TSS Duke of Lancaster (1955)
The Duke of Lancaster is a railway steamer passenger ship in operation in Europe from 1956 to 1978, and currently beached in Mostyn docks, on the River Dee, north-east Wales.
In service
Along with her sister ships the Duke of Rothesay and the Duke of Argyll, these vessels were amongst the last passenger-only steamers built for British Railways (at that time, also a ferry operator).[1] Built at Harland & Wolff, Belfast and completed in 1956, she was designed to operate as both a passenger ferry (primarily on the Heysham-Belfast route) and as a cruise ship. In this capacity, the Lancaster travelled to the Scottish islands and further afield to Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway and Spain.[1][2]
From the mid-1960s, passenger ships such as the Lancaster were gradually being superseded by car ferries.[1] Rather than undertaking the expensive option of renewing their entire fleet, British Railways instead commenced a part-program of conversion. In order to maintain ferry services whilst these modifications took place, the Lancaster's duties as a cruise ship ceased.[2] On 25 April 1970, the ship returned to service, having had her main deck rebuilt to accommodate vehicles via a door at her stern. The ship now provided space for 1,200 single-class passengers and 105 cars, with a total cabin accommodation for 400 passengers.[2]
The three ships continued on the Heysham-Belfast route until the service was withdrawn on 5 April 1975.[2] The Duke of Lancaster was then briefly employed on the Fishguard-Rosslare crossing, before becoming the regular relief vessel on the Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire service until November 1978.[2] The ship was then laid up at Barrow in Furness, Cumbria.[1]
The Fun Ship
The Lancaster was sold to Liverpool based company Empirewise Ltd, who intended her to be used as a static leisure centre and market. She arrived at her new home at Llanerch-y-Mor, near Mostyn on 10 August 1979.[1] The ship was beached and the hull was sealed not in concrete as is commanly thought but surrounded by a large tonnage of sand pulled out of the dee estuary. Known as "The Fun Ship", it was also possible to visit her bridge and engine room. Conversion for use as a 300-room hotel did not appear to go beyond the preliminary planning stage. Its use as "The Fun Ship" was relatively short-lived and was subsequently closed to the public. Over time, the vessel has become increasingly derelict.
The ship was later used as a warehouse by its owners Solitaire Liverpool Ltd, a clothing company registered to the same address as Empirewise Ltd.[3] Despite rumours of the ship being scrapped, the company stated that they have no plans to sell it, or restore it[4] and its current use is uncertain.
Despite having large amounts of its exterior paintwork covered in red-leading, the interior of the ship is in very good condition.
References
- ^ a b c d e Duke of Lancaster, hhvferry.com, retrieved 12 December 2007
- ^ a b c d e Sealink Holyhead: The Duke of Lancaster, sealinkholyhead.com, retrieved 12 December 2007
- ^ A Visit to the Duke of Lancaster, Irish Sea Shipping, December 2006, retrieved 14 November 2007
- ^ News Bulletin: September 2007, Irish Sea Shipping, 25 September 2007, retrieved 14 November 2007