Hovertravelis a ferry company operating fromSouthsea,PortsmouthtoRyde,Isle of Wight, UK. It is the largest passengerhovercraftcompany currently operating in the world since the demise ofHoverspeed.
 | |
| Company type | Limited Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Passenger transportation |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Headquarters | Ryde, Isle of Wight,United Kingdom |
Area served | Solent,Isle of Wight,Southsea |
| Owner | Bland Group |
Number of employees | 100–200 |
| Parent | Bland Group |
| Website | www |
Hovertravel is now the world's oldest hovercraft operator,[1]and this service is believed to be unique in western Europe.[2]Hovertravel describes itself as "the world's only year-round passenger hovercraft service"[3](although there is a regular winter-only operator in Estonia[4]). The operator's principal service operates betweenSouthsea Commonon the English mainland andRyde Transport Interchangeon theIsle of Wight:the crossing time of less than 10 minutes makes it the fastest route acrossThe Solentfrom land to land.[5]This service commenced operations in 1965, Hovertravel currently operates two 12000TD hovercraft on a single route between Ryde and Southsea. Additionally, Hovertravel has frequently operated other routes throughout the United Kingdom, typically ascharterservices.
History
editDuring the late 1950s and early 1960s, British inventorSir Christopher Cockerellhad, in cooperation with British aerospace manufacturerSaunders-Roe,developed a pioneering new form of transportation, embodied in the form of the experimentalSR.N1vehicle, which became widely known as thehovercraft.[6]British manufacturer Saunders-Roe proceeded with work on various hovercraft designs, successfully developing multiple commercially viable vehicles in the mid-1960s. These included theSR.N4,a large cross-Channelferrycapable of seating up to 418 passengers along with 60 cars, and theSR.N5,the first commercially-active hovercraft.[7]
Hovertravel first commenced operations during July 1965, initially leasing a pair ofSR.N6hovercraft, a stretched model of the SR.N5 capable of seating up to 38 passengers, from theBritish Hovercraft Corporation(BHC).[8]An initial service betweenRyde,SouthseaandStokes Bay,Gosport,was established. At its onset, it was planned to run a seasonal summer service to provide a unique experience orientated towards tourists visiting the region; despite this intention, a high level of regular travellers and commuters used the service to the extent that a year-round service became viable.[8]
Early on, Hovertravel faced direct competition from another hovercraft operator, theBritish Rail-ownedSeaspeedwith its rivalCowes-Southamptonroute. Eventually, Hovertravel took over running of the route on behalf of Seaspeed; however, in 1980, the decision was taken to discontinue the Cowes-Southampton service due to rising costs and increased competition fromRed Funnel'shydrofoils,instead concentrating its resources on the Ryde-Southsea service, which was viewed as being more viable.[8]
In addition to its scheduled services, Hovertravel was also quick to enter thechartermarket.[8]Its hovercraft proved to be of particular value tohydrocarbon explorationandseismographicsurveys, which would see Hovertravel craft deployed to barren deserts, frozen arctic conditions, and previously unexplored areas of the world. During 1968, one such expedition by a single SR.N6 successfully traversed the perilousOrinocoriver during an exploratory mission deep into theAmazon rainforest.[8]While the SR.N6 had helped to prove the value of hovercraft, it was not without its flaws; due to its dependency on aviation-derived technologies, Hovertravel's fleet became increasingly expensive to maintain over time, while its high noise output was not an attractive feature either.[8]
As a result of high oil prices following the1973 oil crisisand the1979 energy crisis,the economics of the first generation of commercial hovercraft was badly hit, undermining operators' profitability and provoking customer requests for vehicles with greater fuel efficiency.[9]The BHC achieved several advances throughout the 1970s, improving its skirt technology to increase durability and require less power, while propulsion changes helped to drive down operating costs and thereby improve the hovercraft's commercial viability.[9]While early craft had been powered bygas turbine engines,which were frequently similar to theturboshaftengines used onhelicopters;advances indiesel enginesenabled their application to a new generation of hovercraft.[10][11]Hovertravel elected to procure the newly developedBritish Hovercraft Corporation AP1-88,a medium-size diesel-powered hovercraft.[8]
Prior to the delivery of Hovertravel's first AP1-88 hovercraft in 1983, extensive trials were performed of the vehicle to evaluate it.[8]It was found to be considerably more economic to operate and to purchase, costing half the price of the older SR.N6 in both respects.[12][10]The quieter and more economical AP1-88 was credited by Hovertravel as having revitalised the industry; the type soon entirely replaced the SR.N6 and form the bulk of the company's hovercraft fleet into the 21st century.[8]
