Manannan entering Douglas Harbour |
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| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | 1998–2001: Incat 050 2001–08: USS Joint Venture 2008: Incat 050 2008–present: Manannan |
| Namesake: | Manannán mac Lir |
| Operator: | 1998–99: Transport Tasmania 1999–2000: Fast Cat Ferries 2000–01: Laid up 2001–08: US Navy 2008–present: IOMSPCo. |
| Port of registry: | Douglas Isle of Man |
| Route: | Douglas–Liverpool/ Liverpool–Douglas/ Belfast & Dublin |
| Builder: | Incat, Tasmania, Australia |
| Yard number: | 050 |
| Completed: | 1998 |
| Commissioned: | 1998 |
| Recommissioned: | 2009 |
| Refit: | 2001, 2008 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9176072 |
| Status: | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | 96 metre WPC |
| Type: | High speed craft |
| Tonnage: | 5,029 |
| Length: | 95.47 m (313 ft 3 in) |
| Beam: | 26.16 m (85 ft 10 in) |
| Draft: | 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in) |
| Installed power: | 4 × Caterpillar diesel engines |
| Speed: | Over 40 knots (46 mph) |
| Capacity: | Over 800 passengers 200 vehicles |
HSC Manannan is a high-speed catamaran car ferry owned and operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. She arrived in Douglas on 11 May 2009 after a major refit in Portsmouth. She was renamed after Manannán mac Lir, the Celtic god of the sea, and made her maiden service voyage with the Steam Packet Company on Friday 22 May 2009 with the 07:30 sailing from Douglas to Liverpool.[1]
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Manannan was built as Incat 050 by Incat of Tasmania, Australia in 1998.
She operated for a short period as a commercial ferry for TT-Line under the name Devil Cat. A spell followed crossing the Cook Strait at Top Cat [2]. Then she was acquired by the US Navy and converted for military purposes.
She was commissioned as Joint Venture in 2001, serving for five years with the United States Armed Forces .
She was handed back to Incat in early 2006 and underwent a refit and was painted in the Express Ferries livery. She was planned to enter service with them as a car and passenger ferry, but this never materialised.
On 19 May 2008, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company announced the purchase of the vessel for £20 million, and is the planned replacement for the existing fast craft Viking. The 96-metre (315 ft) wave piercing catamaran will be the largest vessel of its kind on the Irish Sea. Because of its most recent use, the Steam Packet Company says it has significantly fewer hours of service than a vessel of comparable age and will be ideally suited for the substantial refit proposed.
| “ | The purchase is a real step forward for the company and represents a significant investment. We have looked at a number of possible vessels and we believe we have found the craft that most ideally meets our requirements for a versatile, high capacity vessel which is capable of serving our passengers' expectations for increased comfort and reliability. | ” |
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— Mark Woodward, CEO
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The Manannan completed the 11,868 miles (19,100 km) mile voyage from Hobart to Portsmouth in 27 days. The refit cost around £3 million and was carried out by Burgess Marine. It consisted of a new aft accommodation module, a new stern door and a new sky lounge. An open day to view the vessel took place at each of the Company's ports as well as a renaming ceremony.
Main Deck:
Upper Deck:
Currently operating services from Douglas to Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin.
Manannan is one of six 96 m catamarans built by Incat.
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