HSC Hai Xia Hao
When The Cat in Yarmouth July 2009
- The Cat (2002-2011)
IMO no. 9237656
The Hai Xia Hao is a high-speed motor catamaran (High Speed Craft) and a passenger and car ferry, which was built under the hull number 59 of the Tasmanian company Incat.
The ship was taken to Bay Ferries under the name The Cat on the route Yarmouth ( Nova Scotia ) to Bar Harbor in Maine in 2002 and service there in the wrong season from May to October to 2009, when the government of Maine stopped its subsidies. It replaced one built at that time also at Incat ferry ( hull number 046), which is also called The Cat and since 1997 has been in operation. This was in service on the route in less than three hours ( about six hours between Yarmouth and Portland ), about half the time it took for a regular ferry. On board was also a casino with slot machines, opened during navigation in international waters. Out of season the ferry between the Bahamas and Florida, respectively, in Trinidad and Tobago was used.
2011, the ship of Fujian Cross Strait Ferry was acquired and operates between Taichung and Pingtan Iceland.
The carrying capacity of the predominantly built of aluminum ship is 721 tons. It is powered by four water jets, for the steering are individually adjustable. The maximum speed at maximum load is 38 knots.
Four sister ships of the 98 - m- class nor were built by Incat ( Normandie Express, T & T Spirit, Milenium Dos, HSV -2 Swift, Milenium Tres ).