Sydney JetCats
 View of the ferry Sea Eagle in Sydney Ferries Corporation livery
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | InCat |
| Operators | |
| Completed | 3 |
| Active | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Catamaran |
| Length | 34.8 metres |
| Beam | 10 metres |
| Propulsion | 2 x MWM TBD260 V16s |
| Speed | 30 knots |
| Capacity | 268 passengers |
The Sydney JetCats were a class of catamarans operated by the State Transit Authority and Sydney Ferries Corporation on the Manly service.
History
Three JetCats were delivered in 1990/91 to replace the remaining four Sydney hydrofoils on the Manly service. The 268-seats vessels were built by InCat, Cairns.[1][2]
In December 2008, the State Government announced the JetCat service would cease and called for tenders to operate the service on a commercial basis.[3] The last JetCat service operated on 31 December 2008.[4] JetCat patronage had dropped from 1.5 million passengers per annum in 1994/95 to 400,000 in 2008/09, while ferry partonage on the route rose from 3.7 million to 6.0 million in the same period.
Bass & Flinders Cruises trading as Manly Fast Ferries commenced operating the service on 10 February 2009.[5]
The vessels were sold to a broker, who resold them for three times the price.[6]
Vessels
| Name | Date in service | Fate |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Fin | 16 July 1990 | sold to SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation as SuperCat 36, renamed St Benedict[7][8] |
| Sir David Martin | 21 December 1990 | sold to SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation as SuperCat 38, renamed St Dominic[7] |
| Sea Eagle | 19 March 1991 | sold to Korea as Arcadia, resold to Kazakhstan[7] |
References
- ^ Do you remember the Hydrofoils Part 2 Afloat Magazine July 2007
- ^ Manly Fact Sheet Special Commission of Inquiry into Sydney Ferries
- ^ Calls for Expressions of Interest for Manly Fast Ferry Minister for Transport 9 December 2008
- ^ High and dry as JetCat sails into history Sydney Morning Herald 31 December 2008
- ^ Jet Car Withdrawal and Manly Fast Ferry Commencement NSW Ministry of Transport
- ^ Retired JetCats cause more embarrassment The World Today (Radio National) 10 December 2009
- ^ a b c Manly Jet Cat Sea Eagle living in Kazakhstan Yacht & Boat 29 June 2011
- ^ Blue Fin / SuperCat 36 Ferries of Sydney