A hovercraft built on the Isle of Wight is set to begin a new chapter in one of the world’s harshest marine environments, after being sold to an offshore services firm operating in the Caspian Sea.
Griffon Marine, manufacturers of HoverTravel vessels, has confirmed the sale of its BHT-130 series hovercraft, Solent Express, to Caspian Offshore Construction (COC).
The vessel will be renamed Caspian Eagle and deployed in the North Caspian, which borders Kazakhstan and Russia and will support oil and gas operations.
The Solent Express has operated as a high-capacity passenger hovercraft, used in ferry services and designed to perform reliably in demanding coastal environments.
Mark Downer, CEO of Griffon Marine, has said:
“Hovercraft are ultimately adaptable platforms, capable of operating in an extraordinary range of environments—from inland passenger ferry services to supporting complex oil and gas operations.
“It is a testament to the original build quality and design of these remarkable BHT-130 hovercraft that they continue to deliver value today and will do so long into the future, even in some of the most extreme operating conditions on earth.”
It’s new role will see it operating alongside a fleet that includes icebreakers, tugs and specialist vessels, with the North Caspian presenting challenging conditions, with shallow waters and temperature extremes ranging from -35°C in winter to +40°C in summer.
Hovercraft are particularly suited to these environments due to their amphibious capability, allowing them to travel across water, mudflats and ice.
COC supports offshore infrastructure by providing emergency standby cover, as well as transporting and evacuating personnel. The addition of Caspian Eagle is expected to strengthen its ability to respond in remote and hazardous locations.
The craft will join a sister vessel, Caspian Falcon, which has been operating in the region for 9 years. That hovercraft was formerly known as Suna X.
Timur Sharapiev, Director General, Caspian Offshore Construction, added:
“We are delighted to welcome the second of these highly capable BHT-130 hovercraft into our fleet. Their proven performance and versatility make them ideally suited to our operations in the North Caspian Sea, where reliability and adaptability are critical to ensuring the safety of offshore personnel.”
The sale highlights ongoing demand for Isle of Wight-built hovercraft, with vessels continuing to be redeployed globally for a wide range of specialist operations.
Won’t last long then,can’t even do 9 minuets across the solent without breaking down.
It can waltz across the Caspian.
The old ones were better.