Hoverspeed

Hoverspeed
Industry Passenger transportation
Fate Dissolved into Norfolkline
Predecessor Seaspeed & Hoverlloyd
Founded 25 October 1981 (1981-10-25)
Defunct 7 November 2005 (2005-11-07)
Headquarters Dover, United Kingdom
Area served
 English Channel
Key people
 Geoffrey Ede, Managing Director
Parent Sea Containers
Seacat Rapide entering Calais
Mark III SR.N4 hovercraft arriving in Dover on its last commercial flight - October 1, 2000

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 SR.N4 Mountbatten class hovercraft and one SEDAM N500 Naviplane. Hoverspeed last operated hovercraft on its Dover to Calais service. They were withdrawn on 1 October 2000 and replaced by Seacat catamarans built by Incat.

Routes

Throughout its history Hoverspeed has operated several routes. These were:

Dover - Calais (1981–2005) Hovercraft, Seacat and SuperSeaCat service
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 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 (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 (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.
Folkestone - 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 - Dieppe (1999–2004) Superseacat and Seacat 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.
Portsmouth - 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 Hoverport in 1982 which had been the base of Hoverlloyd hovercraft services.

Fleet

Hovercraft

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.
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.
Built by British Hovercraft Corporation for Hoverlloyd. Transferred to Hoverspeed on creation of the company in 1981. Withdrawn in 1991. Scrapped in 2004.
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.
Built for by British Hovercraft Corporation for Hoverlloyd. Transferred to Hoverspeed on creation of the company in 1981. Scrapped in 1998.
Built by British Hovercraft Corporation for Hoverlloyd. Transferred to Hoverspeed on creation of the company in 1981. Scrapped after an electrical fire in 1993.
A SEDAM N500 Naviplane built for SNCF by SEDAM for use on the Seaspeed route. 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 metre Catamarans

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 Ferries 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.

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 3 February 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.

Was renamed Hoverspeed Boulogne before entering service in 1992. In 1993 she was transferred to Sea Containers Ltd route from Frederikshavn to Gothenburg 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 and 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.

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 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'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.

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 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 ordered by Hoverspeed's parent company Sea Containers Ltd after the original Superseacat design built by Austal Ships failed to meet the speed required.

After operating on Sea Containers Ltd Frederikshavn to Gothenburg route the vessel entered service with Hoverspeed in 2000 on the Newhaven - Dieppe route. In 2001 she moved to operate 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.

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.

In serviced with Hoverspeed 1997, 1999 and 2001. Left fleet in 2001, sold.

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.

In service with Hoverspeed 2001. Left fleet in 2001, returned to SeaCat.

Incat 81 metre Catamarans

Purchased by Holyman 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 Holyman'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 . 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 capacity for the 2006 TT 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.
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 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 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 remained until the closure of the service in the same year . She was renamed Seacat Rapide upon her transfer to the Italian register. She also received the Hoverspeed Union Flag livery. On 18 June 2006 she sailed from her lay-up spot at Tilbury, London to Algeciras. She has now been sold to Baleària Eurolineas and renamed Jaume II.

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 7 November 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 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. In 2016, following a transfer of ownership of both land and the craft to the Home & Communities Agency, a public campaign was launched to save one or both of the craft. By Summer 2016, it was established that 'The Princess Anne' would be saved and refurbished as a permanent exhibit at the Hovercraft Museum. The fate of 'The Princess Margaret' which is not in such sound structural repair, is unclear.

The closure of Hoverspeed left a single company in the United Kingdom still operating hovercraft flights, Hovertravel.

Hoverports

Since the closure of Hoverspeed in 2005, the Dover Hoverport had remained unused until SpeedFerries moved to the site from the Eastern Docks. They operated from the hoverport to Boulogne from Easter 2007 until November 2008 when SpeedFerries 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. With the hoverports at Pegwell Bay and Calais also having been demolished, only Boulogne (Le Portel) hoverport site remains, albeit long abandoned and derelict.

References

  • Cowsill, Miles; Hendy, John (1991). The Hoverspeed Story. Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire: Ferry Publications. ISBN 187194709X. 
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