Builders: William Denny & Bros Dumbarton 1948
Propulsion type: Twin Screw
Owners: General Steam Navigation Co Ltd
Service dates: 1948 - Still sailing!
Tonnage: Gross 1851
Comments:
Royal Sovereign (IV) was built to replace the 1937 vessel which was sunk by a mine in the Bristol Channel in December 1940. Capable of a speed of 21 knots, she ran between Tower Pier in London and Ramsgate, calling at Tilbury, Southend and Margate. In 1957 I travelled on her with my parents, from Southend to Margate then on to Westgate for our summer holiday. For a picture of me, aged 2, in a rather unusual pose on the beach at Westgate please click here. The above picture shows her on trials and is from the archives of P&O, by whose kind permission the above picture is shown here. Royal Sovereign (IV) also did some cross Channel work and in 1966 she was based at Great Yarmouth for trips to Calais, but was withdrawn from service in the same year. In 1967 she was sold to become a lorry ferry under the utilitarian name of Autocarrier (click here for a picture of her as Autocarrier) under which name she carried only lorries and their drivers from Dover to Zeebrugge. She was later named Ischia, and it is under this name that she still sails, although much altered, providing a ferry service from Pozzuoli near Naples to Casamicciola. For a rare picture, previously unpublished, of the Royal Sovereign's engines, please click here. For pictures of two clocks from her GSN Co days please click here. For a picture of her as Ischia, taken in Italian waters in October 2005 please click here.