MV Cambria (1949)

MV Cambria was a twin screw motor vessel operated by the British Transport Commission from 1948 to 1962 and British Rail from 1962 to 1976. Together with her sister ship the MV Hibernia she served the Holyhead to Dún Laoghaire route across the Irish Sea.

Ferry Cambria at Carlisle Pier, June 1975
History
Name	1949–1976: MV Cambria 1976–1980: Altaif 1980–1981: Al Taif
Owner	1949–1968: British Transport Commission 1962–1976: British Rail 1976–1981: Orri Navigation Company
Operator	1949–1968: British Transport Commission 1962–1976: British Rail 1976–1981: Orri Navigation Company
Port of registry
Route	1949–1976: Holyhead - Dún Laoghaire 1970–1972: Heysham - Dún Laoghaire
Builder	Harland and Wolff, Belfast
Yard number	1368
Launched	21 September 1948
Maiden voyage	1949
Identification	IMO number: 5059020
Fate	Foundered 15 January 1985
General characteristics
Tonnage	4,972 gross register tons (GRT)
Length	379.5 ft (115.7 m)
Beam	54.2 ft (16.5 m)
Draught	27.5 ft (8.4 m)
Speed	15 knots

History

She was built by Harland and Wolff of Belfast, launched in 1948 for the British Transport Commission and started service in 1949. She replaced a smaller 1920 vessel of the same name, the twin screw steamer Cambria, and despite a large size had a reduced maximum speed of 21 knots (39 km/h) compared to 25 knots (46 km/h) of the older ship. In 1951 she was fitted with Denny-Brown stabilisers. In 1964–65 they were refurbished with airline style seating. Some cabins and staterooms were removed and replaced with second-class lounges, and a cafeteria. The screened areas were extended to provide further covered seating, and the first and second class smokerooms were converted into a tea lounge.

She was sold in 1976 to the Orri Navigation Company in Saudi Arabia and became the Al Taif.

References

On the Holyhead to Ireland service when new