Previous names
- 1944 - 1968 VIC 72
- 1968 - 1984 Eldesa
- 1984 - 2006 Eilean Eisdeal
Details
Construction
Dimensions
History
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.
Key dates
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1944
Built as VIC 72 by Brown's Shipyard, Hull
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1968
Sold out of naval service at Devonport Dockyard where she had been a stores carrier
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1969
Motorised and renamed ELSEDA, based at Troon as cargo vessel
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1972
Bought by owner based on Isle of Mull. Worked around islands dredging coal from sunken vessels
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1984
Sold to new owner and renamed EILEAN EASDEAL to run inter-island cargo service around Western Isles
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1994
Service withdrawn when Scottish Office withdrew subsidy for Scottish Shipping
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2001
Bought to Inveraray Maritime Museum for public display
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2006
Re-registered as VITAL SPARK, name of ficitional puffer in Para Handy books by Neil Munro
Sources
Classic Boat (February, 2000, pp93) Sales ad for Ancasta International Boat Sales, Scotland
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
