Purchase of Speed One

[Will]

The many Speedferries fans might like to read the press release below which I have just received from Incat in Australia. It shows that Speedferries is likely to be here to stay, even if the company has not yet managed to secure its much-needed second ship:

Media Release

 

 

20 May 2008

 

SPEEDFERRIES PURCHASES SPEEDONE FROM INCAT

Expanding Low-Cost Operator Invests for the Future

 

SpeedFerries, the English Channel’s family-owned low-cost ferry operator, has purchased the

86 metre Wave Piercing Catamaran SpeedOne from Incat.

 

SpeedFerries entered the market with a new low-cost model in May 2004, launching sailings

between Dover and Boulogne with the SpeedOne on charter from Incat. Since then SpeedFerries

has had a dramatic effect on the cross-Channel ferry market, the average price of car tickets on

the Dover Strait has reduced dramatically, benefiting all cross-Channel travellers.

 

“The purchase of SpeedOne has been foreshadowed for quite some time and while the sceptics

have been quick to dismiss SpeedFerries’ success, the company continues to march to a carefully

executed business plan,” says Curt Stavis, CEO of the Dover-based company.

 

The deal marks a £13.5 million investment for SpeedFerries and follows a recent move to a

dedicated and exclusive terminal at Dover’s Western Docks. The next stage in the company’s

development is to source a second Incat vessel to partner SpeedOne, bringing a higher frequency

of sailings and possible new route opportunities.

 

The service between Dover and Boulogne takes just 50 minutes to cross and up to 10 sailings daily

are offered at value prices. With exclusive port facilities in both Dover and Boulogne,

SpeedFerries customers also benefit from a less congested experience due to no freight or heavy

traffic. Just a 30 minute drive from Calais, Boulogne has excellent motorway links and is ideally

situated for travel throughout Europe.

 

Without a doubt the vessel that began life as Incat 045 must be one of the most well known high

speed craft to be built by Incat. In military and commercial service, as HMAS Jervis Bay and later

as Speed One, the vessel has never been far from media attention, serving as a distinguished

ambassador for both operator and builder alike.

 

In May 1999 she was chartered at short notice by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and over the

next two years HMAS Jervis Bay became pivotal in the initial deployment of Australian and other

contingents to East Timor, being initially assigned to the International Force – East Timor

(INTERFET). She was the first naval vessel to berth alongside the Dili wharf, when on 21 September 1999 several hundred Australian troops were disembarked. During her five-month stint with INTERFET HMAS Jervis Bay conducted three trips per week operating a 430 nautical miles route across the Timor Sea between Darwin and Dili, a high operational tempo that was sustained by a two-crew system.

 

During this time HMAS Jervis Bay seized the attention of the worldwide military, enabling them to

witness the potential of High Speed Craft to perform various military roles. The resulting

overwhelming interest from US forces in high-speed craft ultimately led to the deployment of

three Incat Wave Piercing Catamarans under the Stars and Stripes.

 

With the cessation of INTERFET the craft continued to support Australian forces operating in East

Timor under Operation Tanager before completing her last passage, the 107th trip, on ANZAC Day

in 2001. In all HMAS Jervis Bay had sailed just under 100,000 nautical miles, carried in excess of

22,000 ‘passengers’, 450 vehicles and 5,000 tonnes of stores and humanitarian aid.

 

Returning to commercial operation, 2002 saw Incat 045 leaving Australia for Italy where she

operated for a season on charter. At the end of the season she was moved to the British port of

Portland for lay-up pending sale or charter.

 

Enter SpeedFerries and renamed SpeedOne the vessel was soon making UK and French headline

news, not just for re-establishing the historic link between Dover and Boulogne but because her

arrival saw prices falling by up to 50 percent and SpeedFerries quickly claiming an impressive 12

percent of the highly competitive passenger vehicle market.

 

Just 18 months after the service was launched SpeedFerries won the “Best European Crossing

Operator” award in 2005 at the UK Daily Telegraph Travel Awards. By the second anniversary of

SpeedFerries’ launch, SpeedOne had carried more than one million passengers and close to

500,000 cars.

 

SpeedOne has brought a new dimension of ferry travel to the English Channel, turning heads just

as she has done since those military days. It is hoped that she will continue to form an important

part of the SpeedFerries operation as the company seeks to expand its services.

 

Ends.

 

[Llantony]

Yes, they have been saying they'll buy another boat/ship/catamaran for ages.  I think Speedferries are great, and cheap, but they don't have many crossings and are prone to delays if anything goes wrong with Speed One.

Last year we broke down and I rang to change our Speedferry crossing and was told there was no chance for another week.  Had to go P & O, just missed the one we aimed for (I told other half we wouldn't make it but he didn't listen!) but there was another along fairly soon.  Would have to wait hours for Speedferry and probably would have to pay a lot more for a last minute booking.

Have just purchased a trailer (6' wide and around 7' tall - would they accept that?  Other half says it would be difficult to manoevre as Speedferries are so packed.

 

[woolybananasbrother]

Jervis Bay, eh? Now there is a name to conjure with.

[Alan Zoff]

I had assumed they already owned Speed One and had been saving up for a Speed Two, rather than still needing to pay for the first one.

[powerdesal]

Indeed, see      http://www.internet-promotions.co.uk/archives/caithness/jervisbay.htm

[Iceni]

[quote user="wbb"]Jervis Bay, eh? Now there is a name to conjure with.[/quote]

Lead singer of Pulp, IIRC.

John

[Llantony]

Well, half way there!