TSS Duke of Lancaster (1956)

The Duke of Lancaster launched in Llanerch -y- Mor, 2010

IMO no. 5094496

The Duke of Lancaster is a former passenger ferry that was provided in 1956 for the English British Transport Commission in service.

Office hours

The Duke of Lancaster was together with her ​​sister ships Duke of Rothesay and Duke of Argyll, the last of the British Transport Commission built ferry that carried passengers only. It replaced the same Duke of Lancaster by 1928. Was built at Harland & Wolff in Belfast and completed in 1956. It was mainly used on the route Heysham - Belfast. In 1963 she was sold to the British shipping company Sealink, which used them to the Road Heysham - Belfast. From the mid- 1960s, however, ships were regarded as the Duke of Lancaster deprecated. In 1969 the ship was modernized yet. The two sister ships were commissioned in the 1970s out of service and then scrapped. The Duke of Lancaster was initially used on the route Fishguard Rosslare - 1978 and placed out of service and placed in Barrow-in -Furness.

The "Fun Ship"

In 1979, the disused ferry was sold to Liverpool based company Empirewise and towed to Mostyn in North Wales. The company planned to operate the ferry as a floating hotel, shopping center and museum called Fun Ship. For these plans, however, was not due to high costs.

Future Use

The ship is still located on the beach of Llanerch -y -Mor at Mostyn. Despite his seemingly poor condition, the interior of the ship is very well preserved. Exact plans for the further use of the Duke of Lancaster does not exist. In March 2013, the ship was painted by several artists with art motifs. Among other things, is located on the hull of the ship a portrait of the first captain of the Duke of Lancaster, John "Jack" Irwin.