TSS Duke of Argyll (1956)

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.

History
United Kingdom
Name1956–1975: Duke of Argyll
Owner
Operator
Port of registryLancaster, United Kingdom United Kingdom
Route1956–1975: Heysham - Belfast
BuilderHarland & Wolff, Belfast
Yard number1541
Launched12 January 1956
Maiden voyage27 September 1956
Out of service1975
IdentificationIMO number5094460
FateSold to Greece, 1975
Greece
Name
  • 1975–1987: Neptunia
  • 1987–1994: Corinthia
Owner
Operator
Out of service1987
FateSold to Hong Kong, 1994
Hong 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

Service history

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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

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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.

References

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  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