TS Aesarea

ex Caesarea (III)

Roy Thornton Collection

Steel twin screw turbine steamer, built and engined by J. Samuel White & Co. Ltd., Cowes (Yard No.2008) For the British Transport Commission’s Weymouth-Channel Islands passenger service in 1960. 

Technical Data

• Length on Deck: 98.15m (321.75 ft) (overall), 92.05m (302 ft) (between perpendiculars)
• Breadth of Hull: 16.40m (53.8 ft) (extreme), 15.55m (51.0 ft) (moulded)
• Depth: 8.2m (26.9 ft)
• Draught: 4.2m (13.75 ft) (maximum)
• Tonnage: 4,174 gross (1960), 3,992 (1969)/ 2,271 net (1960), 2,075 (1969)/ 580 deadweight (1960), 571 (1969), 580 (1984)
• Engines: Two Samuel White double reduction gearing steam turbines
• Power: 6,620 kW
• Speed: 20 knots
• Capacity: 1,400 passengers, 800 (after rebuild)
• Call Sign: GHHT, H91T
• IMO Number: 5057187
• Official Number: 302183
• Registry: Weymouth/UK  🇬🇧, Panama 🇵🇦
• Sister Vessel: Sarnia (2009)

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History

January 29th 1960: Launched

Nigel Thornton Collection (all)

November 5th 1960: Delivered to British Transport Commission Southern Region, London, England.

Nigel Thornton Collection

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Nigel Thornton Collection (all)

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November 12th 1960: Inaugural arrival in Weymouth.

November 18th – November 19th 1960: Made a VIP trip to the Channel Islands.

November 20th 1960: Displayed in Jersey

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Nigel Thornton Collection (all)

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November 21st 1960: Displayed in Guernsey.

November 22nd 1960: Guernsey to Southampton

December 2nd 1960: Commenced service between Weymouth – Jersey – Guernsey. During her first winter in service, the ship continued on to St Malo on a Saturday.

© Ken Larwood

January 1st 1963: British Railways Board succeeded British Transport Commission.

Roy Thornton Collection

July 29th 1964: Hit a rock while leaving Guernsey, sustained little damage and was able to continue service.

1964: Vessels painted in the new livery of British Railways, (blue hull and red funnels) and the “Double – Arrow”

© Ken Larwood

Roy Thornton Collection

  

© David Ingham (all)

December 14th 1966: Arrived at Dover to relieve on the “Golden Arrow” service to Calais, remaining until January 1967. Then returned to Weymouth.

Roy Thornton Collection

August 22nd 1968: Holed while entering Weymouth and had to go to dry-dock at Falmouth for repairs.

© Ron Baker

November 1969: It was announced that British Rail’s Shipping and International Services Division (S.I.S.D.) had adopted the new brand name Sealink and as a consequence all vessels were to be painted in the new house colours.

Roy Thornton Collection

1971(early): Internal alterations were carried out to provide better facilities. The cafeteria on ‘D‘ deck was converted into a lounge and a new lounge area was created for on ‘A’ deck, giving a total of 870 seats, numbered to allow the introduction of the new reservation system on May 1st 1971.

July 19th 1972: In thick fog collided with the quayside in St Peter Port. Repaired in Falmouth.

Nigel Thornton collection (August 1972)

July 7th 1973: Ran aground near Jersey, minor damage which was repaired.

1973: Sealink trading name painted on hulls

Roy Thornton Collection

October 6th 1975: Final day in commercial traffic between Weymouth – Jersey – Guernsey.

February 3rd 1976: Left Weymouth for Dover.

February 1976: Commenced service between Dover – Calais.

April 11th 1978 – May 6th 1978: Required at Weymouth as cover.

© Ted Ingham

1977: Operated between Dover – Boulogne.

    

© Ken Larwood (both)

April 1978: Operated for a short time between Weymouth – Jersey – Guernsey.

    

 © Ken Larwood (both)

© Trevor Jones (Courtesy of Chris Howell)

January 1st 1979: Registered to Sealink U.K. Ltd.

    

© A G Jones

September 29th 1979: Completed her scheduled summer season. A hastily-arranged excursion to Boulogne on the following day carried 1,128 passengers at just £4 a head and October 1st, saw her last trip of the season with an agents’ special. Then to Calais for lay-up.

May 16th 1980: Left Wellington Dock (Dover)Commenced service between Folkestone – Calais/ Boulogne.

🆕 © John Hendy (Folkestone, 1980’s)

July 1st 1980 – September 27th 1980: Operated between Dover / Folkestone – Calais/ Boulogne.

Courtesy of Sybille Weber

September 27th 1980: Operated a series of daily Dover-Boulogne day excursions.

October 4th 1980: Made her final crossing Folkestone – Boulogne, on public charter in aid of RNLI. Later that evening sailed to Dover to de-store.

  

© John Hendy 

October 7th 1980: Sailed to Newhaven to lay-up.

© Andy Gilbert

December 20th 1980: Sailed for Hong Kong, having been sold to Superluck Enterprises Inc, of Panama.

Nigel Thornton collection  (March 1981)

October 10th 1981: Arrived in Hong Kong. Renamed AESAREA. Laid up.

Roy Thornton Collection (October 1981)

Nigel Thornton collection (November 1981)

September 9th 1983: In hurricane “Ellen” she was beached , but re-floated the following day.

1984: Sold to unknown Philippine buyer.

Roy Thornton Collection (As indicated) Courtesy of Ken Larwood (As indicated)

April 2nd 1986: Left Kure, Japan for planned be-build to floating hotel, however no work took place.

June 25th 1986: Left Kure for South Korean breakers.

 

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All information is believed to be correct and no responsibility is accepted for errors and omissions. We would like to thank: Ron Baker, Andy Gilbert, John Hendy, Chris Howell, Ted Ingham, A G Jones, Trevor Jones, Ken Larwood and Sybille Weber for their assistance in producing this feature. 

Special thanks go to Terry Conybeare

Article © Nigel Thornton and Ray Goodfellow (Dover Ferry Photos Group)