Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2007 | Page 127

LOCAL BUSINESS
Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy. If
successful, the future use of
a hovercraft on that route will
dramatically shorten the times
of journeys that now have to be
made across the Forth Bridges.
But the real potential for
hovercraft use is in such areas
as oil exploration, coastguard
applications and humanitarian
operations. The Hoverwork
team played a large part in
the design and construction of
the hovercraft used for relief
and welfare missions in the
tricky waters of the Aleutian
Islands in Alaska, and are
now working on a new vessel
for the Canadian Coastguard,
due for delivery next year.
At Hoverwork’s premises
on The Duver at St Helens,
it is already possible to see
the aluminium outline of
the hull that will be built up
into a sophisticated craft,
capable of negotiating ice,
shallow waters, and terrain
that could only otherwise
be reached by the far more
expensive use of helicopters.
Hovertravel and Hoverwork
have always prided themselves
on combining efficiency
with friendliness, and the
atmosphere at The Duver is
noticeably good-natured and
co-operative. But the work done
there is, first and foremost, of
the highest quality, with design

and building skills that are
among the best in the country.
“It’s a really good Island
company,” says engineering
director Bob Barton. “We try
to keep as much work as we
can on the Island, and by
2008 we will have earned
over £10million in foreign
currency in just two years.”
Solent Express, whose naming
ceremony was performed by
the Duke of Edinburgh, has
already proved to be a credit
to the Hoverwork team. But
every part of the Hovertravel
and Hoverwork enterprise is
vital to its success, and it says
much for the company that it
has so many long-serving staff.
Charlotte Larder, a cashier at
the Southsea terminal, joined
Hovertravel in 1984. “I enjoy it
all,” she says. “ It’s a unique
service. In the summer we get
so many people who just want
a ride on a hovercraft. They go
over and then come back again,
and it’s very exciting for them. “
Stuart Guy, beach master at
Ryde, has been with Hovertravel
since 1976. “I’ve seen different
terminal buildings, all the
different hovercraft, and we’re
a good crew of people here.”
Christopher Bland came
to Hovertravel in 1966, and
he sees its strength in its
commitment to the Island
and in the fact that, despite

life

advances and improvements
in its service, it retains its
very personal characteristics.
“We’ve never been sold,” he
says. “No huge company has
taken us over, and we have
no debts. Ninety per cent of
our workforce is employed on
the Island, and we operate the
longest established commercial
hovercraft service in the world.”
That service has carried
22½million passengers
since 1965, and currently
provides some 800,000
single passenger journeys
annually. The achievement
of the Solent Express as an
Island success story will now
provide even more opportunity
for Hovertravel’s customers
to enjoy this unique service.

Main photo:
Hovering on the fast
route to success
Below: Teamwork: Hoverwork
craftsmen with engineering
director Bob Barton at the
naming ceremony of
Solent Express
Picture by Michael Dunkason

customers since it entered
service in June. But it was
also important that it should
not just be more spacious
and comfortable but that it
should be ecologically sound.
“It has a low-emission rating,”
says Richard Box. “Its design
optimises the performance
and efficiency of its engines.
And the really important thing
is that the BHT-130 gives us
an exciting future, both at
Hovertravel and at Hoverwork.”
The new design has
modernised and enhanced
Hovertravel’s service across the
Solent, while its capabilities are
attracting attention from other
organisations much further
afield. Commissioned by
transport provider Stagecoach,
Solent Express recently made
a trip up to Scotland, to run a
fortnight’s trial service between

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