When the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company purchased its latest Incat-built high speed ferry for service on the Irish Sea it continued a relationship established 22 years ago. In 1987, Incat’s chairman Robert Clifford was invited by naval architects Hart Fenton, acting for then Steam Packet shareholder Sea Containers, to visit the Isle of Man with a view of building a high speed craft to serve the island’s needs. Three years later, in November 1990 the first generation Incat car ferry Hoverspeed Great Britain arrived in the island for trials.