SAINT BRIEUC                             1919-1932   



Owner         Vte le Guales de Mezaubran

Builder         De La Brosse & Fouche, Nantes.                  1904

Tonnage       461grt  135nrt

Dimensions  180.0(rl)  24.8  11.9

Propulsion    Single screw, SR, 3cyl 15 " 24 " & 40 " -     83 NHP


Vessel in LR 1943/44 but not LR1945/46. (1944/45 being rebound)



The vessel was built for the owners service between Saint Brieuc (Le Legue) and Le Havre, but also operated excursions during the summer months. Her first call at Jersey was on May 20 1905, and in the following years she would make between four and six excursions to Jersey during the summer.

It was in 1919 that she commenced a more regular service to Jersey, operating from Saint Malo. The London & South Western Railways which maintained the Saint Malo – Jersey service withdrew at the end of March 1919, and it was announced on July 3 1919  “That an agreement has been reached between Count Le Gaules de Mezaubran of St. Briec and Mons Boutin, manager of the Dinard vedettes so that a service could  be operated by the S.S. Saint Brieuc”. The vessel duly took up service but only ran during the summer months. This changed in 1922 with the ship commencing on May 2 and provided a year round service.

Other operators had appeared on the route to give a year round service, but once SAINT BRIEUC commenced, they went into liquidation early in 1923.

Count Le Gaulesde Mezaubran then set up a new company Jersey – France Line, and operated from both Saint Malo and Granville.

SAINT BRIEUC maintained the Saint Malo service until May 31 932, when due to Southern Railways deciding to re-start their Jersey to Saint Malo service, the Jersey – France Line withdrew.

The ship make the odd excursion to Jersey, and would appear to have remained in service until sometime in the Second World War.





Picture  :  Collection  E.H. No. 133










































SAINT BRIEUC entering the lock at Le Legue. The card is dated March 6 1904, thus she must have been brand new.                                             305web   185k




     The four cards below show her when operating on the Jersey - France Line

     Service between 1923 - 1932. Note how the black top to the funnel was

      Altered during this time.



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                                                                                                                                 121w  16k





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                                                                                      111w  7k





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Swinging in Saint Malo.                                                                                         116w  13k





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Entering Saint Malo                                                                       101w  14k






                                                                                                                                               Picture  :  R. Serrand.   201w  77.3k




































The vessel bedecked with flags entering Granville.             





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SAINT HELIER        1922 - 1924     



Owner           Cie Transinsulaire de Nav

Builder             Forq & Ch de la Medit, La Seyne.                1895

Tonnage        376gr  126net

Dimensions  167.4(rl)  24.3  13.5

Propulsion    Single screw, 3 cyl  18”, 28.5” & 42.5” - 27.5” 94 NHP



Built as the private yacht JEANNE BLANCHE, being laid down in 1883, launched the following year, and completed in 1895. Her owner was Rodolphe Faulquier and she was registered at Marseilles.

She was given to the French Navy in 1908 and was used by the Ambassadure at Constantinople, and later by the Gouverneur general de l’Afrique Occidentale Francaise at Algiers.  

She was rebuilt and armed in 1913, and as with many small craft at the end of the First World War she became unlisted by 1920, but at some time was renamed DRIEF, as when she appeared as SAINT HELIER in the Lloyds Register of 1923/24 she is shown as ex DRIEF ex Yacht.

On May 24 1922 she arrived in Jersey as SAINT HELIER, having been acquired by Cie Transinsulaire de Nav, and it was stated that she had left Algeria a short time ago to be refitted at Saint.Malo.   

She stayed on the Saint Malo – Jersey service for only one season, her last trip being on  October 4 1924.

By 1925 the ship had been sold to Joaquin Perez still named SAINT HELIER, but a year later she had been sold to C.F. Guerra Gomes and renamed ROBERTO IVENS. Late in 1929 she passed to Eurico Felgueiras and took the name TERRA NOVA. The ship did not carry the name for long, as she was wrecked at Burgeo on February 18 1930 when on voyage to Oporto.



                                                                                                        Picture  :                     002  11.3k

                                                                       



































          

                                                 A distant view of   SAINT HELIER seen in Saint Malo.                                                                                          




Picture  :               301w  720k  










































Another view of the vessel seen in Saint Malo                                                 










Picture  :                 1071  42.0k  





































Vessel seen as JEANNE BLANCHE berthed at Constantinople in April 1903.

                                                                                                                         





Picture  :  Collection Pontoir a Conakry  (Guinee Francaise)  301w  639k  










































Post Card dated April 14 1908, states that the vessel is the yacht of Gouverneur General de l’Afrique Occidentale Francaise.








