HSC Snaefell

Snaefell leaving Douglas Harbour
Career
Name:	1991–1992: Hoverspeed France 1992–1993: Sardegna Express 1993–1994: Seacat Boulogne 1994–1996: Seacat Isle of Man 1996–1997: Seacat Norge 1997–2005: Seacat Isle of Man 2005–2007: Sea Express 1 2008–2011: Snaefell 2011–present: Master Jet
Operator:	1991–1992: Hoverspeed 1992–1993: Sardegna Express 1993–1994: Hoverspeed 1994–1996: IOMSPCo. 1996–1997: Color Line 1997–2005: IOMSPCo. 2005–2007: Irish Sea Express 2007–2011: IOMSPCo. 2011: Sea Jets
Port of registry:	1991–1996: Nassau 1996–2008: Newhaven 2008–2011: Liverpool 2011: Limassol
Builder:	Incat, Tasmania, Australia
Yard number:	026
Identification:	IMO number: 8900012
Status:	Laid Up
General characteristics
Tonnage:	3,003 GT (gross tonnage)
Length:	74 m (242 ft 9 in)
Beam:	26 m (85 ft 4 in)
Draught:	2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Installed power:	4 × Ruston 16RK 270 diesel engines
Propulsion:	4 x Lips waterjets
Speed:	36 knots (67 km/h)
Capacity:	500 passengers 88 cars

The HSC Snaefell, now named HSC Master Jet is an Incat WPC74 (wave-piercing catamaran, 74 metres), owned 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. She is currently on charter to Sea Jets serving various islands in the Aegean Sea.

History

Master Jet 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 collision with a cargo vessel in fog on the River Mersey. 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.

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^{[citation needed]} that the company is continuing to review the future of the veteran fastcraft in the light of the increased capacity offered by Manannan and poor passenger numbers on the seasonal Belfast and Dublin routes.

On 9 July 2009, an article was published on the Isle of Man Today website^{[citation needed]} stating that Manx ministers were pleading to the Steam Packet after they confirmed they were reviewing the future of Snaefell and the services to Belfast and Dublin. This piece of journalism has to be balanced against the fact that the Steam Packet Company previously requested, and was granted, an extension to its User Agreement with the IOM Government. This requires them to provide over 60 sailings each year to Ireland until 2026. Any decision to cease operations to Ireland would therefore either nullify the Agreement or require significant non-performance payments from the Steam Packet.

In July 2010, Snaefell suffered a crank-shaft failure, causing one of her engines to fail. This caused major disruption, as she could not carry out her Liverpool sailings, and her Belfast and Dublin sailings now took 4 hours. She continued to operate on three engines until September 2010, when the timetable allowed Manannan to cover her sailings.

In January 2011, the Steam Packet released a statement, stating that Snaefell is no longer part of the operational fleet, and will not return to service for the 2011 season.

Today

Onboard Facilities

Snaefell offers a range of seating options, as well as the following services:

• Legend's Bar.
• Coast-to-Coast Café.
• Ocean Avenue shop.
• Junior Shipmates children's play area.

Snaefell also has the Steam Packet lounges located on the starboard lower deck:

• Premium Lounge
• Executive Club Lounge
• Niarbyl Reserved Lounge

Current Service

The vessel was on charter to Sea Jets serving various islands in the Aegean Sea. However, as of December 2011, she is currently laid up in Greece due to a charter falling through and apparently she has been detained by Greek authorities. As of mid-January 2012, she has been laid up in Valletta, Malta.

External links

• Snaefell Specifications - steam-packet.com
• MAIB report into the collision of Sea Express 1 and Alaska Rainbow