Clydebuilt ex Steam Yacht NAHLIN returns to service.

Sunday 11 July 2010

Clydebuilt ex Steam Yacht NAHLIN returns to service.

The former steam yacht NAHLIN, which was built at the John Brown shipyard in Clydebank in 1930, has recently returned to operational service. However, her original steam turbine prime movers have been removed and she is now powered by a diesel electric installation although she retains some form of steam-raising plant as she can be heard (and seen) exercising a fairly powerful steam whistle in the film of her, link below, passing Friedrichsort Lighthouse while running trials in the western Baltic Sea in April this year. (In fact she appears to have two steam whistles, rather like Waverley before her rebuild)

NAHLIN running trials on the Baltic, April 2010

The classic yacht was built for Lady Yule of Glasgow and in 1936 the yacht was chartered by King Edward VII for as cruise in the Adriatic Sea and down to Istanbul. The American divorcee Mrs Wallis Simpson was also aboard attracting media attention and a course of events that led to the abdication of the King.

In 1937 NAHLIN was sold to King Carol II of Romania to serve as his royal yacht but two years later, after he forsook his crown on the commencement of WWII the NAHLIN passed into the ownership of the Romanian Government. She had been renamed LUCEAFARUL (Evening Star) and in 1948 her name changed again to LIBERTATEA (Freedom). For 60 years she languished on the banks of the Danube until 1999 when she was purchased by British interests and her original name and port of registry (Glasgow) were restored to her. She spent some time in the Mersey before being towed to Germany in 2005. After 5 years the restoration is complete.

In the second link (below) the Red Duster can be seen flying proudly at her stern. The restored vessel looks absolutely stunning:

Classic Clyde-built yacht NAHLIN of Glasgow returns to operational service at Kiel Holtenau, 26th April 2010

Look forward to seeing her sail back up the Clyde some day

Stuart Cameron

The Society

The Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) is Britain's longest established, largest and most successful steamship preservation group.
A registered charity founded in 1959, we have over 3000 members and through our associated charitable companies we operate the only two working paddle steamers in Great Britain.
Without the PSPS there would no longer be the opportunity to sail on a Paddle Steamer in Great Britain.

Our aims
i) to preserve paddle steamers in sailing condition
ii) to educate the public in the historic significance of paddle steamers in the Nation's maritime and industrial heritage
iii) to acquire, preserve and exhibit a collection of equipment and material associated with paddle steamers.

Our Ships

Flagship of our fleet is Waverley the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world. Built in 1947 Waverley was gifted to the Society for just £1. As well as operating on her native Clyde each summer she visits other coastal areas around the UK during the spring and autumn each year.

Kingswear Castle is Britain's only operational coal-fired paddle steamer. Built in 1924 to sail on the River Dart she was purchased by the Society in 1967. From 1985 until 2012 she sailed the Thames and Medway. In 2013 Kingswear Castle returned to the Dart where she now operates public sailings during the summer season.

The society is composed of five branches: Scottish, London & Home Counties, Bristol Channel, Wessex & Dart and North England - all of which help raise money to keep our paddle steamers sailing.

The Scottish Branch

The Scottish Branch was formed in 1969 by Douglas McGowan, now our Honorary Branch President. In November 1973 Douglas was invited to attend a meeting with CalMac which resulted in Paddle Steamer Waverley being gifted to the PSPS for £1! It was then on 8th August 1974 that the PSPS took ownership of the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world and her second career in preservation had begun. Since 1974 the Scottish Branch has been directly linked to supporting Waverley.

The Scottish Branch is proud of its achievements. We are an active and forward thinking branch with a thriving membership of over 800 - we are proud to be the branch which secured an operational future for Waverley. Our members are regularly involved with voluntary work which helps ensure Waverley continues to sail. During the summer sailing season we help raise funds through the Society's Grand Draw and our annual fundraising cruise on Waverley. The Branch meets in Glasgow each month during the non-sailing season (October - April) and we extend an invitation to join the Society and indeed join the Scottish Branch.

Sunday 11 July 2010