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SAINT MALO                       1993 - 1995           IMO 9036555


Operated 1996 - 1998 as CONDOR FRANCE


      

Owner              Sea France S.A. , POR Cherbourg      No Mgrs.

Operator           SNAT

Operator          Condor Ferries       

Builder              Hull  FBM Marinteknik (S) PTE Ltd., Singapore Yn. 129. Lan

                                                                                                              1993.

                       Completed  Marinteknik Verkstads AB, Oregrund.  Comp 1993.

Tonnage             585ngt  387nrt   155  

Dimensions        41.57m (oa)  34.04  11.0m  1.300  3.67depth    

Propulsion           2 x 16 cyl MTU 396 TE 774L diesel engines.  5,438bhp

                                                                                                              34kts.

Passengers          350 pass



SAINT MALO was built at a time when the French Railways (SNCF) wanted to stake a claim in providing local shipping services around the coast of France. With the failure of some of their sponsored operators on the route to Channel Islands, they stepped in, and formed  Societe Nouvelle d’Armement Transmanche (S.N.A.T.) which traded as Channiland and commenced on the routes from Saint Malo and Granville to the Jersey and Guernsey.

The vessel was late in delivery, entering service on May 29 1993, and apart from the summer season, she also operated a number of trips over the Christmas period.

At this time the market was contracting and in an effort to contain costs, an agreement was reached with Condor Ltd, for a pooled service on the Saint Malo route in 1994, and the Condor logo appeared on the hull.

Disaster struck on April 17 1995, when the vessel struck a rock when rounding Corbiere Point, Jersey, sparking a major rescue, but without the loss of life, but leaving many badly injured.

The vessel was salved, re-conditioned and returned to service on August 19 1995, but was withdrawn on November 12 that year.

Channiland decided to withdraw from the trade, and the vessel was taken on charter by Condor Ltd which by this time were trading as Condor Ferries, and on April 22 1996 the vessel arrived in the islands as CONDOR FRANCE but still under the French flag, having been chartered from her owners.

With traffic still declining the vessel was only in Condor service for two years, being withdrawn at the end of her season on September 15 1998, and laid up in Saint Malo. She was re-activated for the start of the Route du Rhum sailing race, and then arrived at St. Sampson’s, Guernsey for overhaul, and repainting on November 9 1998. She was renamed  ACACIA, before leaving on November 24 for final finishing work at St. Peter Port, leaving there on November 27 1998 bound for La Rochelle to be transported across the Atlantic , having been chartered by Brudey Freres at Guadeloupe.

It is difficult to trace her exact owners, as Lloyds Register supplement for early 1999 gives ACACIA with managers as Condor Ferries, in 2000/01 edition owners are Sea France S.A., managers still being Condor Ferries, while a year later, owners are G.I.E, Saint Malo still with Condor as managers. In the 2005/06 edition owners are Societe de Transports Maritimes Brudey Freres.   POR Cherboug  and no managers.

She remained in their service until 2008 when she became SPIRIT 1, it being stated that she was still owned by G.I.E. Saint Malo, and operated by Gerant Cie Mme de la Calaibe.

Three years later she was renamed LOVELY 1 for service by Lovely Fast Ferries, of the Dominican Republic.





Picture  © PHOTO ONE    001c  94.3k  







































SAINT MALO inwards






Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE   003c  71.7k  













































Outwards







Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE  CP94/6/9   004c  102k






































Seen inbound to Jersey  June 27 1994, note the Condor Ferries logo aft of the red band.





Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE  002c  86.5k  









































Inwards  July 25 1994






Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE   CP94/10/13  005c  101k  






































Inward bound  July 28 1994







Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE  CP96/PZ5/?8A  014c  297k






































Vessel now seen as CONDOR FRANCE outward bound from St. Helier on June 18 1996.




See CONDOR FRANCE for other pictures.




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ST. AUBIN                             September 1946  - October 1948                          



Owner             Jersey Fishing & Boating Co.        POR Jersey

                      t/a Jersey Maritime Services.       

Builder              Landmores  1943

Tonnage           11 registered tons

Dimensions      48’0” oa  45’0” bp  12’2”  draft 2’6”                               

Propulsion        Single screw Atlantic Diesel 40bhp speed 8 knots






The vessel arrived in St. Helier as PLV 4319 on September 2 1946, having been purchased by Jersey Fishing & Boating Co, t/a Jersey Maritime Services with Cockburn-Mercer acting as manager / skipper. The vessel was named ST AUBIN by the time she operated her first trip to Sark on September 27. Laid up for the winter months, she recommencing on April 11 1947, and operated to Sark, Saint Malo, Carteret, Granville, Herm, Ecrehos & Chausey.

For 1948 the vessel stayed mainly on service to Granville and Saint Malo and at times managed to carry a car, and the last trip of the season arrived back in St. Helier from Granville on October 28.

