Deal Seaways - new ferry
- 27 April 2012 08:13168580Quick question for nautical coves on this forum with an anorakish bent: is the new DFDS/LD Lines ferry, Deal Seaways, the first time a cross-Channel ferry has been named after Deal? There was P&O's Pride Of Walmer, of course, but nothing Deal-related as far as I can recall. Any ideas?
Cheers,
Andy - 27 April 2012 08:31168583This is called Deal, but not sure if it is after our Deal ?!!
Been nice knowing you :) - 27 April 2012 09:06168589Fascinating picture well done Scotchie with that one. I did think the new name was sort of odd, or at the very least unusual, as Deal is not a place much related to Ferries.email: dover7@msn.com
- 27 April 2012 09:49168600The Deal was inherited by Southern Railway in 1948. She was built in 1928 an finally disposed of in 1963 after service from Fokestone and Dover. I have her listed as "general cargo" but looking at the railings it suggests she had a passenger role. There doesn't appear to be any provision for carrying vehicles.
I have asked the Wise Ones if they can provide more information. - 27 April 2012 11:12168611My old chum Nigel Thornton has provided me with this. While the Deal was not a ferry she did carry general rail cargo on the cross-channel route.
Steel twin screw steamer, built and engined by D. & W. Henderson, Glasgow, in 1927 (Yard No 818) for the Southern Railway. Launched February 10th 1928.
DIMENSIONS:
Length on deck - 69.82m (229.06 ft)
Breadth of hull - 10.24m (33.6 ft)
Depth - 4.30m (14.1 ft)
Tonnage - 687 gross (1928)(691, 1939)(787,1941)(829, 1946)
270 net (1928)(270,1939)(289,1941)(310,1946)
Engines - Two Self-Reduction 6-cylinder steam turbines
Power - 1,850 ihp
Speed - 15 knots
Capacity - 0 passengers, 30,000 cu ft of cargo space
Sister ships: T.S.S. TONBRIDGE, MINSTER, HYTHE II, WHITSTABLE, FRATTON,
MAIDSTONE II, + HASLEMERE
and RINGWOOD.
From 1924 to 1928 nine new twin-screw cargo steamers were put into commission on the Dover, Folkestone and Southampton services by the new Company (Southern Railway); the above seven were allocated to Dover and Folkestone, the remainder being based at Southampton, though a certain amount of interchanging has occurred from time to time. These ships were all alike though their gross tonnage varied between 680 and 750; they came from Meadowside Yard of Messrs. D & W Henderson, Glasgow, the firm so closely identified with the old Anchor Line. They were handsome ships of their class, each with a single funnel, two masts and cruiser stern. They appear to be credited with a maximum speed of 15 knots.
Deal
February 10th 1928: Launched at a cost of £41,810.
April 27th 1928: Holed on rocks off Ireland during her delivery voyage. Re-floated after 4 hours and returned to her builders. Based at Dover/Folkestone.
1935: First went to the Channel Islands to provide extra cargo capacity at the height of the produce season
1940: During World War II DEAL was held in readiness.
June - July 1940: Assisted with the evacuation of the Channel Islands military equipment.
June 16th 1940: Came out of St Malo with troops. Based Weymouth (the civilian clearing station). Took the military stores into Plymouth. Served as a Barrage balloon vessel, based at Sheerness until 1943.
November 1943: Served Fishguard - Cork.
1944: Manchester (later Heysham) - Belfast weekly service.
June 25th 1945: Returned to her owners.
July 3rd 1945: She was one of the first Southern Railway vessels on the Channel Islands service after their liberation.
November 1945: Completed Channel Islands service and returned to Folkestone
January 1st 1948: Came under the sole possession of Southern Region of British Railways
May (end)1960 - June (beginning) 1960: Reappeared on the Channel Islands service, she made a few trips.
1963: Sold for scrap.
May 25th 1963: Arrived at Ghent for breaking.
- 27 April 2012 11:14168613Perhaps, PW, you could help with the picture at the bottom of this page...
http://www.bobleroi.co.uk/ScrapBook/OldShips/OldShips_b.html
Pre War Kentish shipping.Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 27 April 2012 16:22168669Deal Seaways made her debut at Dover this afternoon.
- 27 April 2012 16:34168678Looks like she came very close to the end of the berth in that last picture. Hope they didn't scratch the new paint work!
