Water Bus history

CYGNET & SAPPHIRE
a brief history

Both of our vessels started life as ships tenders to the S.A.L.(Sweedish American Lines)Liner the 'Kungsholm'. built in 1965. The ships tenders were used to ferry passengers from the ship to the shore if the was no suitable docking facility for the ship itself. They were also used to take passengers on excursions around islands and to quiet beaches.

Peter Knego collection
The Kungsholm

Here is a letter I received from Sten Hovne an ex-crewman from Kungsholm who's duty it was to look after the ship's tenders.

"On the S.A.L.website I found out that I must go to Cardiff bay to, once again, make a trip in one of the M/S Kungsholm’s tender-boats. I have made many such trips in the past.
         I was signed onboard The Kungsholm for almost two years in the early mid seventies, 72-75. I made a break serving one year in the Royal Swedish Navy (mine-sweeper, deck hand/medic) before going back to "the white Viking liner" for a second year. It was indeed two different ships!
         I first signed on the Kungsholm as a pantry-man, but soon made me up to deck steward on the Veranda deck. There my duties included to go with the tender boats, stay ashore, fasten on the return trip, and then make sure the passengers got ashore safely. We were instructed not to let any of them fall and get injured. The Americans were known to sue the company when such things happened.
         The tender boats were operated by two sailors: Helmsman and an ordinary seaman. The helmsman’s main duty was to steer at sea. By tradition most of them came from Galicia (Northern Spain).The others were Finns and Swedes.
One of the boats was used as crew tender and embarked further aft, the passenger tenders embarked amidships.
         I made a memorable "tender watch" in feb.-73. It was on the "south-sea cruise" (92 days), when one morning I woke up and found the ship at anchor inside the reef of the island of "Nuku-Hiva", French Polynesia.
Dressed in my all white uniform, I went to work, found my name on top of a list/schedule over the tender boat watches. So I went ashore with the first tender boat. The helmsman found a landing spot at a half sunken wooden quay. He left a sling of rope and me there, and headed back to the ship.
          The sling he left was to short and fell into the sea every time the tender boat left. This manoeuvre was observed by a local beauty who dived and picked up the sling which she proudly held until the next tender came back to shore. Then she gave it to me, and I gave it to the ordinary seaman who picked it up with a boat hook.
          Two hours later when my successor arrived, I was supposed to go back to the ship. However, the Polynesian girl had already invited me to the family hut half-way up a mountain, so I skipped work and went along.
           We took a long, most beautiful, walk under the palm trees and finally got to her parents hut. There she wanted me to put on my uniform jacket, I think she wanted to impress mum & dad. They, jacket or not, invited me for dinner: Meat and vegetables prepared in half an oilcan. Very good indeed!
           Later on we went for a swim in the lagoon, exchanged addresses before, at last, I returned to the ship. Once onboard I was told off by my boss, and I never saw the girl again. I sent her a post-card from New Zealand and have often wondered if she ever got it or not."

That was one of a few letters I received from ex-sailors who knew our boats when they were in service with Kungsholm. It's fascinating to think that our boats have been all over the world, having many adventures, and great to see that they're still in service giving pleasure to many hundreds of visitors to Cardiff Bay.

Here are more pictures of 'Kungsholm', it is possible to make out our vessels hanging on their davits
below the forward funnel

Peter Knego collection
In this picture the stern and bow of two of the four tenders is clearly visible although it's not possible to identify either as Cygnet or Sapphire

The Kungsholm was later renamed the Sea Princess (a name we can still make out under the paint on Cygnet) and then she became Victoria. Recently the ship was renamed yet again, and has become the Mona Lisa. She has been totally refurbished and many alterations made to the superstructure including the removal of one of her two funnels.

Here are some Pictures of Kungsholm after she became Sea Princess for P&O. Note that she has had one of her funnels removed. It is possible to make out our boats still on their davits though.
FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THIS SHIP CLICK HERE

MORE HISTORY
I am thankful to Keith Mac Arthur of Birkenhead who has come up with some more facts about Cygnet & Sapphires pasts.
Both tenders were built in 1964/65 at the Voe Shipyards in Holland. After service with Kungsholm/Sea Princess one of the tenders operated on a canal near Manchester, but this proved unsuccessful so in 1985 the tender was bought by Capt Robert Anderson of Bann Cruises, Coleraine in Northern Ireland, and it was he who named her Cygnet, she sailed trips on the River Bann and occasionally to sea. Then in 1995 she was then sold to a Mr Williams of Swansea South Wales who ran trips on the River Tawe. Finally she was bought by Cardiff Cats Ltd.

Another tender was also sold to owners in Northern Ireland. She then moved to the west coast of Scotland and became Sea Vixen. Later she moved again to the east coast of Scotland and became Sapphire. Then there was a move to the south coast to operate cruises on the River Dart. Finally she was also bought by Cardiff Cats Ltd.

An early photo of Sapphire showing recent alterations including the removal of the rear cabin roof. Interestingly in this photo she still has her wheelhouse roof extension and is showing the power of her then newly installed Daewoo MD136T turbo charged diesel. This was the first engine of this type to go into service in the UK and was installed by Watermota in 1998.

There were originally four tenders aboard the liner, we have two, Cygnet and Sapphire; recently I tracked down a third called 'Arklet', that now works on Loch Lomond in Scotland. She ferries passengers between the Inversnaid Hotel and Inveruglas.

M.V. Arklet moored in Loch Lomond before modifications

M.V. Arklet showing the recent alterations

'Arklet' appeared to be almost identical to Cygnet with the same extension above the wheelhouse, but recent alterations to the middle section of the boat have radically altered her lines. The new covered passenger entrance prevents rain from penetrating the front and rear cabins. A problem that our boat Cygnet sometimes suffers from in heavy rain with the hatches left open.

Find out more about the Inversnaid Hotel on Loch Lomond here.

Found at last!!

The elusive fourth Kungsholm tender has finally been tracked down too. After many enquires and much searching around, it has turned up in Ireland. Although externally she appears to be in original configuration, inside all the seating has been stripped out and rearranged so that she has large clear spaces in the centre of each cabin. Apparently though she still retains her original Scania DS11 engine?

STOP PRESS

We've just discovered that this boat has been sold, and has gone to Africa where she is now employed as ferry.

SAPPHIRE FINALLY SCRAPPED!

After many years good service with Cardiff Waterbus, Sapphire has reached the end of here life. On April 1st 2008 she was taken away by low loader to be scrapped.

Her Daewoo engine had been giving some trouble for several months and her aluminium hull was starting to show it's age. Sapphire had had a bit of rough life before she came to us in Cardiff Bay and it was deemed that she was beyond economic repair. All at Cardiff Waterbus were sorry to see her leave as we had many happy memories of working aboard her over the last few years.

Being stripped out

The final lift out

Awaiting the cutters

Visit the excellent Maritime Matters site to learn more about the 'Kungsholm'