TSS Duke of Argyll (1956)

Last updated

History
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
Name1956–1975: Duke of Argyll
Owner
Operator
Port of registry Lancaster, United Kingdom Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg
Route1956–1975: Heysham - Belfast
Builder Harland & Wolff, Belfast
Yard number1541
Launched12 January 1956
Maiden voyage27 September 1956
Out of service1975
Identification IMO number:  5094460
FateSold to Greece, 1975
Flag of Greece.svgGreece
Name
  • 1975–1987: Neptunia
  • 1987–1994: Corinthia
Owner
Operator
Out of service1987
FateSold to Hong Kong, 1994
Flag of Hong Kong.svgHong Kong
Name
  • 1994–1995: Faith Power
  • 1995–1995: Fairy Princess
  • 1995–1995: Zenith
Owner1994–1995: Hong Kong
Operator1994–1995: Hong Kong
Out of service1995
FateCaught fire, scrapped
General characteristics
TypeTurbine steam ship
Tonnage4,797  GT
Length114.63 m (376 ft 1 in)
Beam17.46 m (57 ft 3 in)
Draught4.54 m (14 ft 11 in)
Installed power2 x Parmetrada steam turbines
PropulsionTwin screw
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
Capacity1800 passengers

TSS Duke of Argyll was a railway steamer passenger ship that operated in Europe from 1956 to 1975. Out of all three built, it was the longest serving ship and most modified of its type.

Contents

Service history

Along with her sister ships the TSS Duke of Lancaster and the TSS Duke of Rothesay, Duke of Argyll was amongst the last passenger-only steamers built for British Railways (at that time, also a ferry operator). [1] She was a replacement for the 1928 steamer built by the London Midland and Scottish Railway, RMS Duke of Argyll.

Built at Harland & Wolff, Belfast, launched on 12 January 1956 and making its maiden voyage on 27 September 1956, the vessel was designed to operate as both a passenger ferry (primarily on the Heysham to Belfast route) and as a cruise ship. [2] [3] [4]

Post Sealink

She operated as Neptunia for Libra Maritime from 1975 to 1987, then as Corinthia for Hellenic Maritime from 1987 to 1994.

She arrived in Hong Kong as Faith Power in 1994 and was renamed Fairy Princess in 1995 and then Zenith. In July 1995 she caught fire. The fire was extinguished and she was run aground. Later refloated, she was sold for scrap.

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References

  1. Duke of Lancaster, hhvferry.com, retrieved 12 December 2007
  2. Second New Ship for Heysham-Belfast Service Railway Gazette 20 January 1956 page 85
  3. Second New Ship for Heysham-Belfast Service Railway Gazette 28 September 1956 page 394
  4. Sea breezes: the ship lovers' digest, Pacific Steam Navigation Company. 1997