Research has been unable to find anything further on the vessel, and interestingly she was never registered at Jersey though her port of registry in the port registers is shown as Jersey.

No doubt the vessel was too slow for day trips as she was replaced the following season by the  much faster vessel LADY PAT.  

The vessel was built as Motor Passenger Launch MPL 4319, and was at Itchenor for disposal on August 14 1946.



Picture  :                 301  362k  








































ST. AUBIN the illustration taken from a newspaper.                                     





Picture  : Courtesy  : Philip Simons  03aw  78.4k  

































A picture of the class of vessel as built during the War.




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ST EUGENE V                    1996 - 1997



Operator      Emeraude Lines

Owner         Scoiete Anonmye d’Economie Mixte & Armement Borotra Freres.

Builder        Soc Francaise de Con. Nav., Villeneuve-la-Garenne. Yn. 855.  1988   

Tonnage       251grt  141nrt  50dw

Dimensions  35.01m  6.46m  1.25m

Propulsion   Twin screw  2 x 12cyl MWM  3,400 bhp   27 knots


This vessel was built in 1988 for service in the French enclave of St. Pierre and Miquelon which is situated just off the south coast of Newfoundland. Having been replaced by a larger vessel she returned to France and found work in 1996 when on  July 27 she commenced service on the Saint Malo – Jersey route, replacing TRIDENT 4 which had suffered major engine problems and remained on the route until August 8. but returned eleven days later, operating on August 19 and 20.  

Only six days later  TRIDENT 7 suffering fire damage on August 26, with the result that ST EUGENE 5 was again pressed into service operating from 27 August to her last sailing  on September 7 when she departed from St. Helier at 18:28hrs.

This was not to be her last service in the Channel Islands as in 1997 she commenced a service from Granville to Jersey and at times onwards to Sark,

operating under the title Granville Island Sea, her first sailing being on April 25,  but she suffered a major engine failure on July 29 when inwards to Jersey, and later that day she sailed for Cherbourg and was not seen again.

In September 2004 she was seen ashore at Cherbourg stripped of engines and all fittings and showing hull damage forward but still with the logo of Granville Island Sea.  

She was still there in the same condition in May 24 2012.


NO FURTHER DETAILS.





Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE  










































ST EUGENE 5                                                                              102w  9.84k




Picture  :   © PHOTO ONE  
















































Ashore at Cherbourg September 2004.                                                111w  11k





Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE  
















































                                                                                                                                      121w  12k  






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ST JULIEN    



Operator          Weymouth Marine Services

Builder                K.K. Usuki Tekkoso, Usuki,  Japan    Yn. 975  Yn 2660    1977        

Tonnage           1,561gr  

Dimensions  71M  14.4M       

Propulsion    Twin screw, Niigata diesels    2001bhp.       





This vessel has traded to Jersey under three different names. She first came as EMSLAND in May 1984 when she replaced the damaged SOLIDOR. The second time was as ST. JULIEN when she ran a service from Weymouth to the Channel Islands and also called at Cherbourg. Her first call on this service was May 13 1989 and ran under the title Weymouth Maritime Services, but the service which linked the UK port to Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and at peak times to Cherbourg for Sealink, was not to last.

The company could not compete with the other cross channel operators and the vessel was re-possessed by her owners on October 17 1989 after a day trip to Alderney. Following a sit in by the crew who wanted to be paid, the ship left Weymouth two days later.

The ship’s third spell of service in the area was as ELBA NOVA when she stood in on Emeraude Lines service between Saint Malo and the Channel Islands from October 15 1994 and March 10 1995 while the company awaited the return of SOLIDOR 2 to resume service after EMERAUDE has been returned to her builders.    

Apart from operating under three names in the Channel Islands, the ship was well travelled and has held no fewer the .. names.

EMSLAND was launched  on April 30 1977 in  Japan for by A.G. Ems Schiffarts K.G.., West Germany, and used on their Emden to Borkum route.

In 1986 she was renamed BOHUS when purchased by K/S A/S Scandi-Line, Norway for use on their Sandefjord to Stromstad service, being replaced on this route in late May 1988 and then moved to the Bodo to Lofoten Islands route of Saltens Dampskibsselskab and renamed LOFOTFERGA, and it was from these owners that she was chartered as ST. JULIEN

Following reposition the ship was sold to Jens Carlson for a year round service between Ystad (South Sweden) and Ronne (Bornholm), which was due to start on May 1 1990 trading as Bornholm Express A/S  with the ship being renamed OSTERSJOEN.

The owners went bankrupt in 1992 and she passed to Armatur S.A. and was registered in Panama as JAN. She passed almost immediately to Elba Ferries S.r.l  of Italy, which was a new subsidiary of Corsica Ferries, and was again renamed, becoming ELBA NOVA late in 1992, and it was as such that she made her third trip to the Island.

