Cat ferry being filmed for Modern Marvels History Channel television show

Modern Marvels, a show on the History Channel, will feature The Cat ferry in an upcoming episode.

Melissa Fuller, who’s producing the episode for the History Channel, said that a variety of different ships were considered for the show. “When you see it, it speaks for itself,” Fuller said. “We were looking for unique vessels – and we were impressed by the style of the Cat, its speed and its size.”

The filming will take place on June 1, during the crossing between Bar Harbor, Maine and Yarmouth. Bay Ferries president and chief executive officer Mark MacDonald will cross with the film crew and provide commentary on the ship.

Upon arrival in Yarmouth, the Cat will offload passengers, and then return briefly to sea for several filming sequences near the Cape Forchu lighthouse. The ship will then return to Yarmouth in time to load cars and passengers for the return trip to Bar Harbor.

The Cat is built entirely from lightweight aluminum – a major factor in its speed. Its wave-piercing hulls smooth the ride, and a special stabilizing system can be deployed in especially rough weather. It uses neither propellers nor rudders – thrust and maneuvering are managed using powerful water jets.

The ship is also outfitted with state of the art radar and navigation equipment.

The filming is part of a Modern Marvels episode featuring unusual ships. Other ships in the show will include large cruise ships, a research vessel called FLIP and several naval vessels. The episode’s first airdate has yet to be determined.

The Cat has been featured on television before. Superships, a series on The Discovery Channel, featured the Cat. A wrap-up show identified the Cat as the #2 supership in the world. That show last aired in the U.S in 2007 and in Canada in 2008.