MV Cruiser
 Cruiser in 2006 off Kilcreggan Steps, Gourock, by mid 2008 the hull was dark blue.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name |
|
| 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 |
|
| Speed | 9 knots (17 km/h) |
| Capacity | 240 passengers (max) |
| Notes | [1] |
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[edit]
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She was withdrawn from this service in 1995 and chartered to Brownsea Island Ferries Ltd for service in Poole Harbour.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 River and Firth of Clyde. This included the weekday Rosneath ferry service from Gourock to Kilcreggan on behalf of SPT,[3] as a substitute vessel when MV Kenilworth was out of service. In 2007 Clyde Marine introduced Seabus on this route, but in 2012 SPT accepted the tender from Clydelink for the service.[4]
Cruiser and Clyde Clipper are the two passenger vessels listed in Clyde Marine's fleet.[5]
In 2023 Cruiser was sold to Jetstream Tours Ltd and relocated to the Thames and Medway. Cruiser is to yet be put in to service with Jetstream tours however it is rumored to be later in August 2023
References[edit]
- ^ Cruiser (PDF), Clyde Marine Services, retrieved 1 June 2020
- ^ "Company History of Blue Funnel". Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- ^ "Kilcreggan Ferry". SPT. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Gourock - Kilcreggan". Ships of CalMac. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
- ^ "Fleet". Clyde Marine Services Ltd. Retrieved 4 July 2021.