March 7, 2001 Just days before the introduction of a fleet of state-of-the-art high speed car ferries dramatically transform channel crossings to France and Belgium, Hoverspeed will be showcasing one of their new look Superseacats to the public on a special visit to London on Saturday 17 March. Moored alongside HMS Belfast on the South Bank, near Tower Bridge, the 100metre long craft - the largest fast car ferry to sail on the Thames - will be open for public viewing from 1000am to 5pm on 17 March. Admission is free to both vessels throughout the day. With Hoverspeed's strong connections via its fast ferry cross channel services to France and Belgium, exhibitors on board the Superseacat will include the French regions of Nord Pas de Calais, Seine Maritime Normandy and the Flanders region of Belgium. Visitors will be entitled to special travel offers with Hoverspeed in 2001, have opportunities to win Weekend Breaks in France and Belgium and sample wines, liquers and regional specialities available throughout the day. Superseacat is scheduled to sail from Dover to London in the afternoon of Thursday 15 March, arriving Tower Bridge / HMS Belfast at 1800. The craft is due to depart London on Sunday 18 March, prior to starting cross channel services from Dover on Monday 19 March. Built in Italy by Fincantieri, Superseacats have capacity for 700 passengers and 145 vehicles and can travel at speeds of up to 40 knots. Up to 10 return sailings daily will operate from Dover to Calais, with a crossing time of just 40 minutes, combined with three return sailings daily between Dover and Ostend, crossing time just 2 hours. Access to Superseacat will be via HMS Belfast, located on the South Bank near to Tower Bridge, nearest main line and underground stations is London Bridge.Press Release Media contact: Nick Stevens, Public Relations Manager Telephone: (01304) 865170 |