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SARNIA HISTORY

British Transport Commission, Southern Region, London, England.

June 13^th 1961: Exhibition trip from Weymouth to Channel Islands.

June 17^th 1961: Commenced service from Weymouth to Channel Islands.

December 9^th 1961: Collided with the quayside in St Peter Port cutting a large hole in the hull, on the starboard side.

April 12^th 1962 - April 17^th 1962: Operated from Folkestone.

April 1962: Operated between Weymouth - Channel Islands.

November 19^th 1962 - January 30^th 1963: Operated between Dover - Calais

January 1^st 1963:

British Railways Board succeeded British Transport Commission.

February 1963: Commenced service between Weymouth - Channel Islands.

1964: Vessels painted in the new livery of  British Railways (blue hull and red funnels) and the "Double – Arrow

1967 (Easter): For a short time operated from Folkestone.

November 1969: It was announced that British Rail’s Shipping and International Services Division (S.I.S.D.) had adopted the new brand name

Sealink and as a consequence all vessels would be painted in the new house colours.

Had internal improvements made including extra seating, some of which was put forward on the boat deck.

1973:

Sealinktrading name painted on hulls

April 29^th 1975 - May 15^th 1975: Off service with engine trouble

September 10^th 1977: Final day operating between Weymouth and Channel Islands.

May 1978: Sold to

Supersave Supermarkets(Midland)Ltd, England. Renamed AQUAMART.

May 24^th 1978: Left the Dorset port for Immingham where she underwent dry-docking before moving to Grimsby’s Alexandra Dock for conversion and extensive refit. Her master was Capt. Bernard Hodges, formerly with the

Townsend-Thoresen fleet at Dover. The ship began service in her new role of excursion ship-come-duty-free shop in mid-July operating out of Ostend and Dunkirk. But after the initial voyages, when serious problems were encountered owing to the non-cooperation of the Belgian tax authorities and unions, the ship had to be withdrawn and her future is now uncertain. With just 800 passengers on board, she should have operated four trips each day between Dunkirk and Ostend at £5 for the return trip. Capt. Hodges, aged 36, formed the Coastal Cruise Line and was promptly sacked by T.T.F. for forming a rival company. Following proceedings at the Industrial Tribunal, Capt, Hodges won his case against his former employers for unfair dismissal. Was due to have started in June perhaps using Deal as a British base but as can be seen, the original scheme has been somewhat modified.

July 24^th 1978: Introduced by

Channel Cruise Lines Ltd., Guernsey for cruising between Ostend - Dunkerque.

August 4^th 1978: Ceased sailings and arrived in London’s West India Dock for lay-up. Her crew was paid off and no further plans have been announced.

December 1978: Sold to

Grecian Fertility Inc, Greece.

January 20^th 1979: Towed from London to Piraeus, Greece. Renamed GOLDEN STAR.

September 24^th 1981: Towed from Piraeus to Jeddah.

1981: Sold to

Hitta Establishment, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Renamed SAUDI GOLDEN STAR.

1981: Operated between Port Said - Aqaba - Jeddah.

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