TS Duchesse de Bretagne
ex Brighton (VI)
Roy Thornton Collection
Steel twin screw passenger steamer built by William Denny of Dumbarton (Yard No 1428) for The British Transport Commission in 1949
Technical Data
- Length: 95.0m (overall), 91.388m (between perpendiculars)
- Breadth of hull: 12.37m
- Depth: 7.25m
- Draught: 3.39m
- Tonnage: 2,875 gross/1,079 net/456 deadweight
- Engines: 2 x Denny, Pametrada, single reduction geared steam turbines
- Power: 19,000shp (16,150shp astern)
- Speed: 16 knots (service) 24 knots (maximum)
- Capacity: 1,450 passengers (summer)/1,417 passengers (winter)/(20 cars , 1966)
- Call Sign: GHCN, GGCK.
- IMO Number: 5051896
- Official Number: 165208
- Registry: Newhaven/UK 🇬🇧, St Helier/Jersey 🇯🇪
History
October 7th 1949: Launched at a cost of £637,925 (£215,446 BTC proportion) and the first channel steamer to be fitted with tripod masts.
April 25th 1950: Sea trials were conducted on the Skelmorlie mile reaching 24.5 knots.
Roy Thornton Collection
April 30th 1950: Left Dumbarton for Newhaven.
 
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Roy Thornton Collection (all)
May 4th 1950: The Brighton was delivered to British Railways (Southern Region) / Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Francais (SNCF) and introduced between Newhaven and Dieppe.
Roy Thornton Collection (Southampton, 19/05/1950)
© the late Henry Maxwell (courtesy of John Hendy)
June 1964: Relegated to relief work and no-passport excursions.
 
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Roy Thornton Collection (Fotoflite & Postcard)
July 1966: Made a pilgrim trip from Folkestone to Boulogne.
Courtesy of Michael Woodland (Folkestone, July 1966)
 
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Roy Thornton Collection (Left) and courtesy of John Hendy (Right)
 
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© John Hendy (all)
 
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© William MacDonald (Left) and Courtesy of Chris Howell (Right)
Roy Thornton Collection (Postcard)
September 18th 1966: Withdrawn following a final trip from Newhaven.
© A G Jones
 
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© A G Jones (Newhaven, 14/10/1966)(both)
© William MacDonald
December 1966: Sold to Mr Cowasjee the owner of Jersey Lines Ltd. , and under the name LA DUCHESSE DE BRETAGNE she sailed to Antwerp for a three months refit and rebuild (drive-on drive-off facility for 25 cars).
April 30th 1967: Left Antwerp after rebuild.
May 15th 1967: Initiated an unsuccessful cross-Channel venture between the Channel Islands and Torquay.
 
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© John Hendy (both)
Courtesy of Derek Longly
1968: Excursions included Southampton/Torquay and Plymouth to Jersey.
1969: Commenced service between Jersey – St Malo – Torquay – Plymouth – Portsmouth.
🆕 © Fotoflite
1969: Owner went bankrupt and the ship was arrested in Southampton.
July 18th 1969: Sold to Messrs Pounds and towed to lay-up in Tipner Lake, Portsmouth.
1970: No owner could be found so she was sold for scrap.
February 14th 1970: Towed to Bruges Ship-Breakers Co in Ghent, Belgium.
August 6th 1970: Scrapping commenced.
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: Fotoflite, John Hendy, Chris Howell, Derek Longly, William MacDonald and Michael Woodland for their assistance in producing this feature.
Special thanks to the late A G Jones
Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)