She returned to her Italian route until late 1998 when she was sold to Spanish owners Comp. Iscomar S.A., and again renamed, this time NURA NOVA and registered in Palma de Mallorca.


VESSEL STILL IN SERVICE




Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE   CP89-4-26  301web  617k  













































ST JULIEN departing St. Helier August 8 1989                                





Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE  



















































EMSLAND replacing SOLIDOR  May 1984.                                             321web  150k






Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE  CP94-20-15 301web  754k   












































ELBA NOVA arriving Jersey on December 12 1994. It would appear that the bow door / visor had been altered since her last visit.                             






Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE  CP94-20-16 305web  722   












































Another view of the vessel arriving on December 5 1994.                              





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SARK BELLE  

BOURNEMOUTH BELLE



Owner              Dorset Cruises Ltd

                             Isle of Sark Shipping Co. Ltd.

Built                   J. Bolson & Sons    6.1975   

Tonnage        50grt

Dimensions   86’ x 21.5’  

                                                 21.27m  x  6.40m

Propulsion          2 x Perkins Sabre diesel engines

Passengers    1995  228

                     2011  180



The vessel was built as BOURNEMOUTH BELLE for Corson Ltd., who were based in Poole, and operated a wide range of pleasure boat trips from Bournemouth Pier. The company was a subsidiary of the shipbuilders J. Bolson & Sons Ltd., Poole.

The hull of the vessel was completed in early April 1975, and following the addition of the superstructure the vessel was launched on May 23, entering service on June 16.

The vessel had Class VI certificate for 228 passengers, and remained in her owners service until 1996 when the business passed to Dorset Cruises Ltd. In late 2010 the company failed to win the tender to operate from Bournemouth Pier, and as a result their two larger vessels were put up for sale. Thus when BON MARIN DE SERK suffered mechanical problems in July 2011, Sark Shipping chartered BOURNEMOUTH BELLE for four weeks, with the vessel sailing from Poole for Guernsey at 16:00 hrs on Friday July 29, and she took up the Sark service the following day.

Included in the deal was an option to purchase which the company took up and she was renamed SARK BELLE by August 26.

The vessel is able to carry one hundred and eighty passengers, fifty more than BON MARIN, and operates only in the summer months.





Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE CP92/8/30  001c  67.9k





































BOURNEMOUTH BELLE passing Sandbanks, inward bound to Poole, July 7  1992 in the colours of Corson Ltd.







Picture  :  ©  PHOTO ONE  001c  200k






































SARK BELLE in St. Peter Port October 27 2011, still with her light blue top sides.




Picture  :  ©  PHOTO ONE   12 0308  002c 109k  









































Three pictures of SARK BELLE departing St. Peter Port on August 20 2012.




Picture  :  ©  PHOTO ONE  301w  003c  93.1k







































August 20 2012.







Picture  :  ©  PHOTO ONE  004c  91.4k  









































August 20 2012





Picture  :  ©  PHOTO ONE  1301  005c  124k  






































Pictured a year later on August 29 2013.





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SARK COAST                 1947-1948            On. 163734         


Owner             Island Shipping Co. Ltd.

Builder             Teeside Bridge & Eng. Co., Middlesbrough.  1945

Tonnage         318gr  228ud  163net

Dimensions  150.2  22.1  10.0

Propulsion    Twin screw, 12 cyl oil engines, Davey, Paxman & Co. (Colchester) Ld.

                            B46' F20'



This vessel was built as small landing craft on which was mounted a gun, with the idea that they could be grounded close to an invasion beach and provide cover for the landing forces. The ships identification was  LCG(M) 196, –Landing Craft Guns Medium, and was acquired and converted at Southampton.

Owned by Island Shipping Co. Ltd and registered in Guernsey, SARK COAST was for the services from Guernsey to Sark and Alderney, and arrived in St. Peter Port on September 2 1947, entering service the following day. She was only intended as a summer vessel, and thus sailed for winter lay up at Poole on September 15. She arrived back in St. Peter Port on March 23 1948 and remained in service until November 24 that year, when she sailed for Great Yarmouth, and as the company then closed their operation in the Channel Islands the ship was not seen again.

SARK COAST was transferred to the parent company Coast Lines Ltd on December 31 1949 and sold to the company by a bill of sale dated May 24 1950 and registry was moved to Liverpool.

I have been unable to trace if she traded in the following two years, but she was advertised for sale on January 1  1952, and it was stated that she had Steam 2 cert for 210 passengers and Steam 4 for 290.

