Registry - Southampton

IMO Number - 5111945

Length on deck - 94,70m (310.6 ft), m (311.0 ft)(overall)

Breadth of hull - 14.64m (49.9 ft) (moulded)

Depth - 7.80m (25.6 ft)

Draught - 3.81m (12.6 ft )(maximum)

Tonnage - 3,710 gross (1947), 2,416 (1964)

2.046 net (1947), 853 (1964)

575 deadweight (1947), 620 (1964)

Engines - Four Parson’s geared turbines

Power - 8,500 shp

Speed - 19 knots

Capacity - 1,450 passenger (1947) and 400 tons cargo (holds fore and aft)

700 passengers and 96 cars (1964)

Call Sign - GNWJ

October 24^th 1946: Launched.

June 8^th 1947: Sea trials were conducted.

June 14^th 1947: Delivered to Southern Railway at Southampton.

July 14^th 1947: It was stated that “the ship is intended primarily for the Channel Islands traffic but she could be used on the Dover, Folkestone and Newhaven services and short sea cruises.”. In fact the ship was placed on the Southampton - St Malo route.

July 19^th 1947: Arrived in Jersey for the first time, operating a direct service from Southampton once a week.

September 26^th 1947: Completed her first season Southampton - St Malo.

October 19^th 1947 - November 7^th 1947: Sailed for Dover where she relieved the INVICTA on the Golden Arrow service.

January 1^st 1948: Registered to British Transport Commission, Southern Region.

May 1948: Commenced the first of her annual Short Sea Cruises including Rouen and Le Havre.

October 17^th 1948 - December 1948:Again covered the Golden Arrow service at Dover, but this was the last time she undertook this task.

1949: The frequency of the St Malo service was increased to three trips each week and thus the ship only visited the Channel Islands during her cruise visits. During the winter months the ship performed the occasional service as required but otherwise remained laid up in Southampton.

!952: With the introduction of the NORMANNIA however, the ship then relieved regularly on the Le Havre route and , after the reorganisation of the services from Southampton in the Autumn on 1958, also operated to the Channel Islands

March 1960: Went to Barry where alterations were made to hatches to allow more cars to be carried and the wheel-house was extended forward to take in the walkway.

May 5^th 1961:The ship operated two cruises from Folkestone and at the end of the season returned to the Jersey route.

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

January 4^th 1964: Completed sailings between Southampton - St Malo.

January 4^th 1964: Departed Southampton and proceeded to Vickers Armstrong (Shipbuilders) Ltd’s Palmers Heyburn-on-Tyne yard where she was converted to a car ferry. Outwardly the ship had not changed greatly with the exception of an extra deck of black paint, a white line painted at the waterline and the cabs removed from the wings of the bridge.

May 13^th 1964: Arrived back at Newhaven.

June 1^st 1964: After trials, she entered service Newhaven - Dieppe.

August 31^st 1964: Collided with the breakwater in Dieppe.

October 5^th 1964: Collided with the breakwater in Newhaven.

March 1965: Received “diagonal strip down livery” at Newhaven Marine Workshops, still with black hull.

1965: Received new, blue, hull colours but, due to the joint-service working the Newhaven-Dieppe service, kept her yellow funnel.

1966: It was decided to lessen the black top of the funnel and expose more buff yellow behind the ventilators. This idea was short lived and previous colours were restored

August 26^th 1966: Collided with the breakwater in Newhaven and was off service for a short time while repairs were carried out in Southampton.

Roy Thornton Collection

1967: The joint-service house flag was added to the funnel.

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 were painted in the new house colours.

September 30^th 1971 - October 10^th 1971: Operated between Dover - Calais.

September 25^th 1972 - September 30^th 1972: Operated between Dover - Calais.

September 30^th 1972: Returned to Newhaven - Dieppe.

January 8^th 1973: Final day operating at Newhaven. Sailed for Holyhead to be converted for use on the new Weymouth-Jersey service. Had new stern door fitted.

April 21^st 1973: Arrived at Weymouth and, after a trial trip at Jersey on the 25^th and VIP voyage, she entered service between Weymouth - Channel Islands on June 1^st .