HSC Cat
{{Short description|High-speed craft launched in 1990}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = Emeraude france douglas.jpg | Ship caption = Emeraude France in Douglas }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship name = *SeaCat Tasmania (1990–1993)
| Ship owner = Seajets | Ship operator = *Tasmanian Ferry Services (1990–1992)
| Ship registry = *{{flagicon|Bahamas|civil}} Nassau (1990–2002)
| Ship builder = Incat, Tasmania, Australia | Ship yard number = 023 | Ship route = | Ship ordered = | Ship original cost = | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = 7 October 1990{{cite web|title=HSC Seacat TASMANIA (1990)|url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/seacat_tasmania_1990.htm|publisher=Fakta om Fartyg|access-date=30 April 2012}} | Ship completed = | Ship christened = | Ship acquired = | Ship maiden voyage = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship identification = {{IMO Number|8903703}} | Ship fate = | Ship status = Laid-Up in Avlida, Chalkida, Greece | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = | Ship tonnage = {{GT|3,012}} | Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|74|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|26|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draught = {{convert|2.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship depth = | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = 4 × Ruston 16RK 270 diesel engines | Ship propulsion = 4 x Lips waterjets | Ship speed = {{convert|36|kn|mph}} | Ship capacity = *450 passengers
| Ship crew = | Ship notes = }} |
HSC Cat is a high speed catamaran ferry built by Incat for Sea Containers in 1990. It has been owned by Sea and Sun Maritime Co since 2014. The vessel is currently operated by Seajets.
Sea Speed Jet was the first 74-metre wave piercing catamaran built and the first car carrying catamaran built by Incat.[https://web.archive.org/web/20240318205926/https://incat.com.au/incat-vessels/023/ Incat Hull 023] Incat
History
HSC Cat was launched as SeaCat Tasmania in October 1990. The vessel's first spell in service was on charter to Tasmanian Ferry Services and was deployed on the route across Bass Strait between Port Welshpool and George Town until 1992 when the vessel moved to England operating across the English Channel between Dover and Calais and also Folkestone and Boulogne-sur-Mer for Hoverspeed.[https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/6894948/tasmania-deserves-the-best-for-bass-strait/ For Incat, the words didn't hurt, the boats just got bigger] The Advocate 25 August 2020 In the same year the vessel moved back to Tasmanian Ferry Services where it spent seven months on charter before returning to the England in mid-1993 and being renamed SeaCat Calais.
The vessel then went on a five-year charter to Ferry Lineas Argentinas operating between Montevideo and Buenos Aires. The vessel was renamed Atlantic II. In 1998 the vessel returned to the English Channel again as Atlantic II and was again deployed on the Dover to Calais route.
In May 2000 the vessel was renamed Croazia Jet and operated for SNAV between Ancona and Split. Just over a year later the vessel was laid up for around six months before making its third return to the English Channel. It was renamed SeaCat France the vessel was once again deployed on the Dover to Calais route.
In 2005 the vessel was chartered to Emeraude Ferries being renamed Emeraude France. The vessel was deployed between Saint Malo and Jersey for two months before the charter ended and the vessel was laid up in Sunderland until 2007 when it was sold to Maritime Charter Sales and chartered to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to cover for sister vessel Sea Express 1 which had been damaged in an accident on the River Mersey.
Emeraude France spent six months on charter to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and provided a reliable service during the Centenary of the Isle of Man TT in 2007 operating mainly on the Douglas to Dublin and Belfast routes and occasionally serving Liverpool and Heysham. She also covered the special excursion cruises. In September 2007 the vessel's charter ended and Emeraude France moved to Tilbury for lay up until it was acquired by Sea and Sun Maritime Co in May 2014 and renamed Superfast Cat.Incat departs Ships Monthly August 2014 page 10 It was later renamed Sea Speed Jet and entered service with Seajets.[https://web.archive.org/web/20241005111227/https://www.bairdmaritime.com/ausmarine/featured/editorial-wake-up-tasmania Wake up, Tasmania] Baird Maritime 26 March 2021
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Seajets}}
{{Steam Packet Ships}}
{{Incat catamarans}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cat}}