SARK COAST was sold on September 18 1952 to Pedder & Mylchreest of London for £15,000 for onward sale to other buyers, thought to be French Government. The new owners were in fact the French Government (Dept de la Martinique) with Cia de Nav. Martiniquaise, acting as Managers.The ship was renamed MADININA October 29 and sailed from Great Yarmouth on November 29 1952 bound for Martinique and called at Falmouth a day later.

The vessel must have suffered problems, as the Lloyds Register for 1954/55 stated that the ship was laid up.

By late 1955 she had been sold to C. L. Tamis and registered under the British flag at Kingstown, St. Vincent, B.W.I. and remained with him until 1958 when she was sold to R. P. Tibbetts and others, and two years later her owners were G. C. Marshall & Others

On September 25 1963 the ship was in distress in position 12.20n 61.45w, while on passage Trinidad to Guadeloupe and the passengers and crew were taken off, but she was later towed into Grenada.  Her end came less than three months later, when on December 13 1963 she sank 12 miles NW of St.Vincent, while on voyage Trinidad – Martinique.




Picture  :  Unknown




































Leaving Southampton upon completion.                                            301web  59k




Picture :                



















































A lovely night picture.                                                                            223  82.4k





Picture  :  Photo 2313









































Seen moored outside Creux Harbour in late 1947.                                       310web  50k




Picture  :              005w  76k  









































Another picture of the vessel, and in the harbour is a Commodore Cruises Fairmile launch.                                                                                                                                                    




Picture  :  R. A. (Postcards) Ltd.  6846









































Berthing at the new Maselin Harbour in 1948.                                        315web  80k





Picture  :  Commander Stokes





















































Approaching Sark, from a painting by Commander Ted Stokes one of the people behind the original concept.                                                                 325web  98k




















































Scale drawing of vessel from plans.                                                        021  198k








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SARK TRADER                 (LN 5411242)             1983 - 1990


Owner           Marine Services Ltd

Operator        Isle of Sark Sg. Co. Ltd.

Builder          Sch Gebr Coops N.V., Hoogesand  Yn. 231  Comp 1963

Tonnage        196grt  140nrt  254dw

Dimensions    30.38m  6.74m  2.49m

Propulsion     Single screw  6 cyl Kelvin diesel  180 hp




The vessel was purchased to provide the cargo service element of the passenger /cargo vessel ILE DE SERK.

The ship was built as FUNCTION in 1963, and her purchase was announced on August 26 1983, and arrived in St Peter Port on November 1983. She then proceed to St Sampsons to be made ready for her new service, and entered service as SARK TRADER on November 29 1983. The ship was twenty years old when purchased, and not well suited for the carriage of the small containers which were gradually being introduced, and after only seven years service she was replaced. Her last trip to Sark was on October 9 1990, and was then laid up until March 21 1991 when she departed St Peter Port  bound for Hull.

The vessel had been built in 1963 as FUNCTION for London & Rochester Trading Co. Ltd., London, and her one claim to fame occurred on January 1 1978 when the vessel lifted onto quay at Wells by a very high tide, and pictures of this appeared in many newspapers. She was placed back in water by crane on 25 January, and then traded until acquired by Isle of Sark Sg. Ltd.  

She remained registered in Guernsey when sold with her owners being Bailey & Boynton Marine, and in the Lloyds Register for 2000/01 the ship is shown as damaged by fire 6-1997


No Further details.



                                                       Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE  90CP10/22 1800cw 78.30k




















Two pictures of SARK TRADER passing along the south coast of Sark August 24 1990, six and a half weeks before her withdrawal.                           



                                                       Picture :  © PHOTO ONE  90CP10/23 1799cw 52.03k  






































Note in the background La Coupee which joins Sark to little Sark. The vessel was about to take the passage inside l’Etac de Sark.                                    





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SARK VENTURE                         (LN 889186)       1989 -  Current

TIE VENTURE II                                             


Operator            Isle of Sark Shipping Co. Ltd.

Owner               Onesimus Dorey (Shipowners) Ltd.

Builder              Tees Inshore Engineering, Middlesbrough. Yn. 2   Comp 1986.   

Tonnage            133grt  79nrt   

Dimensions        20.42m  7.6  2.01             

Propulsion        Twin screw, 2 x Iveco A1F0  spa    diesels   661 bhp  10 knots          


The world’s continued move to the use of containers to move cargo did not pass Sark bye, the result being the need for a vessel more suited to this type of traffic. To help decide the type of vessel required, the Isle of Sark Sg took on a 30 day charted TIE VENTURE II, a small supply vessel. She arrived in Guernsey on 19 October 1989 and operated in weather which would have haulted the current vessel, and it was hoped that if purchased she would go into service in February / March the next year. She left St Peter Port at the end of the charter on 30 November, and on 6 April 1990 Sark’s Chief Pleas recommended the purchase the ship under a long term bare boat agreement.

