Royal Iris | National Historic Ships

Registration number 2410

Status Registered

a12admin

Details

Function Passenger Vessel

Subfunction Excursion

Location Woolwich

Vessel type Ferry

Current use None

Available to hire Yes

Available for excursions No

Construction

Builder Denny, William & Bros Ltd, Dumbarton

Built in 1950

Hull material Steel

Number of decks 4

Number of masts 2

Propulsion Motor

Number of engines 1

Primary engine type Inboard diesel

Boiler type None

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam

43.00 feet (14.67m)

Depth

9.00 feet (2.74m)

Length: Overall

159.00 feet (48.80m)

Tonnage: Gross

1234.00

Air Draft

14.00 feet (4.27m)

History

ROYAL IRIS was launched on 5 December 1951 and was the first of the new diesel electric twin-screw vessels that entered service on the Mersey and the first vessel to be specially designed for the dual purpose of cruising and ferrying.

Built by William Denny & Brothers, who built numerous iconic ships such as the QUEEN MARY and the CUTTY SARK, on 21 June 1977, the vessel carried Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh as part of their Silver Jubilee celebrations.

During the 1960s, ROYAL IRIS opened her doors as a waterborne music venue. She proved to be incredibly popular and over the following years numerous iconic British bands were fortunate enough to grace her boards including The Beatles who had a run of four consecutive concerts.

At the time of registration, ROYAL IRIS was in dry dock with a full restoration planned by her present owner. Plans by the current owner were to refurbish and relaunch her as a floating nightclub were unsuccessful. She's now in very poor condition, having deteriorated after a bulkhead breach in 2018 left her half-submerged.