MV Cruiser

Cruiser is a passenger vessel owned by Clyde Marine Services Ltd operating in the River Clyde as part of the company's charter cruise fleet. Her former names are Southsea Queen, Hythe Hotspur and Poole Scene.

History
United Kingdom
Name:
  • Southsea Queen (1974-1978)
  • Hythe Hotspur (1978-1997)
  • Poole Scene (1997-1999)
  • Cruiser (1999-present)
Owner:
Operator: Clyde Cruises
Route: River Clyde
Builder: James & Stone, Brightlingsea
Launched: 1974
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics
Tonnage: 119 GRT
Length: 24 m (78.7 ft)
Beam: 7.6 m (24.9 ft)
Draught: 1.6 m (5.2 ft) (aft)
Depth: 2.8 m (9.2 ft)
Installed power: 224 KW (300 bhp)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × Gardner engines
  • 2 × Schottelrudder propellers at aft end
  • 1 × Schottellow thrust forward
Speed: 9 knots (17 km/h)
Capacity: 240 passengers (max)
Notes: [1]

History

Southsea Queen was built in 1974 by James & Stone of Brightlingsea for the Gosport Ferry Company for cruising and standby ferry duties. She was similar to Solent Enterprise, from the same shipyard but with a flared pointed bow. However, at 119 GRT she proved too small for her job and just four years later was sold to White Horse Ferries for use on its Hythe Ferry service. She was renamed Hythe Hotspur and repainted from her green with red band livery to a red and white livery.

She was withdrawn from this service in 1995 and chartered to Brownsea Island Ferries Ltd for service in Poole Harbour. She initially kept the name Hythe Hotspur but was later sold to Blue Funnel Cruises in 1997 and renamed Poole Scene. She sailed from Poole Quay until early 1998, when she returned to Southampton.[2]

In 1999, she was sold to Clyde Marine Services and renamed Cruiser. As such, she operated as a charter cruise vessel out of Greenock, cruising the Clyde. This included the weekday Rosneath ferry service from Gourock to Kilcreggan on behalf of SPT.[3] From 1 June 2020, Calmac took over the service[4] and chartered MV Chieftain to operate it.[5]

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References
  1. Cruiser (PDF), Clyde Marine Services, retrieved 1 June 2020
  2. "Company History of Blue Funnel". Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  3. "Kilcreggan Ferry". SPT. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  4. "CalMac takeover of Kilcreggan ferry finally confirmed". Lochside Press. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  5. "MV Chieftain (III)". Unofficial CalMac Website. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
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