Devil Cat
“The Devil Cat Catamaran Passenger Ferry was built in Hobart in 1997 and had a capacity of 900 passenger, 240 cars and could run fully loaded at 43 knots or 80 kmh. Unloaded could achieve 50.2 knots or 93 kmh. It was operated by TT Line Company from Melbourne Australia across the Bass Strait to Tasmania
The vessel was powered by four Ruston 20 RK270 conventional medium-speed diesel engines and had two Caterpillar generators in each hull.
It was constructed from marine-grade aluminium alloys. The superstructure was supported on vibration damping mounts. The design was characterised by long slender waterborne hulls each subdivided into eight watertight compartements, with very little buoyancy at the bow. As each hull encountered a wave it tended to ‘pierce’ through rather than ride ove it.”
We only went on this cat once, but it was the smoothest ride, fast and fun, although we have heard the opposite. Unfortunately this cat no longer operates between Melbourne and Tasmania.
Taken on 35mm film
Available for sale asGreeting Cards
reflector
An incredible vessel ! Great shot Kala !
kalaryder replied
Thank you very much
DottieDees
This is amazing..just curious…is it still in operation some where?
kalaryder replied
I don’t know, it would be a pity if it wasn’t/
Mayina
Amazing, I saw this ‘Cat” being built. awesome…................
kalaryder replied
How wonderful, do you have some photos of it?
Mayina
No, I dont. Many ( or several) are made here—at Risdon. They go to many parts of the world. In 1992, I was at Stranraer and lo and behold, one was just starting the trip to and from ireland….....
kalaryder replied
Maybe you can get some updated ones, this was a film pic only so does not enlarge at all and they are great looking creatures.
Rosie Appleton
haha, we went on this (or another SeaCat)... twice – when it went from Port Welshpool!! Hubby was working for a some months in Tassie (Georgetown actually where the Cat terminal was) and we went to stay with him for a few months. The trip over was terrible, so choppy (it was Boxing day 1990) everyone was sick (except me!!) the kids weren’t too bad but all their play area was taken up with adults lying down… coming back home at the end of Feb the water was like glass… just perfect (thank goodness as I was on my own this time). We so often heard the Cat leave and then about an hour later return because it couldn’t get out of the heads of the Tamar River!!!!
Tom Gomez
Wow, that is a mean machine …
kalaryder replied
Oh yes! I love it
emolena
very nice !
Rosalie Scanlon
Great image and information
kalaryder
Thank you ladies for your comments
Allen Gray
The Cat was beaten by the Strait in the end, the weather kept forcing it to stay in the Tamar. Every week we’d hear how the Cat had been forced to turn back, or unable to sail. I use to sail in a little Corsair sailing Dingy under the terminal at George Town as a kid with the Naval Reserve Cadets, when we visted the George Town unit (I was with TS Tamar in Launceston.) I remember when they took the boarding tube and put in place at the terminal, as it use to be the walkway linking the old and new Launceston General Hospitals! It was still there at the Cat terminal for years after the service stopped! I also remember when Bob Clifford put one of the Cats under going sea trials on Blackjack rocks in the Derwent and it took the better part a week and three tug boats to get it off!!
kalaryder replied
Great piece of information. Thank you.
SMOKEYDOGSOCKS
WHAT A STRANGE LOOKING FERRIE. I WATCH THE BAY FERRIES COME AND GO IN MARE ISLAND STRAIGHTS IN VALLEJO CALIFORNIA, WHENEVER I GO VISIT ONE OF MY FISHING BUDDIES THAT LIVES THERE. BUT, THOSE FERRIES DON’T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THIS. NOT EVEN CLOSE IN SIZE COMPARISONS. THAT THING WAS HUGE. WENT INTO FAVORITES THOUGH. BOB
kalaryder replied
Thanks Bob for the fav. this was a great ferry for the short time it ran.