By the turn of the century, Hovertravel was reportedly transporting almost 1 million passengers per year across its fleet, while its services were sometimes running at an interval of every 15 minutes at particularly busy points of the day. In order to cope of demand, the company sought a suitable replacement for its aging AP1-88s.[8]While a single BHT-130 hovercraft was operated for four years, it proved to be uneconomical on the relatively short Isle of Wight route, being better suited to longer routes, such as aroundEdinburgh.Another type of hovercraft was therefore sought to serve the Isle of Wight service.[8]
Hovertravel's close relationship with hovercraft manufacturerGriffon Hoverworkhas facilitated its preferences and requirements to shape the development of new hovercraft. During 2010s, while defining what would become the12000TDhovercraft, Griffon Hoverwork drew on passenger-orientated analysis supplied by Hovertravel.[13]Hovertravel would later acquire this vehicle, on which the passenger experience was enhanced over earlier vehicles in multiple ways, including the incorporation of noise-minimisation measures, increased external visibility, andaccessibilityaccommodation.[13]Production of this new twin-diesel engine hovercraft, designated12000TD,commenced in 2015, with deliveries starting during the following year. The type has been hailed as Hovertravel's quietest and most economically viable hovercraft to date.[8]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic,two of the company's hovercraft were modified to take stretchers, and a temporary landing point was opened in Southampton to allow patients to be transferred to its hospital.[14]
Services
edit
For several decades, Hovertravel had operated a hovercraft ferry route between the mainland of theUnited Kingdom(UK) fromSouthseaacross theSolenttoRydeon theIsle of Wight.During low tide, the hovercraft travels over sand flat at a distance of a mile to reach Ryde's hover port. By 2008, this service was the last regular route served by hovercraft anywhere in the UK.[15]That same year, Southsea Terminal was refurbished to extend its lifetime and improve its facilities; alterations included a new wall separating the hoverport and theesplanade,as well as new lighting, toilet blocks, and a clean up of the site.[16]
During October 2017, both of theGriffon Hoverwork12000TD hovercraft were temporarily taken out of service due to several technical and reliability issues, including instances of engine failure. A pair of AP1-88s were taken out of reserve to operate the service in their place.[17]The 12000TD returned to regular service three weeks later.[18]
Hovertravel has occasionally been chartered to operate temporary hovercraft services across theFirth of TaybetweenCarnoustieandSt Andrews,typically in connection with majorgolftournaments, demand being amplified by insufficienthotelaccommodation available at Carnoustie. Additionally, between 16 July and 28 July 2007, theSolent Expresswas chartered to operate an experimental service across theFirth of Forth(marketed as"Forthfast") betweenPortobello,Edinburgh,andKirkcaldyin conjunction with Scottish transport firmStagecoach Group.[19]
1972 accident
editOn 4 March 1972, Hovertravel's SR-N6 012capsizedoff Southsea, with a loss of five lives, including a single missing person who was presumed drowned. The craft had been en route fromRydetoSouthseawith 26 people on board, including the crew; it had been about a quarter of a mile (400 metres) offshore when it was hit by an unusually large wave, causing the vehicle to capsize.[20]All visible survivors were rescued from the sea, while the hovercraft itself was towed ashore at Southsea.[21]The captain of the SR.N6 was praised for his prompt efforts to rescue the people on board.[22]This incident was the world's first fatal accident involving a commercially operated hovercraft, and the first fatal accident involving a hovercraft in the United Kingdom.[23]
Fleet
edit
Presently, Hovertravel operates a pair of 12000TDs, produced by sister companyGriffon Hoverwork,calledSolent FlyerandIsland Flyer.Each craft is outfitted with 78 seats, access to the passenger cabin is provided via two doorways located on the bow of the vehicle. The pilot operates the craft from a central wheelhouse. Powered by a pair ofdiesel engines,the 12000TD can travel at speeds of up to 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) while hovering around 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above the surface.[citation needed]
| Model | Number | Name | In Service | Out Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRN6 | 012 | 1972 | ||
| SRN6 | GH2014 | Sea Hawk | 1977 | 1983 |
| SRN6 | 025 | 1968 | 1980 | |
| SRN6 | 026/GH2012 | 1966 | 1981 | |
| SRN6 | 130/GH2013 | 1965 | 1980 | |
| SRN6 | GH2035 | Freedom | 1974 | 1982 |
| AP1-88 | GH2087 | Tenacity | 1983 | 1990 |
| AP1-88 | GH2088 | Resolution | 1983 | 1987 |
| AP1-88 | GH2083 | Perseverance | 1985 | 1988 |
| AP1-88 | GH2107 | Double-O-Seven | 1989 | 2003 |
| AP1-88 | GH2114 | Freedom 90 | 1990 | 2018 |
| AP1-88 | GH2108 | Courier | 1990 | 2000 |
| AP1-88 | GH2124 | Idun Viking | 1997 | 2002 |
| AP1-88 | GH2132 | Island Express | 2002 | 2017 |
| BHT130 | GH2142 | Solent Express | 2007 | 2011 |
| Griffon12000TD | GH2160 | Solent Flyer | 2016 | Present |
| Griffon12000TD | GH2161 | Island Flyer | 2016 | Present |
References
editCitations
edit- ^"BBC – Hovercraft on the Isle of Wight".bbc.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 27 June 2009.Retrieved25 September2008.
