Details
Construction
Dimensions
History
Built in 1908, VISCOUNT is a passenger vessel with the capacity for 247 passengers. Based at Greenwich, she offers charter trips to the Thames Barrier and Sunday evening cruises. She was built by Salters of Oxford for J T Mears and in the 1980s, her engine was a Gardner 8LX. She attended the Dunkirk evacuation in World War 2 and is the oldest passenger boat still in service out of the Dunkirk Little Ships. She was sold to Thames Launches in 1976, Campion Launches from 1995, a private owner from 2005 and Thames Party Boats from 2015.
Key dates
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1908
Built as passenger vessel by Salters of Oxford for J.T. Mears
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1940
Assisted in the evacuation of the Dunkirk beaches in the Second World War
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1948
VISCOUNT converted to diesel motor vessel
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1959
Engine changed and re-registered with Thames Launches River Services Ltd
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1964
Wooden deck removed and replaced on top of steel one. Steel saloon and new funnel added
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1965
Wheelhouse moved forward, steel foredeck laid and two entrances made into saloon
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1976
Sold to Thames Launches
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1977
Thompsons put wheelhouse back to amidships and fitted new Gardner 8LX engine
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1995
Change of ownership to Campion Launches (Viscount Cruises)
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2005
Sold to a private owner
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2015
Change of ownership to Thames Party Boats
Sources
Brann, Christian, The Little Ships of Dunkirk: 1940-1990, Collectors Books Ltd, 1989
Hamer, Geoffrey, Trip Out 1995/6 - A Guide to the Passenger Boat Services of the British Isles, G P Hamer, 1995
Own this vessel?
If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk
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