TSS Caledonian Princess

Caledonian Princess was built for the Caledonian Steam Packet Company by William Denny & Brothers in Dumbarton on the River Leven, Dunbartonshire in Scotland.[2] She was launched on 5 April 1961 and entered service on 9 October 1961.[2][4]

In 1968 the ship passed into the British Rail Sealink fleet, eventually receiving the large white letter Sealink branding across the full height of her hull.[5] Caledonian Princess was the first stern-loading car ferry to sail into Douglas, Isle of Man, when she visited on charter from Stranraer on 26 June 1968.[6] She was retired from service in 1981 and operated as a floating nightclub on the River Tyne until 2007.[5]

Caledonian Princess at Weymouth, 1978

In April 2008, it was reported the ship would undergo a £1.5m refit, for further life as a floating nightclub in Northern Ireland.[5] By the time she was being towed away from the Tyne, it was reported she was to see use as an entertainment venue in Piraeus, near Athens.[7]

Built as a car ferry, Caledonian Princess was a roll-on/roll-off design, with a single vehicle door in the stern. The vehicle deck had space for 103 cars.[6] To facilitate the turning of trucks for disembarking, a turntable was included in the deck.[5] In 1969, she had side loading doors cut into her vehicle deck.[10]

The ship was a two-class vessel with accommodation for 400 1st class and 1,000 2nd class passengers.[6] She entered service with a Caledonian red lion rampant on each side of the single yellow funnel. In 1967, she was re-painted in the new livery of British Rail, a blue hull and red funnel, with the "Double-Arrow" logo. Her accommodation was extensively modified in 1976.

Caledonian Princess was built for the North Channel route from Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, to Larne, County Antrim, linking the west of Scotland with Northern Ireland.[5] Promotional literature from the company proclaimed:

"Motorists! Take your car and caravan by the T.S.S. Caledonian Princess.
To and from Ireland via Stranraer & Larne. Drive on–Drive off at any state of the tide."

The poster showed the stern of the black-hulled ship with a black-and-cream funnel, with cars driving from the dock straight onto the ship.[5]

In July 1968, she left Stranraer and operated the seasonal Holyhead - Dún Laoghaire car ferry service. Under Sealink ownership, she saw service in the English Channel and the Irish Sea. Between 1969 and 1975, she was mainly associated with the Fishguard - Rosslare service, but often relieved for other members of the Sealink fleet.[6] In June 1975, she was laid up in reserve at Newhaven. Alterations carried out at Immingham in February 1976 prepared her for a new multi-purpose role to the Channel Islands from Weymouth. By 1981, she was Dover's final steam turbine ferry and made her last crossing on 26 September, from Boulogne. She was laid up at Newhaven, pending sale.[6]