HSC Snaefell

300px HSC Snaefell
Career (Isle of Man)	United Kingdom
Builder:	Incat, Tasmania
Cost:	£13,000,000
Yard number:	026
Laid down:	1989
Launched:	1991
In service:	1991
Renamed:	Hoverspeed France (1991-2) Sardegna Express (1992-3) SeaCat Boulogne (1993-4) SeaCat Isle of Man (1994-6) SeaCat Norge (1996-7) SeaCat Isle of Man (1997-2005) Sea Express 1 (2005-7) Snaefell (2008-)
Homeport:	Nassau (1991–96) Newhaven (1996–2008) Liverpool (2008–)
Identification:	IMO number: 8900012
General characteristics
Displacement:	3,003 gross tons
Length:	74 metres (243 ft)
Beam:	26 metres (85 ft)
Draught:	2.4 metres (7.9 ft)
Propulsion:	4 x GEC Alsthom Ruston 16RK 270 medium speed diesel engines 4 x steering water-jets
Speed:	36 knots (67 km/h)
Capacity:	Passenger and crew: 500 Cars: 88

The HSC Snaefell is an Incat WPC74 (wave-piercing catamaran, 74 metres), owned and operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. The vessel was the first fast craft to bear a Manx name. She is also the sixth vessel to bear the name.

History

Snaefell was launched as Hoverspeed France for Sea Containers, for use with Hoverspeed, in 1991; and operated as the Sardegna Express on charter, before returning to Hoverspeed as the SeaCat Boulogne. In 1994, she was again renamed to SeaCat Isle of Man, and put on charter to the Isle of Man Steam Packet. She brought with her high charter fees and operation costs; and endangered the career of the MV Lady of Mann, the latter being given a much needed lifeline when a freak wave in the River Mersey encountered by the SeaCat Isle of Man twisted the ship's bow and tore off the water-tight visor. The Steam Packet decided not to continue in chartering the ship from Sea Containers, and she was chartered out to ColorSeaCat as the SeaCat Norge.

She returned to Hoverspeed as the SeaCat Norge; and when her owners bought out the Steam Packet in 1996, she returned to the Irish Sea as the SeaCat Isle of Man once again. Briefly going back to Hoverspeed from 1997-8; she returned to the Steam Packet's service in 1998 until 2005.

SeaCat Isle of Man became Sea Express 1, and operated for Irish Sea Express in 2005. The next year, she returned to the Steam Packet fleet. In February 2007, the vessel was involved in a serious accident. Nobody was injured, but the ship was seriously damaged, and took on a large volume of water. Fortunately, by the next day, the ship was stable. The first attempt to tow the ship across the river to drydock had failed, but the second succeeded. In December 2007, the vessel was renamed Snaefell whilst still under repair. As of 22 December 2007, it looked likely that the Snaefell would be the first vessel to be painted into the new livery for 2008, however this vessel turned out to be the Viking.

Snaefell moved under her own power for the first time in over a year when she moved from the West Float in Birkenhead to the Pier Head Landing Stage, and then after a detour, headed out on trials which were expected to take three days, and took two. Snaefells first passenger sailing since her accident in 2007 was on 12 May 2008, with the 07:30 sailing to Liverpool.

In May 2009, it was reported in the press that the company is continuing to review the future of the veteran fastcraft in the light of the increased capacity offered by Manannan and the poor support for the seasonal Belfast and Dublin routes. Despite the provision of user friendly departure times, the Irish sailings were still failing to generate enough passengers. An observer at Douglas on Thursday 28 May 2009, reported that only 60 passengers sailed on the 13:45 Snaefell sailing to Dublin.

On 9 July 2009, an article was published on the Isle of Man Today website stating that Manx ministers were pleading to the Steam Packet after they confirmed it was reviewing the future of Snaefell and the services to Belfast and Dublin.

Nevertheless, Snaefell has returned to service for the 2010 season.

Current Service

Currently operating services from Douglas to Belfast and Dublin

External links

• Snaefell Specifications - steam-packet.com