Sarnia (1961)

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shipstamps
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Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:12 pm

Sarnia (1961)

Post by shipstamps » Mon Aug 25, 2008 12:02 pm


The British Transport Commission's Sarnia, built by J. Samuel White at Cowes, Isle of Wight, in 1961—the latest ship on the service and the largest yet built for this run, having a gross tonnage of 4,174 and carrying 1,400 passengers in one class only. She has an overall length of 321 ft., a breadth of 51 ft., a speed of over 20 knots and is fitted with Denny-Brown stabilisers.

This vessel has now been scrapped. The forgoing description is directly from the article written by Ernest Argyle in Sea Breezes December 1963.

aukepalmhof
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Re: Sarnia (1961)

Post by aukepalmhof » Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:23 pm

Built as a ferry, the second of two new ferries by J.Samuel White and Co. Ltd. Cowes for the British Transport Commission (British Railway Board.)
06 September 1960 launched under the name SARNIA, she was named during the launching by Lady Arnold the wife of the bailiff of Guernsey, Sir William Arnold. The name resurrected those used by the LWRS for its first turbine steamers back in 1912.

Tonnage 4.174 gross, 2.271 net., dim. 322 x 52.6 x 26.7ft., draught 13.7 ft.
Powered by two Pametrada design geared steam turbines with a total output of 8.500 shp., maximum 9.000 shp., twin screws, speed 20 knots. Two Foster Wheeler boilers.
She had five decks, and could carry 1.400 passengers.

She was built for the cross-channel service between Weymouth and the English Channel Islands; the trip to Guernsey took about 4½ hours.
The crossing was made by day and night and a considerable proportion of the seating was designed to allow passengers to rest or sleep. There were 4 state cabins, 12 one persons cabins, 50 two berth cabins, the other passengers had to rest in their chair.
Fitted out with Denny-Brown stabilizers, and 11 watertight bulkheads. She was fitted out with a bow rudder and a stern rudder for easily maneuvering in small ports.
For a short period she was in the Golden arrow service between Dover and the continent (19 Nov. 1962-30 Jan. 1963.)
She was in the end of her career on the cross-channel service only used in the summer season.
She arrived for the last time in Weymouth on 10 Sept. 1977, thereafter laid up in Weymouth. Put on the sale list, asking price £80.000.

May 1978 sold to a new founded company, Channel Cruise Lines Ltd. at Guernsey.
24 May she sailed for refit and repair from Weymouth to a dry-dock at Immingham, later fitted out at Grimsby and renamed AQUAMART.
July sold to Supvasa Supermarket (Midland) Ltd., at Guernsey.
The intentions were to use her as an excursion vessel between Oostende (Ostend) and Dunkirk for duty free shopping. The service would begin on 24 July, and the AQUAMART would make for trips a day, carrying up to 800 passengers, each paying £5 fare.

By strong objections of the Belgian revenue authorities, the service, after a few days was ended. The AQUAMART sailed to London on 04 August 1978 and was de-stored and laid up in the West India dock.

December 1978 Sold to Grecian Fertility Inc., Greece and renamed GOLDEN STAR. She was towed from London on 20 January 1979 to Piraeus by the Dutch tug GROENLAND.
The intentions were to refit her in a cruise vessel for the Greek waters, but I do not believe she ever sailed for this company as a cruise vessel.

1981 Sold or chartered to Hitta Establishment, Jeddah. And under tow she sailed from Piraeus 24 Sept. 1981 for Jeddah.
Used in the Port Said-Aqaba-Jeddah route and renamed SAUDI GOLDEN STAR.

February 1987, arrived at Gadani Beach, Pakistan for scrapping.

Guernsey 1973 9p sg83, 1991 26p sg522, scott451
Guernsey 2020 £1.02 sg?, scott?

Sources: Marine News. Sea Breezes. A Century of Cross-Channel passenger ferries by Ambrose Greenway. Merchant Ships World Built vol.X 1962.
http://www.freewebz.com/shiplover4/GBR/Sarnia.html
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D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen
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Re: Sarnia (1961)

Post by D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen » Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:29 pm

ss SARNIA
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