Paddle Steamer Resources by
Tramscape
MV
Keppel (ex - Rose, later Clyde
Rose)
Built in England for
the Gravesend-Tilbury passenger ferry service across the Thames, MV
Rose was an unusual vessel to come to the Clyde when she was bought
to replace the diesel-electic paddler Talisman on the Millport
station. Small and slow in comparison to the traditional Clyde
Steamers, she was built for a short river crossing and was much
criticised when she was placed on the Millport service.
She remained on the Millport run until May 1986, when she was
replaced by a car ferry. Keppel became Cal-Mac's inter-resort cruise
vessel, but with little success due to her poor facilities and
inadequate speed. She was sold out of the fleet in 1993 and operated
independently in the summer of that year as "Clyde Rose". That
venture was short lived and the ship was sold on to a new home in
Malta.
Above : At
Largs in 1989
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Caledonian-MacBrayne
Clyde Services
Caledonian
Steam Packet Co