Imperial War Museum, Roy Thornton Collection

Former Royal Naval “River” class frigate, built in 1944 by A. & J. Inglis Ltd., Pointhouse, Glasgow (Yard No 1266). Bought by Townsend Bros. Ferries Ltd. in 1949 as a replacement for their FORDE, and converted into a car ferry by the Cork Dockyard Company at Rushbrooke (Cork Harbour), Eire. Launched January 28^th 1944.

Technical Data

IMO - 5114478

Purchase price in 1949 - £15,000

Length on deck - 91.90m (301.5 ft) (overall)

Breadth of hull - 11.19m (36.5 ft) (extreme)

Draught - 3,30m (10.8 ft)

Tonnage - 1,370 gross, 1,441 (after rebuild)

491 net

Engines - 4 Parson’s steam turbines, single reduction gearing, each set of turbines

connected to two screw shafts

Power - 6,500 shp

Speed - 20 knots

Capacity - 388 passengers, 50 - 60 cars.

650 passengers, 40 cars (after rebuild)

History

January 28^th 1944: Launched.

April 11^th 1944: Delivered to the Royal Navy as K-417.

April 1949: Sold to Townsend Bros. Ferries Ltd.

1949: Towed to and rebuilt at Rushbrooke Yard, who quoted a fixed price of £77,00 for the job.

April 6^th 1950: Maiden voyage from Dover - Calais.

At the end of her first season, the HALLADALE was sent to Immingham to refit and continued to visit the Lincolnshire port until being caught there by an industrial dispute some years later, Amsterdam was used for refits instead .

April 10^th 1950: Grounded on a mud bank inside Calais Harbour whilst leaving for Dover, a heavy squall forcing her off course whilst she was proceeding at some speed. Re-floated later that day.

April 11^th 1950: Returned to Dover.

April 12^th 1950: Left For repairs in Cardiff.

May 18^th 1950: After repairs returned to Dover.

May 19^th 1950: Returned to service.

Roy Thornton Collection

During the fist overhaul, the HALLADALE’s looks were altered by raising the line of her hull paint. A new passenger promenade deck was also constructed forward of the bridge, thus making even more of her ample outside deck space.

Roy Thornton Collection

May 14^th 1951: Collided with the 377-ton German motor vessel HANS HOTH just after the former had passed through the Eastern Entrance at Dover, bound for France. She suffered considerable damage and was taken to Tilbury for repairs.

June 1^st 1951: Returned to service.

Roy Thornton Collection

June 27^th 1951: Inaugurated the new car ramp at Calais. This was a donation from Townsends and meant that at the French port at least cars could now be driven on and off the ship by means of a ramp which was lowered on to the stern after she berthed.

June 29^th 1952: She had just entered Dover Harbour and was manoeuvring to go astern when she collided with the Belgian car ferry PRINSES JOSEPHINE CHARLOTTE. Only slight damage was sustained this time.

Roy Thornton Collection

June 29^th 1958: Collided with the jetty by the Eastern Docks loading ramps, an accident which was attributed to a failure of her bow rudder mechanism. Only slight damage was sustained this time.

April 1959: Struck the end of the Southern breakwater whilst leaving Dover Harbour in thick fog.

November 5^th 1961: Made her last trip, from Calais to Dover.

January 4^th 1962: Sold to W. Rostedt of Turku, Finland and renamed NORDEN. Employed on a ferry service across the mouth of the Gulf of Bothnia between Turku and Norrtelje, Sweden

1962: Rebuilt at Rosteds Latokari Oy's Yard and from June she was renamed TURIST EXPRESSEN then being introduced between Åbo - Stockholm and re-registered to Uuno Heinonen.

November 1962: Sold to Ferryboats of Porloma, Venezuela. and renamed FERRYMAR III for a service from Margarita

1987: Broken up at Aruba, (an island in the lesser Antilles north of the Venezuelan coast).

All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for errors and omissions. All items included in this article are subject to ©. We would like to thank: Micke Asklander (Faktaomfartyg) for his assistance in compiling this feature.