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SARNIA HISTORY

D i m e n s i o n s / T e c h n i c a l D a t a

Cost new - £1,500,000

Registry - Weymouth ( 1960 - 1978)

IMO - 5314236

Length on deck - 98.15m (321.75 ft) (overall)

92.05m (302 ft) (between perpendiculars)

Breadth of hull - 16m (52.7 ft) (extreme)

15.55m (51.0 ft) (moulded)

Depth - 8.2m (26.9 ft)

Draught - 4.2m (13.75 ft) (maximum)

Tonnage - 4,174 gross (1960), 3,989 (1969)

2,271 net (1960), 2,072 (1969)

580 deadweight (1960), 575 (1969)

Engines - Pamatrada double reduction gearing steam turbines

Power - 6,620 kW

Speed - 20 knots

Capacity - 1,400 passengers (1960), 800 (after rebuild)

Call Sign - GHNF (1960 - 1978)

June 6th 1960: Launched

June 1961: Delivered to

British Transport Commission, Southern Region, London, England.

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

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

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

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

April 1962: Operated between Weymouth - Channel Islands.

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

January 1st 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 29th 1975 - May 15th 1975: Off service with engine trouble

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

May 1978: Sold to

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

May 24th 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 24th 1978: Introduced by

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

August 4th 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 20th 1979: Towed from London to Piraeus, Greece. Renamed GOLDEN STAR.

September 24th 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.

February 1987: Laid up at Gadani Beach, Pakistan.
 
(INFORMATION COURTESY OF NIGEL THORNTON) 

 

 

 

 




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