ISLAND COMMODORE (I) 1950 -
ILE DE SERK 1969 -
Operator Commodore Cruises Ltd.
Operator Isle of Sark Sg. Co. Ltd.
Builder Rowhedge Ironworks Co. Ltd., Rowhedge. Comp 1941
Tonnage 195gr 90net
Dimensions 98.4(rl) 102'9"(oa) 20.9 8.2
Dimensions 98.4(rl) 102'9" 20'11" 11'6"
Propulsion Single screw, 6cyl Widdop Oil engine 300 BHP 10Kts
The vessel was built in 1941 as T.R.V.2 (Torpedo Recovery Vessel)
Official records show that the vessel was chartered by the Minister of Transport to the Radcliffe Channel Islands Shipping Co. Ltd. from on October 18 1949 and nominally to June 2 1950, and the Official Number 183149 was allocated at London, but the vessel was not registered as at the same time Radcliffe went into liquidation, thus the charter never took place.
The vessel was then chartered on the same date June 2 1950, to Commodore Cruises Ltd., and registered in London as ISLAND COMMODORE with the prevoiusly reserved official number 183149. The owners offices were given as in in Eastbourne.
She arrived in Guernsey from Ramsgate on June 8 1950 and took up the service to Sark, and on June 25 made her first trip to Alderney. She experienced engine problems on a number of occasions and on December 5 1950 sailed to Southampton for repairs, being replaced by ARROWHEAD, and it was not until July 29 1951 that she returned to Guernsey.
A year later June 25 1952 she sank in St. Peter Port Harbour having just returned from overhaul, but she was raised and back in service on August 3 that year.
Part of the agreement for awarding Commodore Cruises Ltd the shipping monopoly contract was that a local company would be set up and Commodore Shipping Co. Ltd. was registered in Guernsey on March 22 1952, with management being in the hands of British Channel Islands Sg. Co (Guernsey) Ltd, and the vessels came under its control.
The vessel was sold by the Ministry to Charles Barnett -
On June 3 1967 her main engine failed, requiring replacement, and she returned to service on March 7 1968, and only three months later a propeller blade fell off.
With company expanding in other directions it was decided that they would give up the inter island service at the end of the agreement period, and thus on September 29 1969 ISLAND COMMODORE made her final sailing for Commodore Shipping, and passed by a Bill of Sale dated October 1 1969 to Sark Shipowners Ltd, on October 1, being renamed ILE DE SERK two days later.
Sark Shipowners Ltd, was a company set up to provide the finance for Isle of Sark Shipping Co. Ltd, the company set up to take over the service between Guernsey and Sark. The ship then spent all her time serving Sark except for a Sunday excursion to Alderney.
Following the final repayment on the vessel, the ship passed to Isle of Sark Sg. Co. Ltd. by Bill of Sale on September 29 1977.
By the early 1980’s was getting expensive to put the ship through the required surveys, and it was decided to replace her with two vessels, one passenger only vessel and the other cargo only. These vessels were acquired, and ILE DE SERK was withdrawn in November 1983, making a farewell visit to Sark on November 20, and her last trip five days later, following which she was laid up.
The cargo was now transported to Sark in small containers or on pallet boards, being
unloaded by the new mobile crane, but unfortunately it toppled into the water and
blocked the berth. As the cargo was unable to Creux Harbour, ILE DE SERK was re-
On April 24 it was stated that she had been sold, and made her last call at Sark on April 27.
By Bill of Sale dated April 30 1984 she was sold to Reeferships Ltd., of the Virgin Islands for about £25,000, and she left Guernsey on May 4.
She serviced the route between Roseau (Dominica) and Pointe a Pitre (Guadeloupe) until she was blown ashore at Roseau during Hurricane Hugo on September 17 / 18 1989. She remained as a wreck until June 26 1991 when she pulled of the rocks by H.M.S. FEARLESS, taken four miles out to sea and sunk using explosives and anti tank missiles, the hull becoming a feature for amateur divers.
Picture : 1 305c5 92.27k
Arriving Maselin Harbour, Sark
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 201cw 30.7k
Alongside in St. Peter Port.
Picture : Courtesy T. Du Feu
In Alderney 1320 151k
Scale drawing of vessel. 2670 342k
Picture : © PHOTO
ONE 75-
En-
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 76/C9 2552cw 87.1k
Coming alongside at La Maseline, July 28 1976.
Picture : 1244cw 74.55k
This picture taken from the cliffs, shows the vessel with no passengers, and amongst
the deck cargo, two pallets of gas cylinders. Note -
Picture : COPYRIGHT © PHOTO NE 1 003ac 359k
Entering St. Peter Port July 15 1981.
Below is a series of five pictures of ILE DE SERK
arriving at Sark on August 13 1981
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 81/6C/ ids 3 007c 407k
Passing along the east coast of Sark, August 13 1981.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE i d s 2 002c 425k
These pictures capture the vessel looking very smart on an idyllic day
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 4 005ac 359
With the background of Point Robert lighthouse.
Picture : © PHOTO ONE 5 007ac 483k
This picture shows well the passengers on the garden seats placed on top of the hatch, and those on the “monkey island” atop the wheel house.
Picture : PHOTO ONE
Edging into the quay.
Owner
Builder A.M. Dickie & Sons, Trabert, Loch Fyne. 1941
Tonnage 102gr 64net
Dimensions 111.7(rl) 18.1 7.3
Propulsion Twin screw, oil engines 20 HP
This vessel was built as RML 525 and purchased for £2,600 by Mr. L. S .J. Wilkinson of Inverness in early 1948. It was stated that she would run on Loch Ness, but on August 23 1949 she arrived in Jersey and operated a short season of excursions until October 1. She departed that day at 20:00 for Itchenor, and it was stated that she would return for the 1950 season but never did.
She remained under the same ownership to well in the 1960’s, but her use and fate is unknown.
Picture
: W.S.S.L. 
Entering St. Helier Harbour 1949. 101w 16k
Picture : Alex 468ac 602k
Seen in Cherbourg, on her way down to Jersey ?
Picture :
Pictured in the English Harbour, Jersey shortly after her arrival. 116k 18k