HSC Manannan

HSC ''Manannan'' is a wave-piercing high-speed catamaran car ferry built by Incat, Australia in 1998. After commercial service in Australia and New Zealand, she was chartered to the US military as ''Joint Venture'' (HSV-X1). Now owned and operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, she mainly provides a seasonal service between Douglas Harbour and Port of Liverpool.

Early history

''Manannan'' is one of six 96-metre (WPC 96) catamarans built by Incat, Australia. She was built as ''Incat 050'' in 1998. Under the name ''Devil Cat'', she operated for a short period as a commercial ferry for TT-Line. A spell followed crossing the Cook Strait as ''Top Cat''. Then she was acquired by the United States Navy and converted for military purposes.

United States Navy

In 2001, she was contracted by the United States Armed Forces for a five-year, joint Army/Navy program, as ''Joint Venture'' (HSV-X1). A flight deck was added to accommodate various US military helicopters. ''Joint Venture'' was rapidly re-configurable and could perform a variety of missions, principal among them the ability to ferry up to 325 combat personnel and 400 tons of cargo up to one way at speeds in excess of .

In 2003, ''Joint Venture'' was assigned to Operation Enduring Freedom in the Horn of Africa. She operated as a fast transport in support of the Combined Joint Task Force and performing a variety of tasks, such as transporting and supplying troops at high speed over long distances, operating as a mobile command centre, working close inshore, and operating as a helicopter carrier.

At the end of the five year charter, she was handed back to Incat in early 2006. She was struck from the ''Naval Vessel Register'' and re-listed as "IX-532" (unclassified experimental). She then underwent a refit and was painted in the livery of Express Ferries. Plans for her to enter service as a car and passenger ferry never materialised.

Isle of Man Steam Packet Company

On 19 May 2008, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company announced the purchase of the wave-piercing catamaran for £20 million, as the replacement for the fast craft ''Viking''. Because of its previous use, the company said it had significantly fewer hours of service than a vessel of comparable age and was ideally suited for the planned service. She completed the voyage from Hobart to Portsmouth Harbour, with most of the materials for her refit, in 27 days.

A £3 million refit, carried out by Burgess Marine, Portsmouth, provided a new aft accommodation module and the "Sky Lounge". The heavy military ramp was replaced with a new stern door and the helideck was removed. Following this, she arrived in Douglas on 11 May 2009. An open day took place at each of the company's ports and at a renaming ceremony, she was renamed after Manannán mac Lir, the Celtic god of the Irish sea. ''Manannan'' made her maiden service voyage with the Steam Packet Company on Friday 22 May 2009 on the 07:30 sailing from Douglas Harbour to Liverpool.

During the winter period 2014/2015 ''Manannan'' was fitted with a removable mezzanine deck which created additional space for motorcycles during the Isle of Man TT and Festival of Motorcycling periods, allowing fans who have previously traveled as foot passengers the chance to bring their bikes. - by late March 2015, the number of motorcycles booked for the TT Festival was up 10% on the previous year.

Service

Until 2018, at , ''Manannan'' was the largest vessel of its kind on the Irish Sea until Irish Ferries took delivery of the ''Dublin Swift''. In summer season, she operates daily sailings from Douglas to Liverpool, and weekly/twice weekly sailings to Belfast and Dublin. During the winter, Manannan remains in Douglas on reserve and sails to Liverpool to have her annual overhaul before returning for the summer season.

Onboard facilities

''Manannan''s passenger facilities are located over two decks.

Incidents

In April 2015 the ''Manannan'' suffered six days of cancelled sailings due to damage to its jet system caused by sea debris. All sailings between the Isle of Man and Liverpool were cancelled and passengers were transferred to sailings on the ''Ben-my-Chree'' to and from Heysham, while the P&O Ferries vessel ''Express'' was chartered for a sailing to Larne in place of a cancelled Belfast sailing. ''Express'' also suffered damage while in Manx waters and P&O were forced to cancel a number of their own sailings as a result.

Steam Packet boss Mark Woodward told a local newspaper, "Since 2007 there have been 17 recorded major incidents where our ships have been damaged and passengers have been inconvenienced by disrupted schedules as a result... the damage was incurred seven days after the vessel recommenced seasonal operational service and just three weeks after leaving dry-dock. All of this equipment was fully inspected during the docking period by Steam Packet Company engineering staff, along with Classification Society Surveyors and all found to be in good order." The ferry returned to service on Saturday 11 April 2015 once repairs were completed. The estimated price of repairs was above £100,000.

On 24 March 2016, the ''Manannan'' collided with the Victoria Pier in Douglas Harbour on arrival at 22:30. Five passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries and the following day's sailings were cancelled, with passengers being transferred to the ''Ben-my-Chree''. The vessel suffered damage to the port side, causing the front of the hull to be bent to the left. The collision was caused by a systems control failure.

Photo gallery

File:Manannan Douglas.jpg, ''Manannan'' berthed in Douglas Harbour
File:Manannan, River Mersey (geograph 3786360).jpg, ''Manannan'' entering the River Mersey
File:Manannan and Liver Building, Pier Head, Liverpool (geograph 2978805).jpg, ''Manannan'' at her usual berth in Port of Liverpool
File:USN Joint Venture (HSV-X1).jpg, as ''Joint Venture'' (HSV-X1).
File:Queen Mary 2 and Manannan, Liverpool landing stage, River Mersey (geograph 4556203).jpg, with Queen Mary 2 at Pier Head
File:Steam packet route map.svg

See also

* List of multihulls

References

External links

Manannan Specifications - steam-packet.com


HSV-X1 Joint Venture

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manannan
Ships of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
Ferries of Australia
Ferries of the Isle of Man
Merchant ships of the Isle of Man
Incat high-speed craft
1998 ships
Ships built by Incat
Military catamarans
High speed vessels of the United States Navy
Cook Strait ferries