Sea Eagle







Sea Eagle

Type :
 Catamaran
Launched  :
March 1991
Builder :
Cairns, QLD
Gross :
 108 tons
Dimensions :
 34.80 x 10.00 (metres)
Passenger capacity :
 280
Speed :
 31 knots

The introduction of the three high speed catamarans to the Manly fleet marked what was perhaps the biggest change in the long history of the service. The three new vessels were designed to be fast and comfortable and to be more reliable than the trouble-ridden hydrofoils that they were replacing. However this proved not to be the case, at least initially.

By 1989, there were four hydrofoils left in the fleet and for most of the time, they were out of service due to the long history of problems that plagued them. The NSW government let a tender, worth fifteen million dollars, to replace the hydrofoils and a little over a year later the first, Blue Fin, was launched.

The three vessels travelled from Cairns under their own power and promised a comfortable, fast (15 minute) trip to Manly from the Quay. The government had an option for two more vessels, however, this was not taken up.

By March 1991 all three new cats were in operation on the harbour and the last hydrofoil had been withdrawn. The three were faster, cleaner and more efficient than the hydrofoils and being of a standard design, replacement parts could be ordered far more cheaply.

In 1987 Reef Link II which was built by the same company that had built the Cats was burnt out - this was to cause problems for the three Sydney vessels. In April of 1991 there was a fire on board Sir David Martin. As a result all three Cats were taken off and given an extensive overhaul and a fuel system overhaul.

During the disastrous bushfires of  January 1994, all three Jet Cats were used to evacuate people from Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River to the Central Coast.

As had been promised at their introduction, all three vessels now provide a fast journey for tourists and commuters alike between Sydney and Manly.

However, like the earlier hydrofoils, they have had constant problems and this has affected their reliability. They also use more fuel than did the hydrofoils.
 


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