MV Snowdrop

The MV "Snowdrop" is a Mersey Ferry in operation on the River Mersey, England. From launch until a major refit in 2003, she was named MV "Woodchurch".

MV "Woodchurch"

The "Woodchurch" was the sister ship of the MV "Mountwood". Both ferries were built for Birkenhead Corporation and were based loosely on the designs of the Wallasey ferries "Leasowe" and "Egremont". They were built by the same company, Messrs. Philip & Son Ltd. of Dartmouth and designed by Designed by naval architechts Graham and Woolnough. There was some local surprise when the contract was awarded to Philip & Son because Cammell Laird Shipbuilders were "next door" to the Birkenhead Ferry Terminal and it was thought that Lairds would automatically build the new ferry boats. However, their price was not considered to be competitive.

Named after an overspill post-war housing development of Birkenhead, the "Woodchurch" was the second of the new Birkenhead diesel ferries.citebook|title=Mersey Ferries - Volume 1|first=TB|last=Maund|publisher=Transport Publishing Co. Ltd|date=1991|isbn=0-86317-166-4] Launched by Gwendoline M. McRonald, wife of the Birkenhead Transport Committee Chairman, Charles S. McRonald M.B.E., her hull left the slipway at 3.45pm and into the River Dart on Thursday 29 October 1959.

After fitting out and sea trials, the ferry was delivered to the Mersey in 1960. The "Woodchurch" was a popular ship.Specify|date=June 2008 She was externally and internally identical to the "Mountwood". The vessel was 152ft long, with a beam of 40ft, gross tonnage of 464 and a passenger capacity of 1,200 passengers.citeweb|url=http://www.north-cheshire-marine.org.uk/smNov.htm|title=Ship of the Month: Woodchurch|work=North Cheshire Marine|accessdate=2 November|accessyear=2007]

She was given Birkenhead Corporation's orange and black livery. The "Woodchurch" was powered by two medium speed Crossley diesel engines, which were fitted with air brakes for rapid speed change and could be controlled directly from the bridge via the three pairs of connected Chadburn Synchrostep telegraphs.

The "Woodchurch" remained in near constant operation up until 1980 when she was withdrawn from service and laid up in Morpeth Dock for reasons of economy. Up until this period there had been minimal maintenance work carried out on the vessel and at one point she even lost the forward port side rubbing strake. She was put up for sale, but no buyer was found. During this time she was cannibalised for parts to keep the other ferries running. By 1983, the ferry was re-painted and overhauled and returned to passenger service.

Alongside her sister, the vessel was withdrawn from service for extensive refurbishment in 1989. The six month absence from the river was the result of a major rebuild and life extension programme. During this, her bridge wings and wheelhouses were plated over to form one single bridge. Curiously she retained all her original navigation equipment. She returned to service in July 1990.

MV "Snowdrop"

The "Woodchurch" was again withdrawn in 2003. The ferry's superstructure was totally removed and replaced, she was also given new engines and a new funnel to replace the old one which was suffering from rust. She was relaunched in 2004. A few months later it was revealed that she would be re-named "Snowdrop", alongside the "Royal Iris of the Mersey" and "Royal Daffodil". This renewed a 125 year old link with the past. All Mersey Ferries now have Birkenhead colours and Wallasey "flower" names. The Snowdrop is, in effect more or less a completely new vessel, as over 90% of the original steelwork was replaced in the refit.

In December 2007, the "Snowdrop" featured in the "Liverpool Nativity", [citeweb|url=http://www.bakerlite.co.uk/liverpool_nativity.htm|title=Liverpool Nativity|work=bakerlite.co.uk|accessdate=28 December|accessyear=2007] which was broadcast live on BBC Three and repeated on BBC One. Gerry Marsden also made a cameo appearance as the ferry's captain. The ferry is the regular boat used on the Manchester Ship Canal cruises, held over most weekends during the summer months.

References

External links

* [http://www.merseyferries.co.uk/ Official Mersey Ferries website]
* [http://www.ferryphotos.co.uk/pages/woodchurch.htm Photo: "Woodchurch"]
* [http://www.ferryphotos.co.uk/pages/snowdrop.htm Photo: "Snowdrop"]