- ^Parkinson, Justin (9 November 2015)."What happened to passenger hovercraft?".BBC News.Archivedfrom the original on 9 November 2015.Retrieved9 November2015.
- ^"Fastest Isle of Wight Ferry".hovertravel.co.uk.Retrieved29 July2024.
- ^"Laevaliiklus".Tytk(in Estonian).Retrieved12 January2024.
- ^"Hovertravel – Homepage".hovertravel.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 7 September 2012.Retrieved13 September2008.
- ^Paine and Syms 2012, p. 82.
- ^Paine and Syms 2012, pp. 238, 595.
- ^abcdefghijkl"The History of the Hovertravel".Hovertravel.Archivedfrom the original on 29 December 2019.Retrieved2 February2020.
- ^abHewish 1983, p. 297.
- ^abPaine and Syms 2012, p. 190.
- ^Hollebone 2012, p. 234.
- ^Hollebone 2012, p. 28.
- ^ab"Profiles: Griffon Hoverwork".Land Sea & Air. August 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 2 February 2020.Retrieved2 February2020.
- ^"Coronavirus: Red Jet and Hythe Ferry crossings suspended".BBC News.15 April 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 11 April 2021.Retrieved16 April2020.
- ^"Local History".BBC.27 March 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 23 January 2020.Retrieved2 February2020.
- ^"New lease of life for hovercraft terminal".Portsmouth Today. 7 April 2008.Archivedfrom the original on 17 June 2022.Retrieved9 February2020.
- ^"Southsea to Ryde hovercraft taken out of service".BBC News. 7 September 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 9 September 2017.Retrieved7 September2017.
- ^"Southsea to Ryde hovercraft back in use after breakdowns".BBC News. 28 October 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 25 January 2018.Retrieved1 February2018.
- ^"Stagecoach – Fife – forthfast".stagecoachbus. Archived fromthe originalon 2 October 2009.Retrieved13 September2008.
- ^"Hovercraft Casualty".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).20 December 1972.Archivedfrom the original on 19 October 2016.Retrieved5 December2017.
- ^"1972, The Hovercraft".Thirty Two Years in the Ambulance Service. Portsmouth and Hampshire (UK).Archived fromthe originalon 22 November 2009.Retrieved17 September2009.
- ^"Hovercraft capsize disaster off Hampshire coast recalled 50 years on".BBC News.4 March 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2022.Retrieved4 March2022.
- ^"Hovercraft Accident".Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).6 March 1972.Archivedfrom the original on 19 October 2016.Retrieved5 December2017.
Bibliography
edit- Hewish, Mark."Quiet Craft Hovers Ahead of Competition."Archived2 October 2018 at theWayback MachineNew Scientist,3 February 1983. Vol. 97, No. 1343. ISSN 0262-4079. pp. 297–299.
- Hollebone, Ashley. "The Hovercraft Story."The History Press,2012.ISBN0-75248-512-1.
- Hollebone, Ashley. "The Hovercraft: A History."The History Press,2012.ISBN0-75249-051-6.
- Paine, Robin and Roger Syms."On a Cushion of Air."Archived2 October 2018 at theWayback MachineRobin Paine,2012.ISBN0-95689-780-0.
External links
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