Steel twin screw steam turbine vessel, built and engined by Wm Denny & Bros, Ltd., Dumbarton, in 1961(Yard No. 1501) for Caledonian Steam Packet Co (Irish Services) Ltd., as a passenger and car ferry. Launched April 5^th, 1961.

Registry - Stranraer

IMO Number - 5057840

Official Number - 335069

Length on deck - 107.60m (353 ft) (overall)

101.04m (331.6 ft) (between perpendiculars)

Breadth of hull - 17.43m (57.2 ft) (moulded)

Depth - 5.33m (17.5 ft)

Draught - 3.66m (12.0 ft) (maximum)

Tonnage - 3,630 gross (1961), 4,042 (1976)

1,306 net ( 1961), 1,769 (1976)

620 deadweight

Engines - 2 Pametrada steam turbines, double reduction gearing.

Boilers - 2 x Babcock & Wilcox wt

Power - 8,459 kW

Speed - 19 knots (20.9 knots sea trials), astern 85% of power

Capacity - 400 first class, 100 second class passengers,

103 cars/53 cars - 29 trailers (1961)

1,400 one class passengers and 103 cars/53 cars - 29 trailers. (1976)

Crew - 77 (1961), 60 (1976)

Call Sign - GHQF

1959 (Autumn): Ordered.

April 5^th 1961: Launched for by Mrs D.H. Cameron of Lochiel for Caledonian Steam Packet Co. Ltd. The vessel was the successor to the PRINCESS VICTORIA, and was the last of a very long line of railway steamers to be built at Denny’s. The ship introduced a new funnel marking having the Caledonian red lion rampant on each side of the yellow portion of the funnel.

“She combines the facilities of a modern passenger liner with the ability to carry cars and trailers, which are driven on and off by the stern. To seal the stern opening there is a massive watertight door, opening upwards and outwards, and held in the position by safety latches (Glasgow Herald)”.

September 23^rd 1961: Sea Trials in the Firth of Clyde. A knock developed in the starboard engine and she was returned to the builder.

November 24^th 1961: Delivered to British Transport Commission, London home port Stranraer.

October 2^nd 1961: Due to enter service, but developed a defect in her starboard turbine gearing and she was retired to dry-dock at Greenock. The fault was worse than first thought and she was forced to return to Dumbarton where the offending turbine was opened up and rectified.

November 25^th 1961: Arrived at Stranraer and had “open days” on both sides of the North Channel.

December 16^th 1961 - July 6^th 1971: Maiden voyage then operated service for Caledonian Steam Packet Co. (Irish Services) Ltd between Stranraer - Larne.

January 1^st 1963: British Railways Board succeeded British Transport Commission.

July 6^th 1964: In summer SLEIVE DONARD joined her to carry 60 cars, but with their passengers being aboard CALEDONIAN PRINCESS.

1965 (summer): SLEIVE DONARD was unpopular so she was replaced by LOHENGRIN

January 1^st 1967: Vessels were painted in the new livery of British Railways, (blue hull and red funnels) and the “Double -Arrow”, and for tax avoidance purposes ownership registered to British Railways Board.

June 26^th 1968: Day charter and became the first stern loader to visit Douglas I.O.M

July 5^th 1968 - September 5^th 1968: Operated between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire, returning to Stranraer for the winter.

January 1^st 1969: Registered to British Transport Ship Management (Scotland) Ltd. Given side loading doors.

May 20^th 1969 - July 8^th 1969: Operated between Fishguard - Rosslare.

July 9^th 1969 - August 3^rd 1969: Operated between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire.

August 4^th 1969 - October 11^th 1969: Operated between Fishguard - Rosslare.

February 16^th 1970 - February 23^rd 1970: Operated between Heysham - Belfast.

May 1970 - September 1970: Operated between Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire.

December 12^th 1970 - January 1971: Operated between Fishguard - Rosslare.

March 1971: Commenced service between Heysham - Belfast.

July 7^th 1971: Commenced service between Fishguard - Rosslare.

November 1^st 1971 - November 25^th 1971: Operated between Stranraer - Larne.

May 11^th 1972 - June 21^st 1972: Operated between Newhaven - Dieppe for B.R./S.N.C.F.

May 14^th 1972: During heavy storms at Dieppe damaged her belting and was off service for three days.

June 20^th 1972: Completed Newhaven crossings and left for Fishguard.

June 27^th 1972 - September 1972: Operated between Fishguard - Rosslare.

Fishguard, September 1972 , Roy Thornton Collection

September 26^th 1974 - October 26^th 1974: Used between Weymouth - Cherbourg .

October 29^th 1974 : Services between Fishguard - Rosslare.

June 19^th 1975: Last day in operation between Fish guard - Rosslare.

1975: Laid up in reserve at Newhaven.

July 15^th 1975: Again took up service between Weymouth - Jersey - Guernsey.

January 31^st 1976: Completed service between Weymouth - Jersey - Guernsey.

February 1976: Proceeded to Immingham where she was altered for the new multi-purpose role on the Channel Islands service. Reclassified details.

May 12^th 1976 - December 14^th 1976: After rebuild, resumed service between Weymouth - Jersey - Guernsey, from where she went to Fishguard acting as relief.

January 18^th /19^th 1976 - February 1976 (early): Again operated between Newhaven - Dieppe.

April 1978 - May 1^st 1978: Dry docking, then resumed Weymouth - Channel islands service.

December 1978: En-route Channel Islands -Weymouth, she was forced to put into Cherbourg. All animals aboard had to go into UK anti-rabies quarantine for six months.

October 12^th 1979 - November 15^th 1979: Operated between Heysham - Belfast.

May 1^st 1980: Operated as cover, for the EARL WILLIAM which suffered generator problems, between Weymouth - Jersey - Guernsey.

May 1979: Commenced service between Stranraer - Larne.

1981 - May 3^rd 1981: Operated between Weymouth - Jersey - Guernsey.

May 31^st 1981 - September 26^th 1981: After rebuild in Avonmouth operated between Dover - Boulogne.

October 11^th 1981: Laid up in Newhaven.

1981: Plans to convert the sale-listed vessel into a five class ship for service between Port Harcourt and Lagos fell through after an import embargo was imposed by the Nigerian government.

December 14^th 1982: Sold to Michael Quadrini Group.

Newhaven 27/12/1982, © John Jones (left) and © Andy Gilbert (right)

February 27^th 1983: Towed to Gateshead, Tyne by the tug PULLWELL DELTA for planned conversion to a leisure/entertainments complex. Registered to Riverzest Ltd, and renamed TUXEDO PRINCESS.

Roy Thornton Collection

November 29^th 1984: A minor fire broke out on board the vessel and the damage caused was easily repaired.

July 1988: Towed to Glasgow and laid up as an entertainments ship.

1996: Renamed CALEDONIAN PRINCESS.

May 15^th 1998: Towed from Glasgow to Newcastle, later renamed TUXEDO PRINCESS.

December 2007: Information suggested that, as a result of the regeneration of Gateshead Quayside, her days on the Tyne were limited.

She was due to close after a 2007 New Years Eve party and suggestions were that she would be moved to Northern Ireland where she would continue as an entertainments ship.