SEACAT ISLE OF MAN Aluminium hulled fast craft catamaran.
Built: International Catamarans Pty. Ltd., Hobart, Tasmania
Built 1991 as Hoverspeed France, chartered to Mediterranean operators as
Sardegna Express; returned to UK and renamed SeaCat Boulogne.
Propulsion: 4 x 16 cylinder medium speed Ruston 16RK 270 marine diesel
engines linked directly to 4 x Riva Lips BV waterjets.
Length overall: 73.6m Breadth: 26.3m
Displacement tonnage: approx 700 tonnes unloaded
Speed: 37 knots (cruising), 42 knots maximum
On charter to IOMSPCo. from Sea Containers from 20.6.1994.
First voyage: Douglas to Fleetwood: 28.6.1994.
In late June 1994 the SeaCat Boulogne (from Folkestone-Boulogne and Dover-Calais routes) was chartered from Sea Containers. The Steam Packet Co., stated that an 18 month charter had been negotiated.
On 23rd June, the SeaCat Boulogne, by now renamed SeaCat Isle of Man, had arrived in Douglas from Liverpool where it had been handed over.
The first passenger crossing was to Fleetwood on 28th June leaving Douglas at 10.00 and taking 94 minutes for the passage.
On departure from Fleetwood, a mooring rope was sucked into one of her four waterjets and the craft missed the return sailing.
A £350,000 pontoon and ramp were provided at Liverpool to accommodate the craft.
During the summer months the SeaCat proved to be so popular that the seasonal sailings were extended to 26th September.
Steam Packet 175 by Cowsill and Hendy and other sources.
Isle of Man SG552
SeaCat Isle of Man
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aukepalmhof
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Re: SeaCat Isle of Man
Built as a very fast wave piercing aluminium hulled catamaran car- passenger ferry under yard no 26 by International Catamarans Pty. Ltd., Hobart, Tasmania for Seacat 2 Ltd., Bahamas (Sea Containers Ltd., Bahamas).
28 April 1990 launched as the HOVERSPEED FRANCE, she was christened by Mrs Rosa Pawsey, the wife of the head of Sea Containers firm of Naval Architects.
Tonnage 3,003 grt, 901 net, 660 dwt. Dim. 74 x 26 x 4.09m., length bpp. 71m., draught 2.39m.
Powered by four Ruston 16R K270 diesel engines who delivered the power directly to water jets that provided the power and steering. Speed 42 knots.
Range by full speed 3,500 mile.
Accommodation for 450 passengers and 88 cars.
16 June 1991 completed. Homeport Newhaven, U.K.
After delivery in the Australian summer used in the ferry service between Australia and Tasmania.
12 April 1992 she left Hobart for Europe via the Suez Canal for a charter with Hoverspeed in the service from Dover to Boulogne.
Later that year chartered by Sardinia Express S.p.A., renamed in SARDEGNA EXPRESS and used in the service between Rome (Civitavecchia) and Sardinia.
1993 Chartered by Hoverspeed and renamed again in HOVERSPEED FRANCE, used in the service between Dover to Boulogne or to Calais.
On 15 October she claimed the fastest crossing between Dover and Calais in a time of thirty four minutes and twenty three seconds.
16 October she struck a pier at Dover’s Eastern Docks and was withdrawn for repairs.
1994 Renamed in SEACAT BOULOGNE.
March 1994 Chartered by Island of Man Steam Packet Company.
20 June 1994 she sailed from Dover for Liverpool under the name SEACAT ISLE OF MAN.
28 June in service from Douglas to Fleetwood, making the crossing in ninety-four minutes.
She was used also in the service between Douglas and Belfast.
08 November 1994 she collided with the NORSE MERSEY in the Belfast Channel.
During an overhaul in 1995 she was fitted out with an additional 100 seats and thereafter chartered by Condor Ferries for the Weymouth to the Channel Islands service from 16 March till 20 May.
When the SAINT MALO a local ferry between Sark and Jersey ran aground she was the first to arrive at the scene, and she took off 136 passengers.
After the charter she returned to the Isle of Man service.
December 1996 she returned to owners and was again used in the service from Dover to France.
1996 Sea Containers and Color Line from Norway announced a new joint venture Color SeaCat AS to commence a ferry service between Langesund, Norway and Frederikshavn, Denmark.
One of the vessels used in this service was the SEACAT ISLE OF MAN who was renamed in SEACAT NORGE.
October 1997 was she back at Newhaven and resumed Dover to Calais on 29 November.
1996 Sea Containers took over the Isle of Man Steam Packet Service.
After an overhaul in Liverpool from February till March 1997 the SEACAT NORGE was again renamed in SEACAT ISLE OF MAN with homeport Nassau, Bahamas.
After her overhaul returned to the Dover to Calais service until 15 May 1997 before heading back to the Island of Man service which started on 21 May between Douglas and Liverpool, Dublin and Belfast.
During this summer she was not so reliable when she had many times problems with one of het waterjets.
23 September she was withdrawn from service.
During the 1998 season was she used in the service from Dover to France, 1999 was she back in the Isle of Man services.
Till 20 October 2004 used in all services of the Isle of Man Steam Packet, then laid up in Birkenhead.
2005 Chartered by Irish Sea Express and renamed SEA EXPRESS I and after a refit used in the service from Liverpool to Dublin from 27 April 2005.
