Steam Packet HSC Manannan - Further Ferry Information and Vessel Description HSC Manannan is a high-speed catamaran car ferry owned and operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. She arrived in Douglas on 11 May 2009 after a major refit in Portsmouth. As the Joint Venture she saw service in Operation Enduring Freedom around the Horn of Africa. It was renamed after Manannán mac Lir, the Celtic god of the sea, and made its maiden service voyage with the Steam Packet Company on Friday 22 May 2009 sailing from Douglas to Liverpool.
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Manannan was built by Incat of Tasmania, Australia, she was a commercial ferry for TT-Line as the Devil Cat before being converted for military purpose. A flight deck was added to accommodate various helicopters in the US Navy arsenal.
Joint Venture was rapidly re-configurable and could perform a variety of missions, principal among them the ability to ferry up to 325 combat personnel and 400 tons of cargo up to 3000 miles one way at speeds in excess of 40 knots. Joint Venture was handed back to Incat in early 2008. She had under gone a refit and painting in the Express Ferries livery and was planned to enter service with them as a car and passenger ferry, but this never materialised. |
On May 19, 2008, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company announced the purchase of the vessel for £20 million, and is planned to replace the existing fast craft Viking. The 96-metre wave piercing catamaran will be the largest vessel of its kind in the Irish Sea. Because of its most recent use, the Steam Packet Company says it has significantly fewer hours of service than a vessel of comparable age and will be ideally suited for the substantial refit proposed.
The Manannan completed the 11,868 miles mile voyage from Hobart to Portsmouth in 27 days. The refit will cost around £3 million and be carried out by Burgess Marine. The refit will consist of a new aft accommodation module, a new stern door and a new sky lounge. An open day to view the vessel will take place at each of the Company's ports as well as a renaming ceremony.
Steam Packet HSC Manannan Ferry Statistics
- Length - 125.2 m
- Breadth - 23.4 m
- Draught - 5.8 m
- Speed - 19 knots
- Engines - 2 x MAK 9L32
- Built - 1998
- Yard - Krimpen, Netherlands
- Cars - 80
- Passengers - 350
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