MV Norris Castle (1968)
{{short description|Former Isle of Wight car and passenger ferry}}
{{for|the 1942 ferry|MV Norris Castle (1942)}}
{{italic title|string=Norris Castle}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
| {{Infobox ship begin|display title=none}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= Norris Castle.jpg |Ship image size= |Ship caption= Norris Castle, Red Funnel car ferry in the Solent |image alt= Broadside view of ship, with red hull and white superstructure, steaming right to left }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship name= {{ubl|Norris Castle|Lovrejenac}} |Ship owner= {{ubl|Red Funnel|Jadrolinija}} |Ship operator= |Ship registry= Southampton |Ship route= Southampton–Cowes/East Cowes |Ship ordered= October 1967 |Ship builder= John I. Thornycroft & Company |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number= 4226 |Ship way number= |Ship laid down= |Ship launched= 8 August 1968 |Ship completed= |Ship christened= |Ship acquired= |Ship maiden voyage= 19 December 1968 |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship identification={{IMO Number|6826951}} |Ship fate= |Ship status= Laid up 2008 |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= Castle class car ferry |Ship type= |Ship tonnage= {{ubl| as built: 734 GT|after rebuild: 999 GT}} |Ship displacement= |Ship length= {{ubl|as built: {{convert|191|ft|3|in}}|after rebuild: {{convert|221|ft|2|in}}}} |Ship beam= {{convert|42|ft|1|in}} |Ship height= |Ship draught= |Ship draft= |Ship depth= |Ship decks= |Ship deck clearance= |Ship ramps= |Ship ice class= |Ship sail plan= |Ship power= {{convert|1800|bhp}} |Ship propulsion= 2x Crossley Premier diesels driving twin screws |Ship speed= {{cvt|12|knots}} |Ship capacity= |Ship crew= |Ship notes= }} |
MV Norris Castle, the third vessel in the Red Funnel fleet to carry the name, was built in 1968 by John I. Thornycroft & Company at Woolston and operated as a car ferry between Southampton and East Cowes until 1994. Mrs Joan Lacon, owner of the namesake building, Norris Castle, named the ship.Isle of Wight County Press dated 4 November 1994, Page 17 Originally designed to load and discharge through the bows, in 1976, she was converted to drive through operation, with mezzanine decks and an extended superstructure, by Boele in Rotterdam.{{cite book |last1=Adams |first1=Keith |title=Red Funnel 150 |date=2010 |publisher=Richard Danielson |location=Isle of Man |isbn=978-0-9513155-5-2 |pages=146–147}} As built, she was {{convert|191|ft|3|in}} long with a capacity of 734 GT. After rebuilding she was extended to {{convert|221|ft|2|in}} and 999 GT.
With the arrival of {{MV|Red Osprey||2}} in 1994, she was surplus to requirements and sold to Jadrolinija for service in Croatia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.redfunnel.co.uk/corporate-information/company-history/vessel-archive-1951-1980/|title=Our history | About us | Red Funnel}} She was renamed Lovrjenac. After 14 years further service, she was laid up in 2008.
Accidents and incidents
In gale-force winds in 1981, when turning in the River Medina in the Isle of Wight, she was blown on to the Cowes Floating Bridge, but there was no serious damage done to either vessel.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/NorrisCastle.html Simplon Postcards]
{{Red Funnel}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norris Castle (1968)}}