MV ''Spirit of Gosport'' is a vessel owned by the

Gosport Ferry Company Ltd The Gosport Ferry is a ferry service for pedestrians and cyclists operating between Gosport and Portsmouth in Hampshire, southern England. It is currently operated by Gosport Ferry Ltd, a subsidiary of the Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company Ltd, it ...

and built by

Abels Shipbuilders Abels Shipbuilders Ltd was a ship and boat builder in Bristol, England. In addition to boat building, the company branched out into architectural sculptures, tidal energy and marine restoration, but closed in 2016. Business Founded in 1980 b ...

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

History

''Spirit of Gosport'' was built in 2001 to replace ''

Portsmouth Queen The ''Portsmouth Queen'' was a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd. It was built by Thornycroft of Woolston, Hampshire. History The vessel was built in 1966 to the exact design to the Gosport Queen and was delivered in a green and w ...

'' on ferry duties. However, the company also wanted to replace ''

Solent Enterprise #REDIRECT Sundance (charter vessel) ''Sundance'' is a charter vessel owned by Capital Pleasure Boats and operating on the River Thames. Former names are ''Gay Enterprise'' and ''Solent Enterprise''. History The vessel was built in 1971 for the ...

'', which operated cruise duties. The vessel was hardly used for the first few months and both existing ferries were kept in service. In 2003, she finally replaced ''

'' on cruise duties. This continued until 2005, when a brand new vessel was purchased to replace ''Spirit of Gosport'' on cruise duties. Shortly after being awarded the contract for ''Spirit of Gosport'', Abels were awarded a follow-on contract for a second ferry, to be known as ''Spirit of Portsmouth''. However this vessel was only partially constructed when the ferry company cancelled the order, and the unfinished hull remained at Abel's shipyard for many years, before being completed as a medical missionary ferry, the '' Forth Hope''. This ship should not be confused with the subsequent ''

Spirit of Portsmouth MV ''Spirit of Portsmouth'' is a vessel owned by the Gosport Ferry Company Ltd The Gosport Ferry is a ferry service for pedestrians and cyclists operating between Gosport and Portsmouth in Hampshire, southern England. It is currently operated ...

'' that now operates alongside the ''Spirit of Gosport''.

Characteristics

The ''Spirit of Gosport'' is in length and has a beam of and a draught of . She has a service speed of and a capacity of 300 passengers and 3 crew.

References

External links

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Gosport Ferry Ferries of England Ships built in Bristol 2001 ships {{ferry-stub