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VITAL SPARK, (ex-EILEAN EISDEAL, ex-ELSEDA, ex-VIC 72), was built by Brown's Shipyard, Hull, in 1944, and was sold out of naval service at Devonport Dockyard (where she had been a stores carrier) in 1968, and was then motorised and renamed ELSEDA, based at Troon as a cargo vessel. In 1972, she was bought by an owner based on the Isle of Mull, and worked around the islands dredging coal from sunken vessels. In 1984, she was sold to an owner of Easdale Island, near Oban, and was renamed EILEAN EASDEAL to run a inter-island cargo service around the Western Isles until 1994 (when the Scottish Office withdrew its subsidy for Scottish Shipping). In 2001, she was brought to the Inveraray Maritime Museum, where she still is, and in 2006, she was re-registered as VITAL SPARK, the name of the ficitional puffer that appeared in the Para Handy books by Neil Munro.
Built as VIC 72 by Brown's Shipyard, Hull
Sold out of naval service at Devonport Dockyard where she had been a stores carrier
Motorised and renamed ELSEDA, based at Troon as cargo vessel
Bought by owner based on Isle of Mull. Worked around islands dredging coal from sunken vessels
Sold to new owner and renamed EILEAN EASDEAL to run inter-island cargo service around Western Isles
Service withdrawn when Scottish Office withdrew subsidy for Scottish Shipping
Bought to Inveraray Maritime Museum for public display
Re-registered as VITAL SPARK, name of ficitional puffer in Para Handy books by Neil Munro
Classic Boat (February, 2000, pp93) Sales ad for Ancasta International Boat Sales, Scotland
If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk
National Historic Ships UK acknowledges the financial support of its sponsors