Sydney JetCats

The Sydney JetCats were a class of catamarans operated by the State Transit Authority and Sydney Ferries Corporation on the Manly service.

Sydney JetCats
View of the ferry Sea Eagle in Sydney Ferries Corporation livery
Class overview
Builders: InCat
Operators:
Completed: 3
Active: 3
General characteristics
Type: Catamaran
Length: 34.8 metres
Beam: 10 metres
Propulsion: 2 x MWM TBD260 V16s
Speed: 30 knots
Capacity: 268 passengers

History

Three JetCats were delivered in 1990/91 to replace the remaining four Sydney hydrofoils on the Manly service. The 268-seat vessels were built by NQEA, Cairns to an Incat Crowther design.[1][2]

In December 2008, the State Government announced the JetCat service would cease and called for tenders to operate the service on a commercial basis.[3] The last JetCat service operated on 31 December 2008.[4] JetCat patronage had dropped from 1,453,000 passengers per annum in 1995/96 to 393,506 between July and December 2008, while ferry patronage on the route rose from 3.7 million to 6.0 million (full 08/09 year) in the same period.[5] However this referenced source clearly reveals the change in Jetcat patronage can be explained by the reduction in the number of timetabled Jetcat services being operated from typically 256 return trips per week in 1995/96, down to 116 per week in 2008 (both including ferry replacement trips). The JetCats were sold to a broker, who resold them for three times the price.[6]

Bass & Flinders Cruises trading as Manly Fast Ferries commenced operating the service on 10 February 2009.[7]

Vessels
NameDate in serviceFate
Blue Fin16 July 1990sold to SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation as SuperCat 36, renamed St Benedict[8][9]
Sir David Martin21 December 1990sold to SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation as SuperCat 38, renamed St Dominic[8]
Sea Eagle19 March 1991sold to Korea as Arcadia, resold to Kazakhstan as CM Jet 5 then as Sprinter destroyed by Fire 24 November 2019 [8]

Ex Manly JetCat "Sea Eagle" was destroyed by fire late last year at her berth along with another vessel "Forward" - both vessels were "utility boats" serving off shore platforms. Arson is suspected.

A fire broke out aboard Russian ferry Sprinter (238 gt, built 1991) early on 24 November while she was moored close to the shipyard at the port of Astrakhan. Local firefighters and a Russian diving support vessel quickly arrived on the scene, but the fire had already spread from the Sprinter to utility vessel Forward (IMO 8916853) which was moored nearby. The fire on both the vessels was completely extinguished after a couple of hours. There were no casualties and no pollution was observed. A damage assessment survey of the vessels was being conducted and an investigation into the cause of fire was underway. 1990-built, Russia-flagged, 417 gt Forward is owned by Stream Shipping care of Ark Shipping Co of Moscow, Russia. It is managed by Marine Offshore Contractor LLC of Astrakhan, Russia.

References
  1. Do you remember the Hydrofoils Part 2 Afloat Magazine July 2007
  2. Manly Fact Sheet Special Commission of Inquiry into Sydney Ferries
  3. Calls for Expressions of Interest for Manly Fast Ferry Minister for Transport 9 December 2008
  4. High and dry as JetCat sails into history Sydney Morning Herald 31 December 2008
  5. Jetcat Patronage 1995 - 2008 MANLYmania Jetcat Page 2008
  6. Retired JetCats cause more embarrassment The World Today (Radio National) 10 December 2009
  7. Jet Cat Withdrawal and Manly Fast Ferry Commencement NSW Ministry of Transport
  8. Manly Jet Cat Sea Eagle living in Kazakhstan Yacht & Boat 29 June 2011
  9. Blue Fin / SuperCat 36 Ferries of Sydney
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