High-speed craft

"Fast Ferry" redirects here. For For the class of passenger vessels, see Passenger-Only Fast Ferry Class ferry. For the Rochester (NY) Fast Ferry, see Spirit of Ontario I and Bay Ferries Great Lakes, see Fast Ferry (disambiguation).

SpeedFerries SpeedOne - a high-speed wavepiercer catamaran

File:Tanger Jet II portside.jpg

FRS Tanger Jet II - a high-speed catamaran by Austal Ships

FRS Tarifa Jet - a high-speed wavepiercer catamaran by Incat

A high-speed craft (HSC) is a high speed water vessel for civilian use, also called a fastcraft or fast ferry. The first high-speed craft were often hydrofoils or hovercraft, but in the 1990s catamaran and even monohull designs have become popular. Most high-speed craft serve as passenger ferries, but the largest catamarans and monohulls also carry cars and even buses (e.g. Stena's HSS). Hulled designs are often powered by water jets coupled to medium speed diesel engines. Hovercraft are usually powered by gas turbines or diesel engines driving propellors and impellors.

The design and safety of high-speed craft is regulated by the High Speed Craft Codes of 1994 and 2000, adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

HSC Examples

• Fincantieri MDV1200 Super SeaCat
• PacifiCat Series
• Auto Express 86
• Passenger-Only Fast Ferry Class ferry
• Meteor (hydrofoil)
• High-speed Sea Service, Finnyards HSS 1500 and Westamarin HSS 900 developed and operated by Stena Line
• Hawaii Superferry
• Tanger Jet II
• Tarifa Jet
• HSV-2 Swift
• HMAS Jervis Bay (AKR 45)

See also

• List of catamaran ferry routes
• BGV

External links

File:SLY 56-6.jpg

GREFCO-Industry - Luxuary version SLY 56-6

• The Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations 2004