 | |
| Industry | Shipping |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1966 |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Fate | Merged with Seaspeed |
| Successor | Hoverspeed |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | English Channel |
Key people | J.A. Hodgson, Managing Director |
| Services | Passenger transportation |
Number of employees | 623 (Permanent); 229 (Seasonal); 1980 |
| Parent | Brostroms Rederi AB |
Hoverlloyd operated a cross-Channel hovercraft service between Ramsgate, England and Calais, France.
Originally registered as Cross-Channel Hover Services Ltd in 1965, the company was renamed Hoverlloyd the following year. It was initially owned by a partnership between the Swedish Lloyd and the Swedish American Line shipping companies. On 6 April 1966, Hoverlloyd commenced operations from Ramsgate Harbour to Calais Harbour, operated the SR.N6 hovercraft while awaiting the completion of the considerably larger SR.N4 ferries. In addition to competing with traditional ferries, it had a fierce rivalry with hovercraft operator Seaspeed, which also operated SR.N4s on the cross-Channel route. In 1969, in conjunction with the arrival of the first SR.N4s, Hoverlloyd re-positioned its services to run between purpose-built hoverports.
The 1970s were years of optimism and growth for Hoverlloyd. Following initial difficulties, the company's fleet achieved a very high reliability record, having consistently operated more than 98 per cent of scheduled crossings while maintaining an unblemished safety record throughout the firm's existence. Hoverlloyd possessed excellent operational bases, a hovercraft-friendly route, a fleet capable of generating returns on investment, and good quality staff. By 1980, it was operating a fleet of four SR.N4s. In 1981, in response to increasing operating costs and intensifying competition, Hoverlloyd opted to merge with its long-term rival Seaspeed to form Hoverspeed.