Sydney hydrofoils
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | |
| Operators: | |
| Completed: | 8 |
| Active: | 0 |
| General characteristics | |
The Sydney hydrofoils were a class of hydrofoils operated by Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company and its successors on the Manly service.
History
On 30 December 1964, the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company took delivery of a 75-seat PT20 hydrofoil from Hitachi, Kanagawa. Named Manly III, it entered service on 7 January 1965 taking 15 minutes to cover the 10 kilometre journey from Circular Quay to Manly compared to 35 minutes for conventional ferries.[1][2][3][4]
In November 1966, a larger 140-seat Rodriguez PT50 hydrofoil built by Cantiere navale di Ancona, Ancona entered service. Named Fairlight it would be joined by the Dee Why in 1970 and Curl Curl in 1973. These were joined by the Palm Beach purchased second hand from Macau in 1975 and the Long Reef from Italy in 1978.[1][2][3][4]
In 1984/85, two 235-seat hydrofoils, Manly IV and Sydney entered service. The State Transit Authority replaced its remaining hydrofoils with three JetCats, with the last operating on 18 March 1991. The remaining vessels were sold for further service on the Mediterranean Sea.[2][3][5]
Vessels
| Name | Type | Builder | MMSI | Year in service | Length | Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manly III | PT20 | Hitachi | 1965 | 18.59 metres | 75 | sold 1979 to Great Keppel Island, renamed Enterprise | |
| Fairlight II | PT50 | Cantiere navale di Ancona | 1966 | 28.96 metres | 140 | scrapped 1988[6] | |
| Dee Why II | PT50 | Cantiere navale di Ancona | 1970 | 28.96 metres | 140 | scrapped 1988[7] | |
| Curl Curl II | RHS140 | Cantiere navale di Ancona | 7232975 | 1973 | 28.96 metres | 140 | sold 1992 to Ustica Lines, Italy & renamed Spargi, sold to Alimare[3][8][9] |
| Palm Beach | PT50 | Cantiere navale di Ancona | 1975 | 28.96 metres | 140 | ex Patane, second-hand from Macau, built 1970 | |
| Long Reef | PT50 | Cantiere navale di Ancona | 1978 | 28.96 metres | 140 | second-hand from Italy, built 1967 as Freccia di Mergellina, sold 1992 to Italy[3] | |
| Manly IV | RHS160F | Cantiere navale di Ancona | 8222290 | 1984 | 31.20 metres | 235 | sold 1992 to Naples, renamed Sinai[3] |
| Sydney | RHS160F | Cantiere navale di Ancona | 8310982 | 1985 | 31.20 metres | 235 | sold 1992 to Naples, renamed Fast Blu[3] |
References
- 1 2 Andrews, Graeme (1975). The Ferries of Sydney. Terry Hills: AH & AW Reed. pp. 54–55. ISBN 0 589 07172 6.
- 1 2 3 Mead, Tom (1988). Manly Ferries. Brookvale: Child & Associates. pp. 133–138, 167. ISBN 0 86777 091 0.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Down Under Foils Classic Fast Ferries June 2002
- 1 2 Do you remember the Hydrofoils Part 1 Afloat Magazine June 2007
- ↑ Do you remember the Hydrofoils Part 2 Afloat Magazine July 2007
- ↑ Fairlight II Ferries of Sydney
- ↑ Dee Why II Ferries of Sydney
- ↑ Curl Curl II Ferries of Sydney
- ↑ SAS: The Hovering Years Classic Fast Ferries May 2004