October 2005 the service closed down and the SEA EXPRESS 1 returned to owners.
03 February 2007 during foggy weather she came in collision with the cargo vessel ALASKA RAINBOW in which the SEA EXPRESS 1 was holed in her starboard hull, which did give her a large list, injures on passengers were minor, and the vessel stayed afloat. The cargo vessel did have minor damage.
She was towed to a dry-dock and when still under repair renamed SNAEFELL.
12 May 2008 she was again in service when she sailed from Douglas to Liverpool.
July 2011 she suffered a crank-shaft failure where after she only could use three engines.
Till September 2010 in service thereafter laid up in Liverpool.
16 February 2011 was announced that she was up for sale.
2011 IMO No 8900012, under U.K. flag owned by Miom I Ltd, Douglas and managed by Isle of Man Steam Packet co.
Isle of Man 1993 35p sg552, scott551A
Source: The Irish Boats by Malcolm McRonald and various web-sites. Marine News. Wikipedia.
.
28 April 1990 launched as the HOVERSPEED FRANCE, she was christened by Mrs Rosa Pawsey, the wife of the head of Sea Containers firm of Naval Architects.
Tonnage 3,003 grt, 901 net, 660 dwt. Dim. 74 x 26 x 4.09m., length bpp. 71m., draught 2.39m.
Powered by four Ruston 16R K270 diesel engines who delivered the power directly to water jets that provided the power and steering. Speed 42 knots.
Range by full speed 3,500 mile.
Accommodation for 450 passengers and 88 cars.
16 June 1991 completed. Homeport Newhaven, U.K.
After delivery in the Australian summer used in the ferry service between Australia and Tasmania.
12 April 1992 she left Hobart for Europe via the Suez Canal for a charter with Hoverspeed in the service from Dover to Boulogne.
Later that year chartered by Sardinia Express S.p.A., renamed in SARDEGNA EXPRESS and used in the service between Rome (Civitavecchia) and Sardinia.
1993 Chartered by Hoverspeed and renamed again in HOVERSPEED FRANCE, used in the service between Dover to Boulogne or to Calais.
On 15 October she claimed the fastest crossing between Dover and Calais in a time of thirty four minutes and twenty three seconds.
16 October she struck a pier at Dover’s Eastern Docks and was withdrawn for repairs.
1994 Renamed in SEACAT BOULOGNE.
March 1994 Chartered by Island of Man Steam Packet Company.
20 June 1994 she sailed from Dover for Liverpool under the name SEACAT ISLE OF MAN.
28 June in service from Douglas to Fleetwood, making the crossing in ninety-four minutes.
She was used also in the service between Douglas and Belfast.
08 November 1994 she collided with the NORSE MERSEY in the Belfast Channel.
During an overhaul in 1995 she was fitted out with an additional 100 seats and thereafter chartered by Condor Ferries for the Weymouth to the Channel Islands service from 16 March till 20 May.
When the SAINT MALO a local ferry between Sark and Jersey ran aground she was the first to arrive at the scene, and she took off 136 passengers.
After the charter she returned to the Isle of Man service.
December 1996 she returned to owners and was again used in the service from Dover to France.
1996 Sea Containers and Color Line from Norway announced a new joint venture Color SeaCat AS to commence a ferry service between Langesund, Norway and Frederikshavn, Denmark.
One of the vessels used in this service was the SEACAT ISLE OF MAN who was renamed in SEACAT NORGE.
October 1997 was she back at Newhaven and resumed Dover to Calais on 29 November.
1996 Sea Containers took over the Isle of Man Steam Packet Service.
After an overhaul in Liverpool from February till March 1997 the SEACAT NORGE was again renamed in SEACAT ISLE OF MAN with homeport Nassau, Bahamas.
After her overhaul returned to the Dover to Calais service until 15 May 1997 before heading back to the Island of Man service which started on 21 May between Douglas and Liverpool, Dublin and Belfast.
During this summer she was not so reliable when she had many times problems with one of het waterjets.
23 September she was withdrawn from service.
During the 1998 season was she used in the service from Dover to France, 1999 was she back in the Isle of Man services.
Till 20 October 2004 used in all services of the Isle of Man Steam Packet, then laid up in Birkenhead.
2005 Chartered by Irish Sea Express and renamed SEA EXPRESS I and after a refit used in the service from Liverpool to Dublin from 27 April 2005.
October 2005 the service closed down and the SEA EXPRESS 1 returned to owners.
03 February 2007 during foggy weather she came in collision with the cargo vessel ALASKA RAINBOW in which the SEA EXPRESS 1 was holed in her starboard hull, which did give her a large list, injures on passengers were minor, and the vessel stayed afloat. The cargo vessel did have minor damage.
She was towed to a dry-dock and when still under repair renamed SNAEFELL.
12 May 2008 she was again in service when she sailed from Douglas to Liverpool.
July 2011 she suffered a crank-shaft failure where after she only could use three engines.
Till September 2010 in service thereafter laid up in Liverpool.
16 February 2011 was announced that she was up for sale.
2011 IMO No 8900012, under U.K. flag owned by Miom I Ltd, Douglas and managed by Isle of Man Steam Packet co.
Isle of Man 1993 35p sg552, scott551A
Source: The Irish Boats by Malcolm McRonald and various web-sites. Marine News. Wikipedia.
.
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