Handbook on the establishment of high-speed craft operation

This handbook is based mainly on four previous reports from WP2 Ship to shore interface and port infrastructure for high-speed craft, with minor additions from other reports within the TOHPIC project. The aim was to deliver a handbook, accessible to non-experts, but still comprehensive enough to be suitable for decision makers and other interested parties, to be used as a manual when new fast shipping initiatives or further developments are considered. High-speed shipping has specific needs regarding infrastructure and service, and therefore considerations about the impact on surrounding activities and the environment have to be dealt with before it is introduced. For high speed craft (acronym: HCS) to be competitive in the present situation and in the long run, they cannot be regarded as a conventional vessel travelling at high speed, but should be considered as a new transport system. It is important that all activities are coordinated in order to achieve shorter total time in the transport chain for passengers and cargo, and to attain high utilization of the vessel and efficiency in the logistic flow. So, why do we have high-speed shipping? The obvious answer is because it is faster; that answer, however, also implies that we want, or need, to go faster than conventional ships. It is of course one reason, but the reality is a bit more complicated. In Norway coastal shipping has always been very important. Because of the topography, with high mountains and deep fjords, the easiest, and sometimes only, way to transport passengers and goods is by sea. Following the development of modern industrial society, the demand for more and better communications has increased and coastal shipping in Norway has developed to meet these needs. A large share of coastal shipping in Norway is today operated with HSC. This is mainly for passenger transport with or without' cars but it is also used to some extent for lorries. Another and different reason for the introduction of high-speed shipping could be found in Sweden. The topography makes it much easier to travel on land than in Norway and the road network was developed to serve the need for transport of people and goods within the country. However, shipping was, and still is, very important for export and import of goods. In fact, passenger shipping in Sweden is very closely related to pleasure cruises. Before 1999 a large portion of the income to the shipping companies came from tax-free sales. As a consequence of the new law stopping tax-free on inter European lines, the turnover for tax-free has substantially decreased and a new pronounced transport approach with a focus on increased sale of tickets was founded. The aim was now to make waterborne transport more competitive and effective compared to conventional passenger traffic as well as other transport modes. The introduction of high-speed craft was then an alternative.