Categories
Enquiry
I am to respond to all order enquiries as soon as possible.
PW1443 TSMV Royal Iris3
PW1443 TSMV Royal Iris3
TSMV Royal Iris 3
Builders:William Denny & Sons, Dumbarton, Scotland. Yard No.1448 and constructed for the Mayor,Aldermen and Burgesses of the County Borough of Wallasey.
1,234grt Length:149.9 feet Breadth: 48.1feet Draught: 12.3feet powered by 4x 6 cylinder Ruston & Hornby Diesel Engines coupled to GEC/Met Vickers electric generators.
Passenger Capacity Ferry Service 2,296,Cruising 1,000.
Launched :5th December 1950 and entered Service March 1951.
During the early part of her career she was nicknamed “The Fish & Chip Boat” owing to the many meals served aboard during her river and dance cruises and it was during this time that she became identified with the new era of popular music which has become synonomous with Liverpool and Merseyside.
Following the closure of the New Brighton pier in 1971,she was refitted and her role changed to an up market floating restaurant and evening cruise vessel for private charters etc. During weekdays she would be moored at one of the Georges Stage Ferries berths providing a venue for lunch time diners.Her livery had now changed to white interspersed with Blue,this was to identify her with the new Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive’s Wirral Division colour scheme.
One of her more notable duties was to carry Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second and the Duke of Edinburgh to review shipping anchored in the Mersey on 21st June 1977 during her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee celebrations.
Royal Iris would also deputise for the service vessels when required particularly when extra passenger carryings were required and during October 1984 she carried out the final weekend sailings to the Liverpool International Garden Festival.
In April 1985 she visited the Pool of London on a one off voyage promoting the then Merseyside County Council.
In 1990 her livery changed to predominantly white with a lower blue hull below the rubbing strake and the highlight of that year of course was the first visit to the river of the liner “Queen Elizabeth 2”commemorating Cunard Line’s 150th anniversary.
Sadly 1991 was to be her final year in service and she made her last official cruise in the early part of that year.
After being sold for static use firstly in Cardiff and latterly on the River Thames,her future is uncertain and currently as of 2012,she lies in a derelict condition near Woolwich on the River Thames.
She is depicted in original guise during one of her afternoon cruises off New Brighton.
This illustration is one of a series depicting locally built and operated ships:
For further details please contact:
Philip Welsh
Website:www.philipwelshartist.co.uk
Or email at info@philipwelshartist.co.uk Copyright Philip Welsh 2011