MV Mira Praia
ex Clemtyne, Cuthred
© British Railways Board
Steel twin ‘Voith Schneider’ double ended “C Class” vessel built in 1969 at Robb Caledon Shipbuilders Ltd., Dundee, Scotland (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
- Half Sister-Ships: Caedmon, Cenred, Cenwulf
History
1969: Built for the Portsmouth – Fishbourne service. The first on the fleet to have cycloidal propellers fore and aft.
June 3rd 1969: Cuthred was launched.
© 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.
© 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.
2009: Still in service although carrying passengers only.
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, 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)
