HSC FastCat Shanklin
| |
| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HSC FastCat Shanklin |
| Operator: |
2000-2009: Wightlink 2009-present: Severn Link |
| Route: |
Ryde to Portsmouth: 2000-2009 Swansea to Ilfracombe: 2009-present |
| Builder: | Kværner Fjellstrand (S), Pte. Ltd., Singapore |
| Launched: | 1996 |
| Maiden voyage: | 1996 |
| In service: | 1996 |
| Fate: | In Service |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 482 |
| Length: | 40 m |
| Beam: | 10.10 m |
| Draught: | 1.70m |
| Installed power: | 4000kw |
| Speed: | 34 knots |
| Capacity: | 361 passengers |
| Crew: | 4-5 |
| Notes: | [1] |
HSC FastCat Shanklin is a high speed catamaran ferry which operates between the Isle of Wight and mainland England. She has operated on the Wightlink Ryde Pier to Portsmouth route since 2000 along with her sister ship HSC FastCat Ryde. Prior to working for Wightlink, the ship worked in Singapore and was named Water Jet 2. In 1999, the same year it was sold to Wightlink it was renamed to Supercat 18.[2]
From early Autumn 2009, Wightlink took delivery of two new vessels to operate the route, Wight Ryder I and Wight Ryder II.[3] Both the FastCat Shanklin and FastCat Ryde are being retained by Wightlink until Spring 2010 and will be drafted in as replacements as teething problems occur with the new vessels. They will then be sold on to new owners in Bristol.[4] In January 2010, the FastCat Shanklin was re-painted into a new livery for use with Severn Link travelling over the Bristol Channel as part of a new catamaran service with a shorter travel time of 50 minutes. The re-paint occurred in Portsmouth Harbour and shortly afterwards the ferry departed for Swansea. After arriving there it received a full interior refurbishment [5]. Sister ship Rapparee (formerly FastCat Ryde) has now also moved to the Bristol Channel and awaits ferry operations.
References
- ↑ "HSC Our Lady Patricia". http://www.ferry-site.dk/ferry.php?id=8507494&lang=en. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
- ↑ "FastCat Shanklin - Wightlink". Ferry postcards and photographs. http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/FastCat-Shanklin.html. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
- ↑ "Wightlink catamaran launched". Isle of Wight County Press. http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/wightlink-catamaran-launched-25419.aspx. Retrieved 2009-05-29.
- ↑ "Ferry problems again hit Wightlink". Isle of Wight County Press. http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/ferry-problems-again-hit-wightlink-28937.aspx. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
- ↑ "The first FastCat arrives". Severn Link. http://www.severnlink.com/media-centre/latest-news/the-first-fastcat-arrives/. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
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