SHIPS MAIL

摘要

The article Dover's final steamer Caledonian Princess (SM, Nov 2020) was of much interest, but a few points need clarification. A speed of 20 knots is quoted, but the factbox lists it as 19 knots. As one of the ship's retired engineers, I thought those speeds were understated. John Hendy's book 'Caledonian Princess, the ship that became Dover's last steamer' gives her trials speed as 20.91 knots. The speed achieved on a ship's trials should be the definitive figure, because it will have been recorded on several runs in each direction to neutralise the effects of wind and tide. The article also states: 'From 1969 to 1975 Caledonian Princess ran on the Irish Sea before departure from St George's Channel in June 1975 to sail from Weymouth to the Channel Islands. But the ship did appear in the English Channel before 1975, spending six weeks on the Newhaven-Dieppe route in 1972. She also ran between Weymouth and the Channel Islands for a month in 1974. Page 25 tells us that Earl Godwin 'opened a new multi-purpose service during January 1976, between Weymouth and the Channel Islands'. However, Earl Godwin did not start on the route until 2 February, when she sailed from Jersey, having arrived via Guernsey from refit in Holyhead.