The purchase was confirmed on 10 September, when it was stated that the vessel was being re-engined with two Iveco and a Lister engines being installed, and she should be in service at the end of the month.

TIE VENTURE II arrived in Guernsey from Newhaven on October 20, and after being re-named SARK VENTURE and made ready made her first voyage to Sark on November 22 1990.

For the 1993 season, faced with decreasing visitor numbers and escalating fuel costs, the company decided to revamp their fleet, and part of this was to put a passenger module on SARK VENTURE and the vessel arrived at St. Sampsons for this to be fitted on 22 May 1993. This enabled the ship to carry 122 passengers but with a reduced cargo load, and it was intended she would operate three or four times a week.





                                                                Picture  :  ©  PHOTO ONE  CP89/8/  301cw  104k  





































TIE VENTURE II in St. Peter Port October 28 1989.                        







                                               Picture : © PHOTO ONE  005cw  40.43k   




































SARK VENTURE arriving St. Peter Port from Sark April 1993 in her original guise as a pure cargo vessel. Note the small purpose built containers on her deck.


                                                                                                                                  



                                                 Picture : ©  PHOTO ONE  96/M2/8 401acw  72.6k   






































Passing Herm on her way to Sark August 14 1996, following the addition of the passenger cabin module.                                                                     

  




                                                                                                

Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE  96/M2/9 403acw 85.03k  





































Another picture on the same day as above, note the horse carriage on the cabin

top. Note - the two yellow lions no longer adawn the funnels.                





                                                          Picture  :  © PHOTO ONE  405cw  71.3k  




































Bound for Sark May 2003, with Brecqhou and Sark in the background.





Picture  :  ©  PHOTO ONE  0074acw  113.4k   












































SARK VENTURE swinging off the Inter - Island Jetty, August 27 2013








Picture  : ©  PHOTO ONE  0097acw  101k   









































Leaving the Inter-Island quay for Sark, August 29 2013.







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SARK VIKING        ON 740348      IMO 8648858



Operator               Isle of Sark Shipping Co. Ltd.

Built              Launched by Steel Kits (UK), Borth,  

                     Completed by Seawind (Barclay Curle ) Ltd.,  Appledore. 01-2008.

Tonnage       108gt                      

Dimensions  21.24m x 7.02m x 7.02m  Draft 3.05m                       

Propulsion    2 x 6cyl oil engines Iveco Aifo 8210SRM45 engines, 900hp                                   



The vessel was built as a result of Sark Chief Pleas deciding to cancel the replacement for BON MARIN DE SERK. Two months later on February 24 2005 the Shipping Committee stated that they had received an offer to build a “no frills” 21 metre cargo boat for about £500K. which could be delivered in nine months, the vessel to be built near Aberystwyth. With little discussion the contract was agreed but little did they know that it would be nearly three years before the vessel would be delivered.

Sark Chief Pleas did not know that the shipyard was suffering from financial problems, with  the owner being found guilty of fraud. This resulted in the building being very delayed, and following the launch, the craft was “spirited” away under tow in Autumn 2007, and taken to Appledore for remediation and completion by Seawind (Barclay Curle) Ltd., at the Newquay Dock facility.

Work was completed in early January 2008 and the vessel sailed for Guernsey on the 17th of the month and took slightly over twenty-six hours for the voyage, arriving in St. Peter Port mid-afternoon on January 18.

SARK VIKING was named at Sark on Saturday January 26 2008.

It is interesting that the vessel is registered in Jersey.     

         




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SARK VIKING laying alongside in St. Peter Port August 29 2009









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Vessel pictured approaching St. Peter Port August 29 2013                         






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Having just dropped off a passenger at the Sark berth, the ship returns to the cargo berth August 29 2009.







Picture  :  ©  PHOTO ONE 07 14 0874acw  77.3k  



































Vessel seen running along the east coast of Sark, having just rounded Bec de Nez, July 04 2014.



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SEA FOX       



Owner         Hag Marine Services, Flamanville.

Builder                          , New Orleans. 1974

Tonnage      48.62grt     

Dimensions  20.27m  5.50m  1.40m(draft)   

Propulsion   Twin screw, oil engines, G.M. 12V71.  540 bhp each

Passengers   65 passengers


         


The vessel commenced operating in the Channel Islands at Easter 1988 when she opened two routes, that from Goury to Alderney and Dielette to Guernsey. The man behind the venture was 35 year old Francois Pere who lived at Goury.

SEA FOX was built as a small oil rig passenger vessel for use in the Gulf of Mexico, rebuilt for her new duties. Apart from the services mentioned she also operated at times to Jersey..  

