Builders: J Samuel White & Co Ltd Cowes 1927
Propulsion type: Paddle compound diagonal
Owners: Southern Railway, Brighton and South Coast Steamers and others
Service dates: 1927 - 1961
Tonnage: Gross 264
Comments:
PS Freshwater was built to replace PS Lymington on the Lymington to Yarmouth route. The Lymington River did not allow ships any larger than Freshwater to navigate at low water and as such she was of greater tonnage than any other vessel previously used on this route. She was unusual in that she did not have a bridge, being commanded from the wheelhouse. She finished her ferry duties in September 1959 and was sold for excursion use from Brighton for the 1960 season and was renamed Sussex Queen. She lasted only a year and was moved to Bournemouth, being again renamed, this time as Swanage Queen. Again her move was not successful and after further resale she was sold for scrap as she was considered too old to refurbish to modern standards. Click here for a picture of here as Sussex Queen and for a local press cutting during the later stages of her career.