MV Cambria (1949) explained

MV Cambria was a twin screw motor vessel operated by the British Transport Commission from 1948 to 1962 and British Rail from 1962 to 1976.^[1] Together with her sister ship the MV Hibernia she served the Holyhead to Dún Laoghaire route across the Irish Sea.^[2]

History

She was built by Harland and Wolff of Belfast, launched in 1948 for the British Transport Commission and started service in 1949. She replaced a smaller 1920 vessel of the same name, the twin screw steamer Cambria, and despite a large size had a reduced maximum speed of 21kn compared to 25kn of the older ship.^[3] In 1951 she was fitted with Denny-Brown stabilisers. In 1964–65 they were refurbished with airline style seating. Some cabins and staterooms were removed and replaced with second-class lounges, and a cafeteria. The screened areas were extended to provide further covered seating, and the first and second class smokerooms were converted into a tea lounge.^[4]

She was sold in 1976 to the Orri Navigation Company in Saudi Arabia and became the Al Taif.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Railway and Other Steamers, Duckworth. 1962
2. Web site: Chronological list of Ships operating on the Holyhead to Ireland Route. 4 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20090727201557/http://www.anglesey.info/Holyhead_Ships_History.htm. 27 July 2009. dead.
3. Book: Dun Laoghaire Kingstown . 0-905140-83-4 . Peter Pearson . O'Brien Press . 1981 . registration . 22450451M . Dublin . 147 .
4. Book: Holyhead to Ireland: Stena and Its Welsh Heritage. 978-1848689589. 15 November 2010. Amberley Publishing. Justin P.. Merrigan. Ian H. Collard.
5. Sea breezes: the ship lovers' digest: Volume 50. Pacific Steam Navigation Company. 1976