left fleet in 2004, sold in 2007. Now named Al Huda I.
Fincantieri MDV1200 Superseacats
Four Superseacats were order by Hoverspeed's parent company Sea Containers Ltd after the original Superseacat design built by Austal Ships failed to meet the speed required.- Superseacat One (built 1997). Entered service in 1997.
- After operating on Sea Containers Ltd FrederikshavnFrederikshavnThis article is about a Danish town. For the German town, see Friedrichshafen, and for the Finnish town, see Fredrikshamn .Frederikshavn is a Danish town in Frederikshavn municipality, Region Nordjylland on the northeast coast of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. Its name translates to...
to Göteborg route the vessel entered service with Hoverspeed in 2000 on the Newhaven - Dieppe route. In 2001 she moved to operated with two of her sisters on the Dover - Calais and Ostend routes. She returned to the Dieppe route in 2002 where she remained until the end of the 2004 summer season when the Hoverspeed service from the port ended.
In service with Hoverspeed 1999 - 2004. Left fleet in 2004, chartered.
- Superseacat Two (built 1997). Entered service in 1997.
- Entered service with Hoverspeed in June 1997 on the Dover - Calais service where she remained until March 1998. She moved to the Sea Containers Ltd/IOMSPCIsle of Man Steam PacketThe Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Limited is the oldest continuously operating passenger shipping company in the world, celebrating its 180th anniversary in 2010....
LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
- Dublin service. She was replaced in that service by her sister Superseacat Three in 1999 so she moved back to Hoverspeed for the Newhaven - Dieppe service for a season. She returned to with Hoverspeed in 2000 on the Newhaven - Dieppe route. In 2001 she returned to Dover to operate with two of her sisters on the Dover - Calais and Ostend routes. At somepoint she operated on the HeyshamHeyshamHeysham is a large coastal village near Lancaster in the county of Lancashire, England. Overlooking Morecambe Bay, it is a ferry port with services to the Isle of Man and Ireland. Heysham is the site of two nuclear power stations which are landmarks visible from hills in the surrounding area...
- Belfast route before returning again to the Dieppe route in 2003.
In serviced with Hoverspeed 1997, 1999 and 2001. Left fleet in 2001, sold.
- Superseacat Three (built 1999).
- Entered service on the Sea Containers Ltd/IOMSPCIsle of Man Steam PacketThe Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Limited is the oldest continuously operating passenger shipping company in the world, celebrating its 180th anniversary in 2010....
Liverpool - Dublin service in 1999 before moving to Hoverspeed to Dover to operate with two of her sisters on the Dover - Calais and Ostend routes. She was transferred to the Baltic SeaBaltic SeaThe Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
operations of Silja LineSilja LineSilja Line is a Finnish cruiseferry brand operated by the Estonian ferry company AS Tallink Grupp, for car and passenger traffic between Finland and Sweden. The former company Silja Oy – today Tallink Silja Oy – is a subsidiary of Tallink Grupp, handling marketing and sales for Tallink and Silja...
but was not included in the 2006 sale of the company to Tallink.
In service with Hoverspeed 2001. Left fleet in 2001, returned to SeaCat.
Incat 81m Catamarans
- Diamant (built 1996).
- Purchased by HolymanHolymanHolyman was an Australian company that operated cargo ships and ferries in Australia and other countries worldwide. The company had three divisions; Domestic shipping and transport services, Ferries and Bulk commodity handling....
before completion in 1996 she was launched as Holyman Express but was renamed Holyman Diamant in 1997 as a result of a competition to decide the names of the fast ferries for use on the Holyman Sally service between Ramsgate and Ostend. In 1998 Holyman Hoverspeed was formed and the vessel's name was shortened to Diamant. Her UK base of operations was moved to Dover and she received Seacat livery. Hoverspeed eventually purchased HolymanHolymanHolyman was an Australian company that operated cargo ships and ferries in Australia and other countries worldwide. The company had three divisions; Domestic shipping and transport services, Ferries and Bulk commodity handling....
's share and Diamant came under Sea Containers Ltd ownership. She remained on the Dover - Ostend route until 2001 where she operated on the Newhaven - Dieppe route for the summer season. In 2002 she briefly operated for IOMSPC before commencing her last summer on Newhaven - Dieppe. In 2004 she transferred to Dover - Calais where she more or less remained until the closure of the service in november 2005 http://www.directferries.co.uk/hoverspeed.htm. For her last two seasons in Hoverspeed service she wore a distinctive Union FlagUnion FlagThe Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
livery in an attempt to show how BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Hoverspeed were, Diamant was built in AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, owned by a BermudaBermudaBermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
registered company and the vessel itself was registered in Nassau, BahamasNassau, BahamasNassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
and later moved to the ItalianItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Registry as Seacat Diamant. Along with her sister she has been reported as sold to Balearia. She left Liverpool (where she was chartered to the Isle of Man Steam Packet to provide additional capacity for the 2006 TTIsle of Man TTThe International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
races period) for Oporto, Portugal (unlike Rapide which sailed to Algeciras) on 20 June 2006, two days after her sister left Tilbury. As of July 2006, she was chartered to Balearia Eurolineas of Spain and renamed Jaume III.