The service operating as Hag Marine Services, but this changed in 1991 to Sea Fox S.A., but she was withdrawn after her last sailing on September 19 1992.


ON FURTHER DETAILS



                                                                         Picture  :  ©  PHOTO ONE  003c  129k  









































SEA FOX departing Alderney for Goury  May 3 1990                           




                                                                     Picture  :  ©  PHOTO ONE  B/1991/12a  300wa  82k  





























Departing St. Peter Port  June 29 1991.                                             






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SEA FOX  Departing St Peter Port.






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SILVER COMMODORE                         On 181833       


Owner         Commodore Cruises Ltd.

Builder        Risdon Beazley Ltd., Southampton.       Completed  1942

Tonnage      121grt  65nrt

Dimensions  106.8(rl)  17.8  9.5

Propulsion     Twin screw, oil engines                      43HP



Built as RMS 537 in 1942, she was purchased by Commodore Cruises Ltd and registered as SILVER COMMODORE at London on January 27 1948. She first arrived in Guernsey on  March 22 1948 and ran to Sark until September 18 when she departed for Newhaven.

Her next appearance in Guernsey was on June 28 1952 when she arrived from Newhaven and became a permanent part of the Commodore fleet in the Island. At this time Commodore Shipping Ltd. was being formed, and to enable this, the vessel was first registered to Walter Fletcher, C.B.E., M.P. on April 15 1952, he being a major shareholder in Commodore Cruises Ltd. She then passed six days later, on July 21 to the Island Shipping Co. Ltd., (an associate of Commodore), and then on November 4 the ships registry was transferred from London to Guernsey.

She was mainly used as the second passenger vessel on services to Sark and Alderney, and she made the headlines on March 6 1956, when on the slip at St. Sampsons, she heeled over causing damage to starboard side.

In 1960 Commodore Sg was purchased by Mansfield Markham, with the result that the ship was registered to him on June 29 that year. The vessel remained in service until October 12 1961, when she made her last trip to Sark and was then laid up.

Sold on February 3 1962 to Croson Ltd, Poole, with the registry being transferred to that port  on February 23 and the vessel was towed to England by the coaster ORSELNIA. Following overhaul, she was renamed SWANAGE BELLE on June 17, and seven years later on June 17 1968 her owners renamed her WESSEX BELLE.

She remained in their service until October 2 1973, being sold on October 11 that year to Mr. Mike  Brooks who converted her into a luxury yacht for "angling parties, cruises and conferences" and she appeared in her new guise at Poole late in 1975. She visited Channel Islands in October 1976 being used for a clothing sales tour.  

Her registry was closed on September 13 1980 upon being sold to owners in South Yemen.



                                                                                                                                                                         Picture  :  WSPL









































 SILVER COMMODORE departing St. Peter Port in her early years. Colour was

 a white with a ochre funnel and wheelhouse.





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 Moored at the Inter Island cross berth in St. Peter Port. This berth was lost when

 the container facility was built in 1970/71.





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 Laid-up for the winter on the north side of the Albert Pier in the Old Harbour, St.

  Peter Port, now the Albert Marina, on  November 22 1956.






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SOLIDOR (I)                         (LN 6504773)                            1977-1989     



Owner

Builder     Jos L. Meyer, Papenburg.      Yn. 530            1965

Tonnage     907grt  257nrt

Dimensions  208'8"  40'10"  11'5"

                     63.61m x 12.45 x 3.480

Propulsion    Twin screw, Mak oil engines  2,999bhp

Passengers   500 passengers, 60 cars




The vessel was launched on December 19 1964 as LANGELAND for I/S Langeland-Kiel Linien, for service between the two named ports.

First mention that the ship may be purchased was on July 4 1977, and following approval by the French Authorities, she arrived in Saint Malo as SOLIDOR on July 18.  The ship made a trial voyage to Jersey the following day, entering on July 20, and there commenced a great affection between the Island and the ship.

On April 7 1978 she ship ran aground on rocks at Saint Malo, being replaced by NORDLICHT, and when she returned to service on June 11, the letters EF had been added to the funnels. These letters were replaced by plaques during her refit in February 1980, and the on February 5 1981 SOLIDOR returned to service with an all white hull, and again the letter EF on the funnels, and in the shield on her bows.

Improvements were made during her refit in February 1983 which included extra covered seating aft, and a further mishap in 1984 saw the ship being replaced by EMSLAND (  a vessel which was to be seen in Jersey under three different names )

The company had operated a through service from Guernsey in conjunction with Sealink, but in 1985 the latter altered there service times, which resulted in SOLIDOR sailing to St. Peter Port for the first time.

February 11 1987 saw the vessel return from refit in a new colour scheme of white hull with red and green bands, this being slightly altered the following year by the addition of circular roundels on the funnels carrying the company’s new house flag / logo.

