TSS Duke of Argyll (1956) explained

TSS Duke of Argyll was a railway steamer passenger ship that operated in Europe from 1956 to 1975. Out of all three built, it was the longest serving ship and most modified of its type.

Service history

Along with her sister ships the and the, Duke of Argyll was amongst the last passenger-only steamers built for British Railways (at that time, also a ferry operator). She was a replacement for the 1928 steamer built by the London Midland and Scottish Railway, .

Built at Harland & Wolff, Belfast, launched on 12 January 1956 and making its maiden voyage on 27 September 1956, the vessel was designed to operate as both a passenger ferry (primarily on the Heysham to Belfast route) and as a cruise ship.[1] [2] [3]

Post Sealink

She operated as Neptunia for Libra Maritime from 1975 to 1987, then as Corinthia for Hellenic Maritime from 1987 to 1994.

She arrived in Hong Kong as Faith Power in 1994 and was renamed Fairy Princess in 1995 and then Zenith. In July 1995 she caught fire. The fire was extinguished and she was run aground. Later refloated, she was sold for scrap.

Notes and References

  1. Second New Ship for Heysham-Belfast Service Railway Gazette 20 January 1956 page 85
  2. Second New Ship for Heysham-Belfast Service Railway Gazette 28 September 1956 page 394
  3. Sea breezes: the ship lovers' digest, Pacific Steam Navigation Company. 1997