- Rapide (built 1996)
- Built for HolymanHolymanHolyman was an Australian company that operated cargo ships and ferries in Australia and other countries worldwide. The company had three divisions; Domestic shipping and transport services, Ferries and Bulk commodity handling....
as Condor 12 she initially operated for Condor FerriesCondor FerriesCondor Ferries is an operator of ferry services between mainland England and the Channel Islands, between England and France, and between France and the Channel Islands.-Recent history:...
which at the time was part owned by HolymanHolymanHolyman was an Australian company that operated cargo ships and ferries in Australia and other countries worldwide. The company had three divisions; Domestic shipping and transport services, Ferries and Bulk commodity handling....
. She was replaced by a larger fastcraft in 1997 and moved to Holyman Sally's Ramsgate - Ostend service. As was the case with the Diamant she was renamed Holyman Rapide as a result of a competition. In 1998 she was transferred to Holyman Hoverspeed along with her sister and the vessel's name was shortened to Rapide. She briefly returned to Condor Ferries to cover for the refit of Condor Express and operated between PoolePoolePoole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
and the Channel IslandsChannel IslandsThe Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
for one month. As with the Diamant, Rapide came under Sea Containers Ltd ownership. She remained on the Dover - Ostend route until 2001 when she moved to the Sea Containers Ltd/IOMSPC Liverpool - Dublin service. In 2002 she moved to Heysham - Belfast and eventually replaced Seacat Scotland on the Belfast - TroonTroonTroon is a town in South Ayrshire. It is situated on the west coast of Scotland, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Lying across the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran can be seen. Troon is also a port with freight and ferry services...
service in 2003 until the end of the 2004 season. In 2005 she transferred to Dover - Calais alongside her sister where she more or less remained until the closure of the service in the same year http://www.directferries.co.uk/hoverspeed.htm. She was renamed Seacat Rapide upon her transfer to the Italian register. She also received the Hoverspeed Union FlagUnion FlagThe Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
livery. On 18 June 2006 she sailed from her lay-up spot at Tilbury, London to AlgecirasAlgecirasAlgeciras is a port city in the south of Spain, and is the largest city on the Bay of Gibraltar . Port of Algeciras is one of the largest ports in Europe and in the world in three categories: container,...
. She has now been sold to Baleària EurolineasBaleàriaBaleària is the trading name for Baleària Eurolínias Marítimas S.A. The company operates ferry services from Spain to the Balearic Islands and Morocco.- Routes :Baleària operates services to the Balearic Islands from Dénia, Valencia and Barcelona...
and renamed Jaume II.
Closure
After years of losses due to strong competition and the Channel TunnelChannel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
link, Hoverspeed announced that they would cease operations on the Dover-Calais route, ending over 40 years of service. The last ferry run was on November 7, 2005.
It was initially thought that both the 81m Seacats would move to Sea Containers Mediterranean services; however in March 2006 both the Seacat Rapide and Seacat Diamant were put up for sale by Sea Containers. Superseacat One which had operated for Hoverspeed on its now closed Newhaven - Dieppe (2000 and 2002–2004) and Dover - Calais / Ostend (2001) fast ferry services was sold in April 2006 to Acciona Trasmediterránea
Acciona Trasmediterránea
Acciona Trasmediterránea is part of the Acciona group. It operates passengers and cargo ferries between mainland Spain and the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and northern Africa.-History:...
and was renamed Almudaina Dos. Although the company ended Hovercraft service, they still retained ownership of the remaining 2 SRN 4 until 2006 when they were sold to Wensley Haydon-Baillie
Wensley Haydon-Baillie
Wensley Haydon-Baillie, the son of a surgeon from Worksop, Nottinghamshire, was once one of the 50 richest men in the UK after working his way up in the pharmaceutical industry. He owned a collection of Rolls-Royces and an aviation museum housing and restoring many Spitfires. He also owned...
. They currently reside at the Hovercraft Museum in HMS Daedalus and are open to offers.
