Operator War Department.
Builder Richards Ironworks (Lowestoft). Comp 12. 1943
Tonnage
Dimensions 97 ' (oa) 22 ' 5 '
Propulsion Single screw, Oil engine 240 BHP
At the end of the Second World War there were no commercial services between Guernsey and Alderney and thus the military stepped in and on September 3 1946 the War Department vessel MFV 1502 arrived in Guernsey to take up service. From October 1 her service was extended to take in Sark and she maintained these until March 1 1947 when she broke down off Sark lighthouse. She did not return to service, commercial vessels then taking over.
MFV 1502 had been commissioned into the Royal Navy when built, and took part in the Normandy Landings in June 1944 before being transferred to Army manning the following year. After her Channel Islands service she remained in military service (Royal Army Service Corps) and used as a training vessel, and as such was often seen in the Channel Islands.
In the early 1950’s Fishing part of her name was removed and she was just MV 1502, and in early 1960 she became YARMOUTH NAVIGATOR and was in Alderney as such in February that year.
In 1965 the RASC was joined with part of the Royal Engineers (RE) to form the Royal Corps of Transport, and on October 1 1988 the RCT vessel became part of the Royal Marine Auxiliary Service, and reverted to her former name of MV 1502 being in Jersey as such in April 1989. Shortly afterwards she was declared surplus to requirements and withdrawn in October 1990.
She was decommissioned, and in August 1991 moved to the No. 1 Basin in Portsmouth to await sale, by which time she was MFV 1502.
On October 22 1991 she was sold by private treaty to the Dittisham Project in Devon, with Lieutenant John McGuire being behind the project, and she reverted to the name YARMOUTH NAVIGATOR. The intention was to use her for Sea Cadet training, and she attended a number of Anniversary celebrations during the next few years.
The vessel was advertised for sale as NAVIGATOR in March 1998 for £99,000.
By 2001 she was in need of a major works to keep her sea worthy, and a campaign was launched but it faltered and the vessel remained laid up in the Dart. The vessel was impounded by the Dart Authorities for non payment of dues, and in 2009 they sought a buyer for the vessel.
A private party commenced work in mid 2010, and on Saturday 29 January 2011 she was formally acquired by Mr. Matthew Hunt, who the next day, Sunday 30 left Dartmouth bound for Plymouth, where it was intended to carry out further restoration. She arrived at Plymouth in the late afternoon, and in a very short period of time suffered a large water ingress and sank with the loss of one crew.
Picture : PHOTO ONE 27/1
MV 1502 Crossing St. Aubin’s Bay, Jersey September 19 1956.
Picture : PHOTO ONE CP91/ /9A
MFV 1502 in Portsmouth awaiting sale September 28 1991.
MERRIE GOLDEN HIND 1949 On 166975
Vessel also referred to as GOLDEN HIND.
Operator Radcliffe Channel Islands Sg. Co. Ltd.
Owner Bertram W.H. Fordham, Torquay POR Ipswich
Builder 1941
Tonnage 96grt 53nrt
Dimensions 112.0 18.0 6.9
Propulsion Twin screw, 2 x 12 cyl D. Paxman, Colchester, each 300 BHP
Passengers 134 Speed 12 knots.
The vessel operated at Guernsey in 1949 due to the problems when Sark Chief Pleas introduced a Monopoly agreement on the service from Guernsey to the Island. The shipping company given the rights was not ready to operate, and when the other operators withdrew, Radcliffe had to charter a vessel quickly and MERRIE GOLDEN HIND arrived St. Peter Port from Torquay on Thursday June 17 1949 taking up service the following day.
In the press she was referred to as MERRIE GOLDEN HIND and also GOLDEN HIND which has caused some confusion to historians.
The vessel remained in service until August 10 1949, departing back to Torquay on August 14.
The WSS MN for January 1949 states that ML 346 was sold to B.W.H. Foedham, and converted into MERRIE GOLDEN HIND at Torquay by June 1 1946. She operated at Ipswich from July 8 1948 and by the end of the season had carried over 8,000 passengers, mostly round the Reserve Fleet at Harwich.
The vessel was first registered at Ipswich on November 22 1948 to Mr Bertham Walter Harolf Fordham of “Steyning”, Marldon Road, Shiphay, Torquay.
The vessels certificate of Registry was delivered up on February 14 1952, the vessel having been wrecked and broken up on rocks at Bullock Harbour, Dalkez, Co Dublin.
Picture : 201w 40.1k
MERRIE GOLDEN HIND.
Operator S.A. Jersey-
Builder S.B.C.N., Loctudy. 1985
Tonnage 46.80gr 29.90net
Dimensions 25.40 5.48 0.70
Propulsion Water propulsion, two MAN diesels each 750 H.P.
and is a mono-
Passengers 140 passengers, crossing time 40 mins
MONT ORGUEIL first came to Jersey in 1990 having been purchased by the new company
S.A. Jersey – Portbail Ferries, Portbail, a joint French -
The service was up against well established operators and was unable to survive, and without notice it was withdrawn at the end of the 1991 season.
The vessel was purchased by Vedettes Armoricaines in January 1992 and arrived in
Jersey on May 2 from Saint Malo (where she had been laid up) and the following day
commenced from Granville, but she ran into difficulties and was quickly sold to Emeraude
Lines. On May 11 she returned to the Portbail-
She returned to the Portbail -
She was not seen in Jersey again until July 1 1997 she started on the Carteret – Gorey service and was supposed to run all season, but after her sailing on 12 July she was withdrawn.
In 1999 she was back in Jersey operating the Carteret – Gorey route due to TRIDENT
5 being late back from the Caribbean and her stand-
The vessel had been built in 1985 as ATLANTE for S.N.C. "Vedettes de L'Odet”, Benodet for service between the south Brittany port of Concarneau and the Isles Glenans.
Her subsequent history is unknown.
Picture : PHOTO ONE 90CP10/7 1827 545k
Outward bound from Gorey August 23 1990
Picture : PHOTO ONE 90CP10/6 310wa 877k
Inwards to Gorey August 23 1990
Picture : PHOTO ONE 102w 9k
Leaving St. Helier in a mixed colour scheme 1992. 102W 9K
Picture : PHOTO ONE CP9311/18 1801 556k
Inwards to Gorey August 6 1993
Picture : PHOTO ONE 111w 11k
Departing Gorey August 6 1993
Picture : © PHOTO ONE CP9311/21 1819 562k
©
Pictured July 8 1993