MV Mira Praia
ex Clemtyne, Cuthred
🆕 © Fotoflite
Steel twin ‘Voith Schneider’ double ended “C Class” vessel built in 1969 at Richards Shipbuilders, Lowestoft, England (Yard no. 498) for British Railways Board, London, England as a passenger and vehicle ferry
Technical Data
- Cost: £275,000
- Length: 59.77 m (overall) 54.87 m (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth: 15.73 m
- Depth: 3.43 m
- Draught: 2.317 m
- Tonnage: 704 gross/357 net/134 deadweight
- Engines: 2 Oil Sa 8 – cylinder Paxman type 8RPHCM English Electric diesels.
- Propellers: 2 x Voith Schneider directional, one fore and diagonally one aft,
- Power: 992 kW/1348 Bhp
- Speed: 10 knots
- Capacity: 400 passengers, 48/72 cars, Lane Meters; 136
- Call Sign: GZRX
- IMO Number: 6920238
- Official Number: 337835
- Port of Registry: London/UK 🇬🇧, Setubal/Portugal 🇵🇹
- Half Sister-Ships: Caedmon (560), Cenred (562), Cenwulf (561)
History
1969: Built for the Portsmouth – Fishbourne service. The first on the fleet to have cycloidal propellers fore and aft.
June 3rd 1969: Launched.
© British Railways Board
© British Railways Board
Roy Thornton Collection
1977/78: Annual refit she was fitted with a hoist-able mezzanine deck, increasing her car capacity from 48 to 72, and larger outside decks were also fitted, to match her half sister CAEDMON.
Arthur Dixon Postcard
January 1st 1979: To Sealink UK Ltd., London.
Roy Thornton Collection
© Tim Webb
Roy Thornton Collection
1983: With the arrival of ST HELEN she became the summer extra vessel.
© Brian Fisher (Portsmouth, June 1984) (Left) and © A G Jones (10/09/1984) (Right)
July 27th 1984: Taken over by Sea Containers Ltd.
© Brian Fisher (Portsmouth, March 1986)
1986: Laid up at Lymington.
© Ken Larwood (April 1986)
November 23rd 1989: Arrived in tow at the Tyne. Owned by Open Leisure and planned conversion into a sternwheeler for Tyne cruises.
1989/1990: Sold to J Pepper and renamed CLEMTYNE
1989: Plans did not materialise and sold to Transportes Fluviais do Sardo s.a.r.d., Transado, Portugal. Renamed MIRA PRAIA.
February 1990: Towed from the Tyne, via Newhaven, to Portugal.
1990: Commenced service on the 15 minute link between Setubal – Troia, south Lisbon.
Roy Thornton Collection
2009: Still in service although carrying passengers only.
2012: Known to be laid up in Setubal, Portugal.
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: Brian Fisher, Fotoflite, A G Jones, Ken Larwood, Tim Webb and Andreas Wörteler for their assistance in producing this feature.
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
Dear Sirs
I think the Vessel Cuthred was Built at Richards Shipbuilders at Lowestoft …..please advise if i am in correct as it seems that you have it built in Scotland
Dave Smith
Dave,
Thanks for pointing that out and indeed you are correct.
My excuse: I seem to recall using the same template for all the half/ sisters and missed that. I also don’t have a proof reader and tend to read what I want to see. Ha!
Still, onwards and upwards with all articles being on-going!
Cheers
Nigel T