Hoverspeed

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Hoverspeed, formed in 1981 by the merger of Seaspeed and Hoverlloyd, was a ferry company that operated on the English Channel from 1981 until 2005.

The last owners were Sea Containers Ltd; the company ran a small fleet of two high-speed SeaCat Catamaran ferries in its final year.

Hoverspeed is notable for its part in developing the Hovercraft, and ran six Mountbatten class hovercraft (SR-N4 craft) and one SEDAM N500 Naviplane. Hoverspeed last operated hovercraft on its Dover to Calais service. They were withdrawn on the 1st October 2000 and replaced by Seacat catamarans.

Contents

[edit] Routes

Throughout its history Hoverspeed has operated several routes. These are:-

Hoverspeed's primary service was established by British Railways owned Seaspeed 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 Ramsgate. Seacats were introduced on the route on the 2nd 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 7th November 2005, the Seacat Diamant operating the last crossing.

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 (1998-2003) Seacat and Superseacat service.

After the failure of the Holyman Sally Line service from Ramsgate to Ostend Holyman became partners with Hoverspeed and moved the service to Dover. The 81m Incat fastcraft used on the service lost their 'Holyman' prefix and became the Rapide and Diamant. Sea Containers later bought Holyman's share in the operation and the fastcraft.

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.

Hoverspeed took over the high-speed passenger service after P&O Stena Line's 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.

Hoverspeed's first Seacat route using the Hoverspeed Great Britain; this was closed on the 6th January 1991 after a series of technical problems throughout the operating season.

Hoverspeed briefly ran services from Ramsgate Pegwell Bay Hoverport in 1982 which had been the base of Hoverlloyd hovercraft services.

[edit] Fleet

[edit] 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 Museum 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 1991.
  • 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 SNCF. Transferred to Hoverspeed in 1983 after a number of modifications but is returned to SNCF later that year after Hoverspeed decide she is not suitable for their services. Scrapped in 1985 at the Boulogne Hoverport.

[edit] 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 Jersey Ferries in 2004 and was renamed Emeraude GB. In 2005 she was transferred to a to Sea Containers Ltd Mediterranean service where she remains to this day under the name Speedrunner 1.

In service with Hoverspeed 1990 – 1991, 1993 – 2000 and 2002 – 2003.

  • Hoverspeed France (built 1991).
Has 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 its final season with Hoverspeed on the Dover - Calais route in 1998 before returning to IOMSPC. She is currently named Sea Express 1 and is owned by IOMSPC. following a collision and being in sinking condition, she is out of action and may not be back until 2008, so steam packet are using sister, SeaCat France.
  • 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 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 Container ferry routes but remained on Dover - Calais between 2000 to 2003. She was transferred to SNAV in a join venture with Sea Containers Ltd initially as Pescara Jet but is now named Zara Jet.
  • 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 Jersey Ferries 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 Packets routes starting Monday 12th March 2007.
  • Seacat Scotland (built 1992).
Built for Sea Containers Ltd Stranraer - Belfast SeaCat service, which in 2000 changed to Belfast - Troon which is only 30 minutes from Glasgow, the service closing altogether, on Monday 1st November 2004. SeaCat Scotland left Belfast seeminly for ever on Thursday 28th November 2002 at 0600. She has operated for Hoverspeed on the Dover - Calais route in 1992, 2003 and 2004. On 30th September 2004, the vessel left Dover for the final time, bound for Sunderland, where she arrived on 1st October 2004, she has remained laid-up ever since and has not moved. She is currently up for sale on www.vessels4sale.comOn Wednesday 7th March 2007, it is understood a bid was submitted to buy the vessel for operation back on Belfast-Troon for a company named, SeaCraft. There is speculation circulating if this is true. SeaCat Scotland has been sold to Greece, as Shikra

She won't be returing to Belfast as planned.

[edit] 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 Frederikshavn 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 2005 she operated for Silja Line before being laid up. Superseacat One was sold in April 2006 to Acciona Transmediterranea and was renamed Almudaina Dos.
  • 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/IOMSPC Liverpool - 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 Heysham - Belfast route before returning again to the Dieppe route in 2003. She was transferred to IOMSPC to whom she remains on charter to this day.
  • Superseacat Three (built 1999).
Entered service on the Sea Containers Ltd/IOMSPC 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 Sea operations of Silja Line but was not included in the 2006 sale of the company to Tallink. She continues to operate on the same route for Sea Containers under the Superseacat brandname.

Superseacat Four never operated for Hoverspeed.

[edit] Incat 81m Catamarans

  • Diamant (built 1996).
Purchased by Holyman before completion in 1996 she was launched as Holyman Express but was renamed Holyman Diamant in 1997as 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 Holymans 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 ramained until the closure of the service. For her last two seasons in Hoverspeed service she wore a distinctive Union Flag livery in an attempt to show how British Hoverspeed were, Diamant was built in Australia, owned by a Bermuda registered company and the vessel itself was registered in Nassau, Bahamas and later moved to the Italian 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 capcity for the 2006 TT races period) for Oporto, Portugal (unlike Rapide which sailed to Algeciras) on the 20th June 2006, two days after her sister left Tilbury. As of July 2006, she was chartered to Balearia and renamed Jaume III.
  • Rapide (built 1996)
Built for Holyman as Condor 12 she initially operated for Condor Ferries which at the time was part owned by Holyman. 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 trasfered 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 Poole and the Channel Islands 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 - Troon 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 ramained until the closure of the service. She was renamed Seacat Rapide upon her transfer to the Italian register. She also received the Hoverspeed Union Flag livery. On the 18th June 2006 she sailed from her lay-up spot at Tilbury, London to Algeciras. She has now been sold to Baleria Eurolineas of Spain and renamed Jaume II.

[edit] Closure

After years of losses due to strong competition and the Channel Tunnel 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 Rapide and Diamant were put up for sale by Sea Containers. Superseacat 1 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 Transmediterranea 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 a super yacht owner with the intention of using the hovercraft engine as spares for his own Proteus-powered boat. They currently reside at the Hovercraft Museum in HMS Daedalus.

Since the closure of Hoverspeed the Dover Hoverport had remained unused. SpeedFerries now plans to move to the site from the eastern docks before Easter 2007. Plans have also been drawn up to redevelop the site into a new ferry port to compliment the current facilities at the eastern docks.

[edit] Possible Replacements for Hoverspeed

Two companies have announced their intentions to operate services to replace Hoverspeed.

[edit] 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 the 2 October 2006 edition of the BBC South East program 'Inside Out' [1] 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.

[edit] 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 SpeedFerries but not 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 is expected to be deployed on the Dover-Boulogne route. The ship is owned by the City of Rochester which had received 7 bids for the vessel. Mayor Duffy of Rochester said Euroferries' bid was the highest of seven bids that they took seriously.

Jun 14, 2006. WHEC-TV in a television report available on the Internet states that the fast ferry will move to the UK "no later than June 21st". This did not happen.

As of October 2006 Euroferries have yet to pay for the Spirit of Ontario I and the City of Rochester has begun to look to other buyers. Euroferries also featured in a BBC South East Inside Out investigation [2].

It was announced on 17 March 2007 that the City of Rochester had run of of patience with Euroferries and cut off active negotiations [3]. Two other potential buyers are reported to be interested in the vessel.

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