MV Hilsea
Courtesy of Jim Ashby (@ Dumbarton)
Steel twin screw motor vessel built in 1930 by William Denny, Dumbarton (Yard No ) as a Passenger and Vehicle Ferry.
Technical Data
- Length: 41.30 m (overall) 35.00 m (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth: 7.92 m
- Depth: 2.59 m
- Draught: 1.5 m (Loaded)
- Tonnage: 149 gross/70 net/28t deadweight
- Engines: 2 sets Gardener 2-stroke diesels
- Propellors: 4
- Power: kW/240 bHP
- Speed: 8 knots (Max)
- Capacity: 17 cars/100 passengers
- Call Sign:
- IMO Number:
- Official Number: 160936
- Port of Registry: Portsmouth/UK 🇬🇧
- Sister-Ship: Fishbourne I, Wootton.
History
June 12th 1930: Launched
June 14th 1930: Completed as HILSEA for Southern Railway Co, London Portsmouth – Fishbourne service. Cost £17,600 and appeared to be double ended but was not so.
June 1930: Trails un the Gareloch.
June 21st 1930: Maiden service Portsmouth – Fishbourne.
May 1938: Provided cover at Lymington.
1939 – 1945: During World Wat II, remained on station,
January 16th 1945: Collided with a government dockyard vessel in Portsmouth.
July 31st 1945: Struck a submerged object in Swashway channel, Portsmouth. Holed and beached at Southsea. Repairs were carried out in Southampton.
April 23rd 1947: While attempting to avoid gale force conditions in Portsmouth, her prow hinge became hooked on a concrete pile.
April 24th 1947: Refloated.
1948: British Transport Commission.
Roy Thornton Collection
Courtesy of John Hendy
October 5th 1961: Sent to Southampton.
February 1962: Sold to H. Pounds, Portsmouth.
1963: Plans for her to go to Doeksen Salvage Co, Den Helder for operation as a car ferry across the River Shannon between Tarbert (Co Kerry) – Killiner (Co Clare) did not materialise.
1963: Leased to NAM (Nederlandsche Aardolie Maatschappij) Dutch oil company for transporting plant and materials to Wadden Isles.
1970: Broken up at Den Helder.
All information is believed to be correct, and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking: Jim Ashby, Terry Conybeare and John Hendy for their assistance in producing this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