- 27 April 2012 16:39168683Well done with those pictures John..you saved the day again. I didnt get any at all as was off out all the day, but put a poor one taken a few minutes ago up on the other thread. I may be after borrowing one or two of them from you for the frontpage....hold on tight..well done once again!
email: dover7@msn.com - 27 April 2012 19:47168743Terrific information and pix above there Guys.
Super debut photos John, on the ball once again I see - 28 April 2012 15:34168906There have been two cargo steamers named Deal belonging to the railway companies over the years.
The first was originally the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway cargo steamer Prince Arthur of 1896. She was sold in 1901 to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway, renamed Deal, and scrapped in 1926.
The second is detailed above in the comprehensive post by John and Nigel.
The mail boats carried the passengers from the Admiralty Pier and the cargoships carried railway cargo loaded and discharged at the Continental Goods Shed on Clarence Quay. See photos below.
Clarence Quay is in the top right corner in front of the Lord Warden Hotel, with the Granville Dock in the foreground.
One of the earlier cargoships in the foreground with the Continental Goods Shed and Lord Warden Hotel in the background.
Two of the later cargoships in a similar view.
- 28 April 2012 15:38168910Good on you Ed!
In answer to Paul's question on the front page; each master of a ferry must obtain a Pilotage Exemption Certificate under the Pilotage Act 1987 for each vessel he commands. Details are given on the DHB website:-
http://www.doverport.co.uk/?page=PilotageRequirements
As this is a new ship to the area clearly these certificates have still to be issued. In the meanwhile the DHB pilots must be employed to bring the ship in and out of the harbour.
If you listen to the radio traffic between th ferries and Port Control on a VHF scanner you will hear the ferry quote a two or three digit number - this is the number of the PEC for that particular master. - 29 April 2012 06:43169052Excellent content on here all round...staggering pictures. Have put a link through to this thread from the frontpage now...highlighting all of the content here and with reference to John answering the pilotage question. Well done John with that...nothing quite like going to the experts. Well done and Many thanks.
email: dover7@msn.com - 29 April 2012 13:44169202Yes, agree, we certainly have some experts on here fuelling us with very informative information, thanks to Ed and John
I must say, I love that exclusive pic of yours PaulB currently gracing our front page. When I first looked at it I thought you had used Photoshop to put a small version of the Deal Seaways alongside the real one for added impact!
Of course I now know its the pilot and the reason behind it, thanks to John. My eyes are not like they used to be 
- 30 April 2012 07:56169337The frontpage picture is as is Colette...no Photoshopping of any kind..just bog standard natural conditions but taken over long range. The Deal Seaways is just going about its daily business now...so the flurry of initial excitement at the new vessel is subsiding a tad.
But further re the pilots..the pilot boat was having a busy time of it yesterday meeting heavy grade shipping in the channel. I was out a good deal of the day yesterday but got these pics following at both ends of the day. Im sure you guys have told me before what ithe pilot is actually doing when doing this, but a reminder would be useful..to refresh the ould grey cells.
But anyway...here with the pics..
These were giant ships..giants..and came in very close to the harbour entrance. The top shot was taken earlier in the day and the other ones are catching the late rays of the sun. In the third picture you can see the ferries taking evasive action last evening from the giant in their path. Hmmm this probably would have made a good spread on the frontpage where the pictures can be done even larger. But great to see these giant ships sort of up close-ish.email: dover7@msn.com - 30 April 2012 08:17169345You just have to love this cruising lark...you just must...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/29/cruise-firm-performance-bonuses-tipsIgnorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 30 April 2012 10:41169380See the new item just added to the frontpage about the new pier extension and other structures in the harbour being designed/laid to accomodate the longer ferries now...particularly those from DFDS and the new Spirit class ones from P&O.
email: dover7@msn.com - 30 April 2012 11:48169387#15 Boxboats (containerships) dropping off their pilots on their way down channel bound for the Far East or wherever. Assume the weather was too inclement to drop the local pilot when they departed from Rotterdam/Hamburg/Antwerp etc, or sometimes they carry a North Sea pilot.
#17 Have started a new thread re the Pier A extension to supplement the original one esoterically entitled "banging." - 30 April 2012 11:53169388great shots of the containerships from paul, i hadn't realised they come so close.
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
30 April 2012 13:19169410the new ship deal seaways looks like a domeless cezzane from the rear.
