Roy Thornton Collection Steel twin screw turbine steamer, built and engined by J. Samuel White & Co. Ltd., Cowes (Yard No.2008) For the British Transport Commission’s Weymouth-Channel Islands passenger service in 1960. Launched January 29th, 1960
 Technical Data
Registry - Weymouth ( 1960 - 1980 ) IMO - 5057187 Length on deck - 98.15m (321.75 ft) (overall) 92.05m (302 ft) (between perpendiculars) Breadth of hull - 16.40m (53.8 ft) (extreme) 15.55m (51.0 ft)(moulded) Depth - 8.2m (26.9 ft) Draught - 4.2m (13.75 ft) (maximum) Tonnage - 4,174 gross (1960), 3,992 (1969) 2,271 net (1960), 2,075 (1969) 580 deadweight (1960), 571 (1969) Engines - Two Samuel White double reduction gearing steam turbines Power - 6,620 kW Speed - 20 knots Capacity - 1,400 passengers, 800 (after rebuild) Call Sign - GHHT (1960 - 1980)
History November 5th 1960: Delivered to British Transport Commission Southern Region, London, England. November 18th - November 22nd 1960: Made a VIP trip to the Channel Islands. December 2nd 1960: Commenced service between Weymouth - Jersey - Guernsey. During her first winter in service, the ship continued on to St Malo on a Saturday. January 1st 1963: British Railways Board succeeded British Transport Commission.
Roy Thornton Collection
July 29th 1964: Hit a rock while leaving Guernsey, sustained little damage and was able to continue service. 1964: Vessels painted in the new livery of British Railways, (blue hull and red funnels) and the “Double - Arrow”
 
Roy Thornton Collection
December 14th 1966: Arrived at Dover to relieve on the “Golden Arrow” service to Calais, remaining until January 1967. Then returned to Weymouth.
Roy Thornton Collection
August 22nd 1968: Holed while entering Weymouth and had to go to dry-dock at Falmouth for repairs.
© Ron Baker
November 1969: It was announced that British Rail’s Shipping and International Services Division (S.I.S.D.) had adopted the new brand name Sealink and as a consequence all vessels were to be painted in the new house colours.
Roy Thornton
1971(early): Internal alterations were carried out to provide better facilities. The cafeteria on ‘D‘ deck was converted into a lounge and a new lounge area was created for on ‘A’ deck, giving a total of 870 seats, numbered to allow the introduction of the new reservation system on May 1st 1971. July 19th 1972: In thick fog collided with the quayside in St Peter Port. Repaired in Falmouth. July 7th 1973: Ran aground near Jersey, minor damage which was repaired. 1973: Sealink trading name painted on hulls
Roy Thornton Collection
October 6th 1975: Final day in commercial traffic between Weymouth - Jersey - Guernsey. February 3rd 1976: Left Weymouth for Dover. February 1976: Commenced service between Dover - Calais. April 11th 1978 - May 6th 1978: Required at Weymouth as cover.
© Ted Ingham
1977: Operated between Dover - Boulogne. April 1978: Operated for a short time between Weymouth - Jersey - Guernsey. January 1st 1979: Registered to Sealink U.K. Ltd. September 29th 1979: Completed her scheduled summer season. A hastily-arranged excursion to Boulogne on the following day carried 1,128 passengers at just £4 a head and October 1st, saw her last trip of the season with an agents’ special. Then to Calais for lay-up. May 16th 1980: Commenced service between Folkestone - Calais/ Boulogne. July 1st 1980 - September 27th 1980: Operated between Dover / Folkestone - Calais/ Boulogne. September 27th 1980: Operated a series of daily Dover-Boulogne day excursions. October 4th 1980: Made her final crossing Folkestone - Boulogne, on public charter in aid of RNLI. Later that evening sailed to Dover to de-store. October 7th 1980: Sailed to Newhaven to lay-up.
© Andy Gilbert
December 20th 1980: Sailed for Hong Kong, having been sold to Superluck Enterprises Inc, of Panama. October 10th 1981: Arrived in Hong Kong. Renamed AESAREA. Laid up.
Roy Thornton Collection
September 9th 1983: In hurricane "Ellen" she was beached , but re-floated the following day. 1984: Sold to unknown Philippine buyer.
Roy Thornton Collection
April 2nd 1986: Left Kure, Japan for planned be-build to floating hotel, however no work took place. June 25th 1986: Left Kure for South Korean breakers.
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