Unfortunately Hoverspeed have finally said goodbye to the enormous hovercraft which gave them their name but the companies focus remains on speed. Today they operate a fleet of high speed monohull and catamaran car ferries and in March 2001 they will launch their new SuperSeacat which can make the Dover to Calais crossing in as little as 45 minutes.
Company history
Hoverspeed were pioneers of high speed crossings long before the channel tunnel appeared. Formed in 1981 after the merger of two companies, Seaspeed and Hoverlloyd, Hoverspeed originally ran a fleet of six hovercraft. In 1990 Hoverspeed also began operating the worlds first vehicle carrying catamaran and today they maintain a fleet of four of these fast and modern vessels.
Ships
SuperSeacat:
Hoverspeed's SuperSeacat made waves by slashing the crossing time between Newhaven to Dieppe from four and a half hours by normal ferry to just two with its maximum speed of 40 knots. At 100m long Hoverspeeds SuperSeacat is also the largest monohull high speed ferry to operate in UK waters and can hold a staggering 674 passengers and up to 148 vehicles. Its stylish good looks were fashioned by Sergio Farina, the design company responsible for designing many of Ferrari and Alfa Romeo's products.
Seacat (81m):
At 81m long, Hoverspeed's Seacat is the largest catamaran to operate in the Dover Straits. Hoverspeeds Seacat can accommodate a total of 654 passengers and 140 vehicles.
Seacat (74m):
At 74m long, this member of Hoverspeed's Seacat family is the smallest but it can still carry up to 88 vehicles and 570 passengers. Its service speed of 36 knots enabled Hoverspeed's first Seacat, Great Britain, to hold the converted Hales Trophy for the Blue Riband of the North Atlantic from 1990 to 1998 after completing the journey while being delivered from New York to Portsmouth in just 3 days 7 hours and 54 minutes.