Hoverwork BHT130

The BHT130 hovercraft, developed by Hoverwork and assembled at their St. Helen’s facility, possesses a cargo capacity of 20 tonnes or can accommodate up to 131 passengers. In August 2005, Hoverwork’s St. Helen’s works received the inaugural welded aluminium hull, which was manufactured by Aluminium Ship Builders located in Fishbourne, Isle of Wight. The initial vessel, referred to as ‘Solent Express’, was originally scheduled to commence operations on the Ryde-Southsea route in 2006.

However, the actual debut of the ship was delayed, with its first appearance outside the workshop being in February 2007. Subsequently, in March 2007, the vehicle was observed at the Ryde Hovercraft terminal, where sea testing were done. The BHT130, weighing 70 tonnes, successfully underwent trials and obtained authorisation from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. It commenced its cross-Solent operations on June 14, 2007, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the SR-N1’s launch at Saunders Roe Cowes.

Craft: BHT 130, BHT 150, BHT 160, BHT 180

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoverwork_BHT130

• https://www.hovercraft-museum.org/collections/