Built by Incat in Tasmania and launched in 1998 as Incat 050, she spent the summer of 1998/1999 running across Bass Strait, between Melbourne and Tasmania before being transferred to a New Zealand company, running between the North and South islands. In Bass Strait service she was known as "Devil Cat" although her name was officially Incat 050; in New Zealand service she was known as Top Cat", before being converted for military purpose. A flight deck was added to accommodate various helicopters in the US Navy arsenal.
Joint Venture was rapidly re-configurable and could perform a variety of missions, principal among them the ability to ferry up to 325 combat personnel and 400 tons of cargo up to 3,000 miles (4,800 km) one way at speeds in excess of 40 knots (74 km/h).
In 2003 Joint Venture was assigned to Operation Enduring Freedom in the Horn of Africa. She operated as a fast transport in support of the Combined Joint Task Force and performing a variety of tasks, such as transporting and supplying troops at high speed over long distances, operating as a mobile command centre, working close inshore, and operating as a helicopter carrier.
Joint Venture was handed back to Incat in fall of 2006. She had undergone a refit including painting in the Express Ferries livery and was planned to enter service with them as a car and passenger ferry, but this never materialised. On 19 May 2008, she was purchased by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and, after an extensive refit, went into service in May 2009 as Manannan
Displacement: 1,668 tons full
940 tons standard
Length: 96 m (315 ft 0 in) overall
Beam: 26 m (85 ft 4 in)
Draught: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
Propulsion: Caterpillar
Speed: Over 40 knots
Complement: 5 officers, 25 enlisted