TSS Duke of Rothesay

The TSS Duke of Rothesay was a railway steamer passenger ship that operated in Europe from 1956 to 1975.

Duke of Rothesay at Holyhead
History
United Kingdom
NameTSS Duke of Rothesay
Owner
Operator
Port of registryLancaster, United Kingdom United Kingdom
Route
BuilderWilliam Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton
Launched10 February 1956
Completed1956
Maiden voyage1956
In service1956
Out of service1975
FateScrapped in 1975.
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
Speed21 Knots
Capacity1800 passengers

In service
Duke of Rothesay at Fishguard in August 1969.

Along with her sister ships the TSS Duke of Lancaster and the TSS Duke of Argyll she 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 & Scottish Railway, RMS Duke of Rothesay.

Built at William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton and completed in 1956, she was designed to operate as both a passenger ferry (primarily on the Heysham-Belfast route) and as a cruise ship.[2][3]

She provided some relief services between Holyhead and Dún Laoghaire in 1965 and 1966. In March 1967, she was converted to a side loading car ferry by Cammell Laird to be used on the Fishguard to Rosslare service, which continued until the Caledonian Princess took over in 1971. The main deck was gutted and space made for 100 cars.

In October 1975, she was towed from Holyhead to Faslane to scrapped.

References
  1. Duke of Lancaster, hhvferry.com, retrieved 12 December 2007
  2. Third New Ship for Heysham-Belfast Service Railway Gazette 6 April 1956 page 174
  3. Sea breezes: the ship lovers' digest, Pacific Steam Navigation Company. 1997
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