Caledonian Steam Packet Company CalMac
What was the operator of PS Waverley after Dec 1953?
PS Waverley PS Waverley is the last seagoing passenger-carrying paddle steamer in the world . Built in 1946 , she sailed from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973 . Bought by the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society ( PSPS ) , she has been restored to her 1947 appearance and now operates passenger excursions around the British coast . Since 2003 , Waverley has been listed in the National Historic Fleet by National Historic Ships UK as a vessel of pre-eminent national importance . In 2019 , Waverley was withdrawn from service due to boiler problems . An appeal was subsequently launched with a target of £2.3 million to recommission Waverley . It was announced on 11 July 2019 that new boilers had been ordered from Cochran Ltd . Following the boiler replacement , Waverley returned to sea on 13 August 2020 for sea-trials , and resumed service for a short COVID-19-affected season starting on 22 August . This was cut short after she struck the pier at Brodick on 3 September , damaging her bow . History . PS Waverley is named after Sir Walter Scotts first novel . She was built in 1946 to replace a PS Waverley that was built in 1899 , served in the Second World War as a minesweeper and was sunk in 1940 while helping to evacuate troops from Dunkirk . Shipbuilders A . & J . Inglis of Glasgow launched the new 693 tonne steamer in October 1946 . She entered service with the London and North Eastern Railway in June 1947 , working the LNERs Firth of Clyde steamer route from Craigendoran Pier , near Helensburgh , up Loch Long to Arrochar . In her first year in service , she wore that companys red , white and black funnel colours . The 1948 nationalisation of Britains railways brought their Scottish steamers into the Caledonian Steam Packet Company ( CSP ) , a subsidiary of the Railway Executive , and the funnels were repainted yellow with a black top . In 1965 , a Scottish red lion rampant was fixed to each side of both funnels . Waverleys hull was painted monastral blue until 1970 . After a revival of fortunes in the 1950s , the 1960s saw a gradual change in holiday habits that led to a decline in passenger numbers and the closure of many of the small piers . Since 1969 , and the formation of the Scottish Transport Group , the CSP had been gradually merging with the West Highland shipping and ferry company David MacBrayne Ltd . In 1973 , the company became Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd ( CalMac ) . Restoration . CalMac withdrew Waverley after the 1973 season as she was too costly to operate and needed significant expenditure . By then , the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society had been set up as a registered UK charity and had bought the near-derelict small River Dart paddler . CalMac , keen to ensure that the ship was preserved , sold Waverley to the PSPS for the token sum of one pound . Neither side really believed that the vessel would return to steam but , just in case , Caledonian MacBrayne stipulated that she should not sail in competition with their remaining cruise vessel , . A public appeal was launched to secure funding for the return of the Waverley to service and the fund-raising operation was successful . The PSPS found itself running a cruise ship operation , Waverley Excursions . Since then , Waverley has been joined in the PSPS fleet by and and has had a series of extensive refits and much restoration work , including a new boiler and improvements to meet modern safety standards . She has circumnavigated Great Britain and every year makes extensive sailings around the country . Listed as part of the National Historic Fleet , between 2000 and 2003 the ship underwent a substantial rebuild and reboilering at the shipyard of George Prior at Great Yarmouth , funded principally by the Heritage Lottery Fund . The work , done in two stages , has added many 21st century safety and technological improvements and returned the ship to her original 1947 livery . In 2009 , the ship was affiliated with , having hosted the official dignitary party at Defenders launch on the River Clyde . And in 2011 the ship was awarded the Institution of Mechanical Engineers 65th Engineering Heritage Award . Engines . Waverley is powered by a three-crank diagonal triple-expansion marine steam engine built by Rankin & Blackmore , Engineers , Eagle Foundry , Greenock , Scotland . It is rated at 2,100 IHP and achieved a trial speed of at 57.8 rpm . Passengers can watch these engines from passageways on either side of the engine room . The main crank is solidly attached to both paddle wheels so they cannot turn independently . The Waverley therefore has a much larger turning circle than modern ferries . Appearance . Waverley has had several colour schemes in her life . At launch the paddle boxes were painted black , in 1959 they were changed to white , then returned to black but with white edges in 1972 , then to all black in 1977 . The two gold stripes along the hull were removed in 1954 but restored during the 2000 rebuild . Today , Waverley has the LNER 1947 livery of red , white and black funnels , traditional brown-grained ( or scumbled ) superstructure and black paddle-wheel boxes , decorated with gold lettering on each side . When launched Waverley had square windows on her sponsons , instead of the current portholes . For most of her life , the upper passenger cabins were painted white and had wooden doors ; all have had layout improvements at some time in the ships life . Sailing in all weathers in salt water can cause pale brown rust streaks to appear by the end of each season , so cosmetic painting and improvements are done annually as the ship is drydocked and inspected by the Department for Transport . Since 1962 , when PS Waverleys original funnels were renewed , replacement items had been slightly out of parallel due to their heavier welded steel construction . The problem was resolved in the 2000–03 refit and her two funnels are now parallel . Lifeboat arrangements have varied depending on the legislation at the time . Between 1975 and 1980 , there was only one traditional lifeboat on the rear deck . Service . Waverley makes passenger excursions from various British ports . She regularly sails from Glasgow and other towns on the Firth of Clyde , the Thames , the South Coast of England and the Bristol Channel . She also undertakes private charters and has provided a period setting for television documentaries and movies , such as ( 2011 ) . Primarily during the summer she is based on the Clyde , operating excursions from Glasgow , Greenock , Largs or Ayr . Typically her Clyde timetable ends at the end of August and Waverley spends 6 weeks between September and October cruising the Bristol Channel , the Solent and the Thames before returning to the Clyde for two sailings in October . On 3 September 2020 , Waverley collided with the Brodick Pier on the Isle of Arran , causing damage to the bow . Twenty-four people were injured . The ship was carrying 213 passengers and 26 crew , who were temporarily stranded on Arran . A Caledonian MacBrayne ferry , , made an unscheduled sailing to return them to the Scottish mainland later that evening .