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Hovertravel Island Express - Further Information and Vessel Description

The Island Express is a hovercraft in operation for Hovertravel between Southsea and Ryde. Hovertravel's Island Express is a type AP1-88 Hovercraft. The AP1-88 was developed jointly by British manufacturer Hoverwork, British Hovercraft Corporation and the National Research Development Council from 1981. Hovercrafts have also been used in the past in the UK by operator Hoverspeed. The Island Express is a foot passenger only vessel offering a frequent, speedy crossing in just 7 minutes. Another AP1-88 operates for Hovertravel - Freedom 90. For full information on Hovertravel - Click Here.

Hoverwork, the engineering company associated with Hovertravel is still producing hovercraft today, its latest production model being the 130 seater BHT-130, used on the same route as AP1-88's today. Located on the Isle of Wight this firm was founded in 1966 and has produced various models of the AP1-88 including Hovertravel's Island Express. The AP1-88 Island Express replaced the SRN6 for the Southsea to Ryde on the Isle of Wight route which had started operation in 1965 by Hovertravel. The craft is quieter, more efficient, had more capacity (88 seats and later 100 seats as opposed to SRN6's 38 seats) and were a revolutionary design change from the previous craft produced by BHC. The Southsea to Ryde crossing normally takes about 7 minutes, weather and traffic permitting.

Hovertravel Island Express Hovercraft Statistics

• Length - 21.5 m
• Breadth - 10.06 m
• Speed - Cruise - 45 knots: Top - 60 knots
• Engines - 2 x MTU V12 water-cooled turbo-diesels, 800 h.p.
• Entered Service - 2002
• Yard - British Hovercraft Corporation, Isle of Wight
• Power - 597 kw
• Propellers - 2 x Hoffmann 2.755 m dia. fixed pitch, Type HO-E-214P/D275BS
• Cars - 0
• Passengers - 100