The first of 2 new catamarans – HSC FastCat Shanklin – arrived in the Solent for Wightlink’s Ryde-Portsmouth service on 18th August 2000.
The second catamaran – HSC FastCat Ryde – arrived later that month. The cost of the 40m craft was put at £6million (over £11million in today’s values).
Both vessels had been built in Singapore and refurbished in the Phillippines. They complemented the 2 existing FastCats on the Ryde-Portsmouth route – Our Lady Pamela and Our Lady Patricia – which had entered service in 1985 and 1986. The new catamarans carried 40 fewer passengers than the then-existing craft though.
HSC FastCats Shanklin and Ryde were retained by Wightlink until 2010, until they were replaced by Wight Ryder I and II – which were inferior vessels to Shanklin and Ryde – having a smaller seating capacity and a slower speed (26 knots compared with 34 knots).
In 2010, both HSC FastCat Shanklin and Ryde were sold to Severn Link in Ilfracombe in Devon to operate a service between there and Swansea. However, the projected service failed to materialise.
In 2011, both catamarans were resold to the Russian company Alien Shipping for use on the Black Sea.
I much preferred the old sealink ferries
M.V Southsea etc.
You could go to the bar and enjoy a drink on the
crossing.
I am not a fan of the Cats.
Don’t worry they don’t give a rats tail what you think. Faster than the mv southsea and it’s only 20 odd minutes across
Enjoy a drink and then get in your car and drive?
Did he mention driving ? Don’t make assumptions dickhead
They didn’t last long, did they? They weren’t well suited to the route, often cancelled in high winds, and at very high tides, passengers had to board via a narrow gangway at the lower deck forward door. The higher top speed didn’t matter much, as speed was restricted on the approach to Portsmouth Harbour. With the current fleet, Wightlink has replaced the high-level boarding contraptions with a much improved ramp, along with a new no2 berth at the pier head. The service is now rarely suspended due to bad weather. Hopefully, Wightlink is planning replacements in due course to avoid the mechanical problems currently plaguing Red Funnel.
Well said – nostalgia isn’t always better
Dread funnel getting electric jet ..can’t wait for that one slower and takes less people..that’s the way to go ….
I use to love watching ‘the ladies’ leaving the pier. Big black smoke coming out of the back of them. The Ryde and Shanklin where lovely comfortable vessels. The ryders are rubbish in the nicest possible way.