The Gravesend to Tilbury Ferry is an initiative promoted by Kent County Council (KCC) and Thurrock Unitary Council (TUC). The Gravesend to Tilbury ferry service has a history dating back to the 13th century and today the service operates as a passenger ferry service meeting a number of essential and recreational needs with over 80,000 passenger journeys recorded annually. The service is operated with subsidy from Kent and Thurrock Councils with KCC acting as the lead authority and holder of the operator contract.
The construction of a new pontoon off the Town Pier at Gravesend which is owned and maintained by Gravesham Council has presented an opportunity to tender openly for this passenger ferry service.
Duchess M Info:
Duchess M of the Lower Thames & Medway Passenger Boat Co, who also operate the Princess Pocahontas on excursions and charters. Duchess M is used on the Tilbury-Gravesend ferry.
Duchess M was built as the Vesta in 1956, one of the last three "traditional" Portsmouth-Gosport ferries (the others were the Ferry Queen (1959) and Vita (1960)). They were all diesel-powered, but otherwise the design had changed little in 80 years. All three remain in service on the Thames, Vesta as the Duchess M on the Tilbury-Gravesend ferry, and Vita & Ferry Queen with City Cruises. Their lives on the Portsmouth-Gosport ferry were fairly short, being replaced by the Gosport Queen and Portsmouth Queen in 1966. The three vessels were retained until the mid-1970s as reserve vessels and for use on seasonal harbour tours.
Vesta was sold to Thames Pleasure Craft in 1974, but was running for Thames Launches by 1977. She passed to Arthur Green as the Duchess M in 1978, and then to D.C & W.Tours in 1981. By 1983 Duchess M was under under the Capital Cruises banner. In 1991 she was on the River Tyne running charter cruises for Rolls Royce Limousine Hire, passing to River Tyne Cruises by 1995, when her fleet mates were the Catherine (ex-Tilbury-Gravesend) and Island Scene (ex-Blue Funnel). In 1997 Duchess M was back on the Thames at Southend, running services to Queenborough and Strood, plus local sea cruises. Her running mate was the Maid of the Forth. By 1999, Duchess M was the sole fleet member, and she was sold in 2002 to the Lower Thames & Medway Passenger Boat Co for use on the Tilbury-Gravesend ferry, where she remains in 2016.
Lower Thames & Medway Passenger Boat Co Website: http://www.princess-pocahontas.com/
Info & Pictures of the Duchess M : http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/DuchessM.html
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