Since the closure of Hoverspeed in 2005, the Dover Hoverport had remained unused until SpeedFerries
SpeedFerries
SpeedFerries was a low cost ferry operator which started in May 2004 and continued in business until November 2008. It operated one route between Dover in England and Boulogne in France...
moved to the site from the Eastern Docks. They operated from the hoverport to Boulogne from Easter 2007 until November 2008 when SpeedFerries
SpeedFerries
SpeedFerries was a low cost ferry operator which started in May 2004 and continued in business until November 2008. It operated one route between Dover in England and Boulogne in France...
went into administration and their services ceased. The hoverport site then lay abandoned for the second time in its thirty year history until demolition of the site began in May 2009 in preparation for the redevelopment of the Western Docks and a new Cruise Terminal. Except Calais hoverport (which itself remains abandoned and subject to demolition), all the cross Channel hoverports have now been lost.
Possible replacements for Hoverspeed
Two companies have announced their intentions to operate services to replace Hoverspeed.Navmed
Navmed Limited planned to operate a Seacat service to Calais, Boulogne and Ostend. Navmed had planned to start operations on the May 15, 2006 but as of April 2006 do not have any vessels or berthing slots in Dover.Navmed had made attempts to purchase the Canadian ferry Spirit of Ontario I but the owners were in serious negotiations with another buyer which later turned out to be Euroferries.
The Dover Express newspaper reported on 13 April 2006 that Navmed would no longer be involved in the attempt to run a replacement service. Instead Illinois Chikara Holdings plans to run service under a brand new name yet to be released.
Navmed featured in 2 October 2006 edition of the BBC South East program 'Inside Out' http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/southeast/series10/week4.shtml where it was revealed that their backers had pulled out and the company had yet to pay many staff that it employed in its short life. Another edition of Inside Out on the 25 April 2008 featured Chikara Holdings again http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/content/articles/2008/04/25/south_east_john_paul_airs_s13_w9_feature.shtml.
Euroferries
Euroferries Limited are also attempting to launch a service to replace those of Hoverspeed. Led by former Hoverspeed boss Geoffrey Ede the company intends to run services between Dover and Calais and Dover and Boulogne in competition with SpeedFerriesSpeedFerries
SpeedFerries was a low cost ferry operator which started in May 2004 and continued in business until November 2008. It operated one route between Dover in England and Boulogne in France...
but not as a budget operator. It was thought likely that former Hoverspeed vessels Rapide and Diamant were to be used by this company should it actually begin operations. In May 2006 it was announced that the company had been successful in its attempts to purchase the Spirit of Ontario I, they were to pay $29.8 million for the vessel. She was expected to be deployed on the Dover-Boulogne route. The ship, which was owned by the City of Rochester, New York, had received 7 bids for the vessel. Mayor Duffy of Rochester said Euroferries' bid was the highest of seven bids that they took seriously. Shortly after the announcement of the sale WHEC-TV stated that the fast ferry would move to the UK "no later than June 21st". This did not happen.
By October 2006 Euroferries had yet to pay for the Spirit of Ontario I and the City of Rochester had begun to look to other buyers. Euroferries also featured in a BBC South East Inside Out investigation http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/southeast/series10/week5.shtml.
It was announced on 17 March 2007 that the City of Rochester had run of patience with Euroferries and cut off active negotiations http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070317/NEWS01/703170337/1002/NEWS&GID=birFThHSZDQaAecE5y+gqrZUVczDhviFr+U84t7zSQA%3D. Two other potential buyers were reported to be interested in the vessel. The vessel was eventually sold to FRS Iberia S.L. Euroferries claim that they were unable to complete the purchase of the vessel due to UK port restrictions, the maritime press however reported that they did not have the finance available to purchase the ship.
Euroferries claim they are currently evaluating other alternative fast ferries which they believe will be able to commence service on their proposed route from Dover to Calais and Boulogne during the course of summer 2007, with an additional vessel to commence service during 2008 http://www.euroferries.co.uk/. As of June 2007 there has been no sign of a service commencing.
Euroferries announced at the beginning of 2009 that they were going to be running a service from Ramsgate to Boulogne and that the service would commence in the Spring of 2009. After long delays it was announced on the 31st July 9 http://www.euroferries.co.uk that the service would start in September 9 using the Bonanza Express which is owned by Fred Olsen and has been used in the Canaries. The 'Bonanza Express' is at the moment back in dry dock in the Canaries and so we must wait and see if the service does start or it goes the way of the 2007 proposed operation from Dover.
Euroferries are accepting reservations and payments on their website for July 2010 even though there still isn't evidence of a service being provided on the RAMSGATE to BOULOGNE route.