SEACAT IN NEWHAVEN 1992

With respect, Bill, these aren't all the same vessel. 

The fast ferry service at Newhaven was inaugurated by Stena Line on April 13th 1996, with the Seacat Stena Lynx 1 and it's this vessel that's seen entering the harbour and swinging ready to berth at the #2 ramp. So immediately successful was she at Newhaven, that she was replaced on June 25th by the larger capacity monohull Superseacat Stena Pegasus.

The other Seacat, viewed from the ferry and seen lying at the East Quay is the Hoverspeed Great Britain, Hoverspeed's original Seacat, and (though hotly disputed by some liner 'purists') one time holder of the Hales Trophy, better known as the 'Blue Riband' of the Atlantic. The port was then owned by Sea Containers, as was Hoverspeed, and it was common for their Seacats to lay up here or call in for repairs.

Not 100% sure why she has the Argentinian company 'Ferrylineas' logo, as I can find no trace of her being chartered directly to them. Maybe a sub-charter from Emeraude Ferries.

One September we were staying at Sunnyside caravan park, Seaford & noticed the Seacat from the window so went onto the beach to watch it coming in. We were so impressed got straight on the phone (brochure was in the caravan) to ask if we could book a trip. Next morning at 7.30am we went to Newhaven & queued up. For only £10 each & after going through the rather odd customs tunnel, we boarded. We went up on top to admire the view as we pulled out of the harbour but then it got rather windy so we went down inside, found some communal seats & sat looking out of the windows. On arriving in Dieppe we had to go in backwards because of the wind & the choppy sea. Mid channel it was like hitting a brick wall when hitting a wave. We were an hour late arriving too. We had a good look around Dieppe, sandwiches on the beach & went in a cafe & Tabac shop for duty frees. Then back to the boat & a lovely trip home. It was a brilliant day out, never to be forgotten...

I was very sorry when I heard the Newhaven-Dieppe hoverspeed cancelled. Over the years we had lovely day trips to the pretty town of Dieppe.

Now it’s a ferry service. Heavily geared up for freight crossings, sailing times that make day travel extremely difficult, AND the crossing takes 4 hours!

The conventional service was here a long time before the short-lived fast ferry services arrived, of course, and it has survived a long time since they went! The car ferry crossing has always taken 3 3/4 hours, then 4 hours, since it started in 1964. Two reasons: 1) to save fuel, and the Transmanche twins could make it in around 3 hours if they didn't mind the big increase in fuel consumption to get that extra speed, and 2) people spend more if they are on board longer. More money spent it bars, restaurants, shops and (presumably from next year) in Duty-Free shops. That makes up a large percentage of the operating income - I was working there and saw it!

Freight has always been vital to the route, historically, it has kept it going when there's precious little car and passenger traffic in the winter months.

In summer, with both ships running, the timetables do allow for a day trip, timings not too dissimilar to the 1960s. Sure, it's not as speedy as the fast ferries but at least it is a ferry service.

It was no surprise to me when Hoverspeed pulled out, it's their modus operandi. Start a service, run it for a few years, then move on to a new route.

So it’s time for my moan up about the Newhaven-Dieppe crossing. ????

As a foot??passenger, I really miss travelling to/from the continent in a day. What a day out it was.

We had lovely day trips to the pretty town of Dieppe. It felt like a holiday - even if it was just for the day. And even if it was just Dieppe, we were in France ???? And vice versa, we have a great little town. And the surrounding areas aren’t bad either!

Now it’s just a ferry service that in my opinion is heavily geared up for freight crossings. I know the crossing has always been used for freight but it seemed like there were two priorities back then. Now it feels like freight is priority and then if any foot passengers want to come, then OK! 

Seems that foot passenger priority has been lost now. ??

The sailing times make day travel extremely difficult. A 9am departure sounds appealing - until you hear the crossing takes 4 hours! I could pretty much fly to Venice and back in that time!

check-in time for the return is either 16:30 or 22:29. So from arrival, one gives 2 & half hours ?? The other gives you time, but in doing so leaves far to late.??

I’m sure the current ferry is good, but it’s speed, timetable and cost puts me off.

If I was given the choice: 4 hours at sea @ £50(1 way) or 2hrs by air £40 (return). I know what I’d choose!

I believe that would be the attitude of a lot of people. So from a business point of view, potential customers are turning away from sea travel and looking at more attractive prices.

I remember advertising. Regional ads on both sides of the crossing. Posters and billboards, local papers and magazines evening Argus, Sussex Express. The local weather sponsor! Nothing like that now. Maybe sometimes Dover/Calais but Newhaven/Dieppe doesn’t get a look in! I even remember a couple of national ads too. Imagine now with the might of facebook Twitter instagram as advertising tools.

Surely by providing a service for travellers it’s a way to generate money? On both sides??

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to rival air travel and train travel?

A regular, fast, convenient link between the UK’s South coast ???? and Northern France ????. Ideal for for foot Passenger AND freight.