The vessel was replaced in 1989, leaving Jersey for the last time on April 20.

SOLIDOR was sold to Benito Buono  for a service to Ishia, being renamed REDENTORE PRIMO and registered to Societa Hotel San Srl under the Italian flag, departing Saint Malo on about October 15 1989.

By 1998 owners were  Traghetti Pozzuoli S.r.l.  and she remained with them, although latterly operating under the banner of Medmar. She was laid up for much of 2007 but would appear to have returned to service until March 29 2010 when she was last seen on AIS.

REDENTORE PRIMO proceeded to the shipbreakers at Aliaga, Turkey in September 2010, and was broken up there in the  November.





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SOLIDOR in her first year in service                                                              






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SOLIDOR with the plaques placed on the funnels during refit in February 1980.                                                                                                                           




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Now with an all white hull  February 1981, and EF back on the funnels.   





Picture  © PHOTO ONE  004c  455 k









































This picture shows some of the improvements which were made during her refit in February 1983 with the extension of the saloon deck which also provided extra open deck area above.                                                                                     





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In her final colour scheme pictured on February 9 1989, shortly before being replaced.                                         







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SOLIDOR 2                   1989 - 1998         IMO 7618246



Owner             Des Bateaux de la Cote D'Emeraude S.A.

Operator          Emeraude Ferries.                    

Builder               S.W. Hoogezand.  Yn 128              

Builder                 "Combship" BV, Hoogezand.  Yn C128  Hoogezand   7/1977  

Tonnage       3,401gr  1,20nrt  622dw          

Dimensions  70.01 (BB)  16.24  3.810

                         63.51       15.87  10.14               

Propulsion      Twin screw, 6 cyl MAK oil engines, 3,550 bhp

Passengers    650                         



The vessel arrived in Jersey for the first time as SOLIDOR 2 on April 22 1989, replacing the original SOLIDOR on the Saint Malo Channel Islands car ferry service. The vessel was in fact built as LANGELAND for Langeland-Kiel Linien A/S. and was launched on April 8 1977,  to replace a vessel of the same name which itself became the first SOLIDOR.

SOLIDOR 2 had a major upgrade in January 1990, and she continued in service until 1994 when Emeraude Lines decided to follow other operators and introduce a high speed car ferry service , which would also allow a number of smaller passenger vessels to be withdrawn. She was replaced on May 20 1994 by the new high speed EMERAUDE, but unfortunately the new vessel suffered a number of problems, the first being only two days later, with SOLIDOR 2 being in service until May 27, then again from June 4 to June 19. The vessel then departed to the Mediterranean for a charter to Rainbow Lines of Piraeus but while she was away her replacement continued to experience major problems, with the result that chartered tonnage had to be used until SOLIDOR 2 completed her charter, and she returned to the Saint Malo service on March 13 1995. Emeraude were determined to operate a high speed service and had built the Fjellstrand catamaran SOLIDOR 3 which entered service in June 1996.

SOLIDOR 2 thus departed Jersey on what should have been her last service at 17:30 on June 7 1996, and was then kept in reserve at Saint Malo, which proved to be a wise move. She was brought back into service on March 4 1998 to March 9, and again in August that year, but keeping a reserve vessel could not last for ever, and in October 1998 the vessel departed Saint Malo bound for Argentina.

According to Lloyds Register the vessel was re-registered under the flag of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the port of registry being Kingston, but her owners remained as Emeraude Lines S.A. She was to operate a service for Fast Ferries S.A. across the River Plate between Buenos Aires and the Uruguay port of Colonia. Whether the vessel was purchased or chartered is unclear, and from photographs of the ship it would appear the she flew the Argentinean flag but the port of registry remained Saint Malo and she retained Emeraude colours, except for Fast Ferries logo on the hull. Whatever position the service ran into political difficulties and it ceased in 2001, and the crew tied the vessel up in the back waters of Buenos Aires and there she remains One report states that the vessel was sold in 2007 but this is unconfirmed.      







                                                                                      Picture  :  PHOTO ONE   CP89/4/3  321w  497k  








































SOLIDOR 2 shortly  after  entering service, inward  bound to St. Helier, August 8 1989.                                                                                               






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SOLIDOR 2 inward bound to St. Helier July 8 1993, note the Emeraude Lines name board just forward of the funnel.                                                







                                                         Picture  :  ©  PHOTO ONE  CP94/2/1  007c  475k










































Outbound from St. Helier on a rather stormy April 2 1994, note the Emeraude name board has already been removed, ready for her charter.                







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Inwards on May 3 1995, shortly after returning from her Mediterranean charter. Note the new Emeraude livery.                                                                                                           







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