MV Norfolk Ferry
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox ship begin |infobox caption=}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= Norfolk Ferry June 1980 Harwich.jpg |Ship caption= Norfolk Ferry, Harwich, June 1980 }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship name=Norfolk Ferry |Ship owner=*British Transport Commission (1951–62)
|Ship operator=*British Railways (1951–73)
|Ship registry={{flagicon|UK|civil}} Harwich, United Kingdom |Ship route=*Harwich – Zeebrugge (1951–67) |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=John Brown & Company, Clydebank |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number=661 |Ship way number= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched=8 March 1951 |Ship completed= |Ship christened= |Ship acquired= |Ship maiden voyage=17 July 1951 |Ship in service= |Ship out of service=April 1983 |Ship identification=*United Kingdom Official Number 182204
|Ship fate=Scrapped 1983 |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship type=Train ferry |Ship tonnage={{GRT|3,157}}, {{NRT|1,408}}, {{DWT|1,955}} |Ship displacement= |Ship length={{convert|399|ft|10|in|m|2}} |Ship beam={{convert|61|ft|4|in|m|2}} |Ship height= |Ship draught={{convert|12|ft|0|in|m|2}} |Ship depth= |Ship decks= |Ship deck clearance= |Ship ramps= |Ship ice class= |Ship sail plan= |Ship power=2 x 6-cylinder Sulzer diesel engines, 2,480 bhp. |Ship propulsion= |Ship speed={{convert|12.25|kn|km/h}} |Ship capacity= |Ship crew= |Ship notes= }} |
Norfolk Ferry was a train ferry built in 1951 by John Brown & Company, Clydebank for British Railways. She served until 1983, when she was scrapped in the Netherlands.
Description
Norfolk Ferry was built by John Brown & Company, Clydebank as yard number 661. She was {{convert|399|ft|10|in|m|2}} long, with a beam of {{convert|61|ft|4|in|m|2}} and a draught of {{convert|12|ft|0|in|m|2}}. She was powered by two 6-cylinder Sulzer single action diesel engines with cylinders of {{convert|480|mm|in}} stroke by {{convert|700|mm}} bore, rated at 2,480 bhp. They could propel the ship at {{convert|12.25|kn|km/h}}. She carried {{convert|187|LT|t}} of diesel oil. A donkey engine supplied steam at {{convert|105|psi|bar}}. The ship was equipped with three generators supplying {{convert|125|kW|hp}} at 220 volts DC.{{Cite web |url=http://clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=2460 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101220645/http://clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=2460 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=1 January 2014 |title=mv NORFOLK FERRY |publisher=Clydesite |accessdate=31 December 2013}}
History
Norfolk Ferry was launched on 8 March 1951.New Train Ferry for Harwich-Zebrugge Service Railway Gazette 16 March 1951 page 306 Her port of registry was Harwich. She was allocated the Official Number 182204.{{cite web |url=http://merseamuseum.org.uk/mmvesseldetails.php?tot=276&typ=name&pid=23&wds=&hit=270 |title=NORFOLK FERRY |publisher=Mersea Museum |accessdate=31 December 2013}} Built for the British Transport Commission and operated by British Railways,{{cite web |url=http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/norfolk_ferry_1951.htm |title=M / S NORFOLK FERRY. |publisher=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish |accessdate=31 December 2013}} she made her maiden voyage on the Harwich–Zeebrugge route on 17 July 1951.New Vessel for Harwich-Zeebrugge Train Ferry Service Railway Gazette 27 July 1951 page 99{{cite web |url=http://www.nrm.org.uk/ourcollection/photo?group=Liverpool%20Street&objid=1995-7233_LIVST_MF_92 |title=Norfolk Ferry, 1971[sic] |publisher=National Railway Museum |location=York |date=17 July 1951 |accessdate=31 December 2013}} On 5 July 1960, Norfolk Ferry rescued the five crew from the German yacht Tagomago, which had been dismasted in the North Sea {{convert|30|nmi|km}} off Harwich.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=FERRY SAVES GERMAN YACHTSMEN |date=6 July 1960 |page=12 |issue=54816 |column=D }}
Norfolk Ferry was registered to the British Railways Board on 1 January 1963. In January 1963, she twice returned to Harwich due to a {{convert|98|LT|t}} casting coming loose.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=TRAIN FERRY BOAT TURNS BACK |date=10 January 1963 |page=5 |issue=55595 |column=B }} She rescued four people on 20 September 1964 after their yacht capsized {{convert|3|nmi|km}} off Felixstowe.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=FOUR RESCUED BY TRAIN FERRY |date=21 September 1964 |page=12 |issue=56122 |column=F }} Norfolk Ferry served on the Harwich–Zeebrugge route until February 1972, when she was put into service on the Harwich–Dunkerque route, having been modified to enable her to use Dunkerque in 1967 and inaugurating the service on 2 October of that year.{{cite web |url=http://www.harwichanddovercourt.co.uk/train-ferry-service/ |title=Train Ferry Service |publisher=Harwich & Dovercourt |accessdate=31 December 2013}}
With the introduction of IMO numbers in the late 1960s, Norfolk Ferry was allocated the IMO number 5255985.{{cite web |url=http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=35794 |title=NORFOLK FERRY - IMO 5255985 |publisher=Shipspotting |accessdate=31 December 2013}} In May 1972, Norfolk Ferry was transferred to the Holyhead–Dublin route for a short time. She was registered to Passtruck (Shipping) Ltd in 1973 and then to Sealink in 1979. Norfolk Ferry was withdrawn from service in August 1981 and then reinstated from September to October, when she was again withdrawn from service and laid up in the River Blackwater. She departed under tow of the Dutch tug Banckert on 14 April 1983 and arrived at Ouwerkerk, Netherlands for scrapping on 17 April 1983.
References
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{{BR Class 99 (ships)}}
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Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom
Category:Ferries of the United Kingdom