MV Delphinus
ex DHB Delphinus
Roy Thornton Collection
Steel twin screw diesel-engined passenger tender built in 1957 by P K Harris, Appledore (Yard no 106) for the Dover Harbour Board
Technical Data
- Length: (95.6 ft)(overall), (85.0 ft)(between perpendiculars)
- Breadth: 7.68m (25.2 ft) (extreme)
- Depth: (14.3 ft)
- Draught: 9.2 (maximum)
- Tonnage: 178 gross/60 net
- Engines: Two 6-cylinder SA diesel engines built by Gleniffer of Glasgow.
- Power: 240bhp
- Speed: 10 knots
- Capacity: 150 (max) passengers, 4 cars either crane loaded or driven direct from a ramp.
- Call Sign: 5BJX (@ 1974)
- ID Number: 5088344
- Official Number: 185699
- Registry: Dover (1957 – 1967),Famagusta (1969 – )
History
1957: Built by P.K. Harris & Sons Ltd at Appledore
March 15th 1957: Launched.
September 17th 1957: Delivered, by a Harbour Board crew, to Dover Harbour Board at Dover for use as a passenger tender.
Roy Thornton Collection (Left) © Petroc (Right)
“New” Roy Thornton Collection
1967: To Marine Transport Services Ltd at Cork. Still named DELPHINUS.
1969: To Tayfun Shipping Co Ltd at Famagusta. Engaged Famagusta, Alanya, Kyrenia, Mersin service.
1975: Manager Orphanides & Murat at Limassol.
January 1986: Aground and no further reports.
All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions found. All items included in this article are subject to © copyright.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
Enjoyed this- as a 12 year old wandering freely around the docks, as you could then
Hi Guys, just looking up memorabilia, came across Delphinus, I was a deck boy in 1966 for the DHB Tugs for approx 1 year.
I worked on the Dominant, Diligent and Delphinus, some days we would go to the Eastern docks a do a maintenance clean, polish all the brass, that was everywhere, on the odd time we would take it for a spin around the Harbour.
I then ventured to BR ferries and later to foreign going shops as an Able Seaman.
In the summer I would come home to work on ferries as it was a warmer climate.
In 1970/1 I’d had enough traveling, so I heard DHB was looking for a Dover, I applied, got the job because of previous employment.
I trained for 3 months in the Hardhat costume, then went to London and had traing from a Navel officer in Tetbury, went back until I got bored with that, and applied to GB Diving in Deal/ Ramsgate as a Salvage and Civil engineering diver, we did wrecks and harbour maintenance in wet suits.
I’d had enough after a while and migrated to Australia in1973, I’m now nearly 76, and had been a House Painter for nearly 50 years, I’m healthy and still help my 41 year old with his Painting business.
Hope I haven’t bored you guys to much.
Regards Rodney.