Hoverspeed started operating fast
catamarans, known as seacats from Dover in July 1991.
The craft initially operated from the
Eastern
Docks until June 1993, when a special berth was
constructed for them alongside the
Prince
of Wales Pier at the
Hoverport.
In late 1993 the Dover based seacats were withdrawn
and transferred to the Folkestone - Boulogne route but
returned to the Dover Calais service the following summer.
In March 1998 seacat services between Dover and Ostend
were introduced.
In October 2000 Hoverspeed withdrew its ageing
hovercraft,
replacing them on the Dover - Calais route with seacats.
It is planned to develop a further seacat berth at the
Hoverport site, where the terminal building will remain
in use for seacat passengers.
In late 2002 Hoverspeed announced that the summer only
service to Ostend would not be reintroduced for the
Summer 2003 timetables.
