Renewal of the world's only year-round hovercraft passenger ferry service is set to be realised through the commissioning of two new UK-built craft, considered the most technically advanced yet. Constituting a total investment of around £10 million (US$14.5 million) by long-established operator Hovertravel, Solent Flyer and Island Flyer will each carry 88 passengers on the cross-Solent route linking Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, with Southsea, Portsmouth. Developed and built at Griffon Hoverwork's Woolston yard in Southampton, the 12000TD aluminium design offers a maximum speed of 45knots with a full payload of 12tonnes.
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