Two Tyne-based passenger ferries have arrived in port for dry-docking at Wear Dock and Engineering.
Operated by Tyne Leisure Line, trading as River Escapes Ltd, they are the 193-tonne River Escapes Latis and 127-tonne River Escapes Fortuna.
The vessels form part of the company's three-strong fleet, which runs charter, sightseeing and party crui
ses from Newcastle Quayside. Its third vessel – River Escapes Coventina – previously plied the Wear as the Brokaela until her sale in 2005.
After berthing at Greenwells Quay on Monday afternoon, Latis and Fortuna later moved to East Quay North in Hudson Dock. Both were expected to dry-dock yesterday for general overhaul and repairs.
Launched by JS White of Cowes in 1961, Latis served as the British Railways passenger ferry, Catherine, linking Gravesend and Tilbury on the Thames. Ownership was transferred to Sealink UK in 1979.
In 1989, after several years in lay-up, she was sold for further service on the Tyne, acquiring her present name in 2006.
Licensed for 196 passengers and eight crew, she is more than 33.5 metres long.
Fortuna started life as Island Scene in 1977, being built by Bideford shipyard for Southampton-based Blue Funnel Cruises. She transferred to the Tyne in 1994, being renamed Fortuna in 2006. At more than 27 metres long, she can carry 160 passengers plus six crew.
As Sunderland City of Adelaide Recovery Foundation (SCARF) continues its relentless efforts to save the clipper ship, City of Adelaide, from imminent destruction, officials in South Australia have stepped up rival proposals to return the historic vessel to Port Adelaide.
In a joint letter to federal and state governments, the mayors of Adelaide and Port Adelaide-Enfield have outlined plans to display the ship at the Port Adelaide Historic Maritime Precinct as the central attraction for celebrations marking South Australia's 175th anniversary in 2011.
With many South Australians being descended from settlers who arrived from the UK on board immigrant ships, the letter points out that the forthcoming anniversary represents "an appropriate opportunity to recognise the significant contribution made by such vessels in expanding Australia's population and prosperity".
"We are proposing to save the vessel as a centrepiece project for the state's 175th birthday celebrations in 2011," the letter continues.
Peter Roberts of the Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Preservation Trust, said: "The ship is the last survivor of all of the immigrant sailing ships to South Australia and having been specifically built to serve our state and named after our capital city, she would certainly make an iconic namesake project to celebrate our state's birth."
This latest move follows calls by prominent Australians urging Gordon Brown to safeguard the future of the City of Adelaide (Echo, November 23).
