HSC FastCat Shanklin
Encyclopedia
HSC FastCat Shanklin is a high speed catamaran
ferry which operated between the Isle of Wight
and mainland England
. She operated on the Wightlink
Ryde Pier
to Portsmouth
route from 2000 to 2009 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.
From early Autumn 2009, Wightlink took delivery of two new vessels to operate the route, Wight Ryder I
and Wight Ryder II. Both the FastCat Shanklin and FastCat Ryde were retained by Wightlink until 2010, due to teething problems which occurred with the new vessels. They were then sold on to new owners Severn Link. In January 2010, the FastCat Shanklin was re-painted into a new livery for use with Severn Link travelling between Ilfracombe
and Swansea
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. On January 29, 2010 the ship arrived in the Bristol Channel and visited Ilfracombe before heading to Swansea Docks. After arriving there it received an interior refurbishment. However the proposed ferry service failed to start as stated by Severn Link at Easter 2010.
As of August 2010 the planned ferry service has been postponed indefinitely and FastCat Shanklin has been put up for sale along with her sister ship Raparee (formerly FastCat Ryde). On the 3rd August she moved from Swansea to Southampton adding to speculation the proposed Severn Link ferry service is highly unlikely to begin next year using catamarans.
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
ferry which operated between the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
and mainland England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She operated on the Wightlink
Wightlink
Wightlink is a ferry company operating routes between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.Their core routes are car ferries from Lymington to Yarmouth and Portsmouth to Fishbourne...
Ryde Pier
Ryde Pier
Ryde Pier is an early 19th century pier serving the town of Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England.- Before the pier :Before the pier was built, passengers to Ryde had the uncomfortable experience of coming ashore on the back of a porter and then, depending on the state of the...
to Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
route from 2000 to 2009 along with her sister ship HSC FastCat Ryde
HSC FastCat Ryde
HSC FastCat Ryde is a high speed catamaran ferry which operates between the Isle of Wight and mainland England. The vessel was originally built in Singapore for service in the Philippines as Water Jet 1...
. 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.
From early Autumn 2009, Wightlink took delivery of two new vessels to operate the route, Wight Ryder I
HSC Wight Ryder I
HSC Wight Ryder I is the first of Wightlink's new purpose built high-speed passenger catamarans to operate the Ryde to Portsmouth ferry route. It was introduced along with sister ship HSC Wight Ryder II. Both vessels left their construction site in the Philippines in June 2009, and began service in...
and Wight Ryder II. Both the FastCat Shanklin and FastCat Ryde were retained by Wightlink until 2010, due to teething problems which occurred with the new vessels. They were then sold on to new owners Severn Link. In January 2010, the FastCat Shanklin was re-painted into a new livery for use with Severn Link travelling between Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the North Devon coast, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs.The parish stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 4 miles along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west...
and Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
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. On January 29, 2010 the ship arrived in the Bristol Channel and visited Ilfracombe before heading to Swansea Docks. After arriving there it received an interior refurbishment. However the proposed ferry service failed to start as stated by Severn Link at Easter 2010.
As of August 2010 the planned ferry service has been postponed indefinitely and FastCat Shanklin has been put up for sale along with her sister ship Raparee (formerly FastCat Ryde). On the 3rd August she moved from Swansea to Southampton adding to speculation the proposed Severn Link ferry service is highly unlikely to begin next year using catamarans.