Talk:MV Yorkshire Belle (1947)/Temp

The MV Yorkshire Belle is a pleasure cruiser sailing from Bridlington Harbour, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK. She is the last of the famous Bridlington pleasure cruisers.

Description
The MV Yorkshire Belle is a Class 3 Pleasure Cruiser. She has a length overall of 82ft, a beam of 19.5ft and a draft of 4.5ft She has a Gross Tonnage (Internal Volume) of 70 metric tonnes, equivalent to 69 long tons or 77 short tons. She is powered by two Gardner 8L3 diesel engines of 204bhp each driving twin triple bladed, cast bronze, screw propellers at a maximum of 152hp per shaft (Shaft Horsepower/SHP) after transmission losses at 900rpm. The Yorkshire Belle has a service speed of 10 knots at 700rpm and a maximum speed of 12 knots at 900rpm. She has a single rudder. As a post war vessel she has an advanced streamlined bow and a typical cruiser stern. She has an extremely low centre of gravity and a high metacentric height combined with a high free-board to give her excellent sea keeping abilities.

The Yorkshire Belle has a capacity for 198 passenger and 4 crew. All passengers can be accommodated on the main deck with 100 indoor seats available. Outdoor seating is available on the forecastle towards the bow and the poop deck at the stern. The forecastle seating includes longitudinal raised seating providing an excellent vantage point for viewing the wonders of the Yorkshire Coast. There is also a small raised platform at the prow of the ship allowing views of the occasional Dolphin riding the bow wave. On the lower deck there is a fully licensed Saloon Bar serving Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, a variety of soft drinks as well as an array of alcoholic beverages as well as snacks. Ship souvenirs are also available for purchase on-board. The Yorkshire Belle is also fitted with a live commentary system (provided by the captain) with speakers both inside and out for pointing out landmarks, places of special interest and the local wildlife. On RSPB Bempton Cruises commentary and full guide to seabirds is provided by a volunteer from the RSPB Centre at Bempton Cliffs. Ladies and Gents toilets are available on the main deck.

History
The MV Yorkshire Belle was built in early 1947 at the shipyard of Cook, Welton and Gemmell Ltd of Grovehill, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire with the yard number 793. Been launched sideways into the River Hull on Wednesday 22nd May 1947, she was built for Messrs Crawford and Pockley of Bridlington. After launch she was towed down to River Hull for her fitting out and sea trials. Her sea trials were conducted on the Humber and included turning the ship to calibrate her compass accounting for deviation, and testing her engines and speed over a measure mile. Over the measured mile the Yorkshire Belle averaged ten knots with one run with the tide and one against. She arrived in Bridlington a week later and began her long career. As built the Yorkshire Belle was fitted with twin Crossley Engines however, these proved to unreliable and troublesome in service and so the ship returned to her builders in 1951 were she was fitted with the twin Gardner 8L3 engines she has today.

In the 1950's, ownership of the vessel changes many time as smaller shareholder in the owning consortium changed. In 1969 the main shareholders changed and Mr John Cross (Jack) Pockley became owner. In 1973 ownership of the Yorkshire Belle changed again and she was bought by, J T Bogg, J F Bogg and Arthur Strike Cook on behalf of Bogg Holdings Ltd. In 1982 ship was bought by Messrs Peter Richardson and Roy Simpson of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. At the time Peter and Roy bought the ship, she was still much as built. However, in 1987 the decision was taken to rebuild much of the superstructures to include a fixed roof providing an indoor seating area amidships. The internal layout was also changed slightly with the toilets been moved to the main deck having previously been below deck. In 2013 ownership passed solely to Mr Peter Richardson, Roy Simpson having retired from the partnership. This marks the only period in the ships history when she has been owned outright by one person. Peter is now joined as a skipper by his son, Sam.

Throughout the later half of the 20th century the pleasure cruiser trade in Bridlington declined due to the availability of cheap foreign holidays with the advent of jet airliners. One by one, the pleasure cruisers at Bridlington disappeared until just two were left, the Yorkshire Belle and her adoptive sister ship MV Flamborian. However at the end of the 1998 season, Flamborian was sold to Croson Ltd of Swanage, Dorset and sailed out of Bridlington Harbour for the last time. The Yorkshire Belle was left alone. In the mid 2000's Flamborian was sold into private hands and converted into a house boat. Today she resides on the River Seine in Paris, France.

After the departure of the Flamborian, the Yorkshire Belle has thrived at Bridlington until today she is known all over the UK, winning many awards. She has a loyal following of enthusiasts and is known as far as the United States.

The Yorkshire Bell is in fact the second Yorkshire Belle to sail from Bridlington. The original Yorkshire Belle was built in 1938 also by Cook, Welton and Gemmell. In 1940, the original Yorkshire Belle was requisitioned by the British Admiralty as an Anti-Submarine Patrol and Boom Defence Vessel and renamed, HMS Yorkshire Belle. Sadly, on Friday the 11th April 1941 whilst working fearlessly in her national service she collided with a Magnetic Mine laid by a German U Boat in the entrance to the Humber and sank killing all eight crew on board. Those crew were;

Rigger's Mate, William Henry Bennett (22) of Rosyth, Fife, Scotland. He is remembered at the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Able Seaman, George Worthington Buttriss (26) of Jarrow, Tyne and Wear (then County Durham). He is buried in the Scartho Road Cemetery in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

Ships Cook, James Stephen Richard Fagg (23) of London. He is remembered at the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.

Rigger's Mate, Daniel Gibson (32) of Glasgow, Scotland. He is remembered at the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Stoker 1st Class, William Herbert Harrison (21). He is buried in the Scartho Road Cemetery in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

Petty Officer, Ernest Walter Johnson (30) of Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. He is buried in the Scartho road Cemetery in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

Rigger, Robert McGilvar (40) of Renfrew, Scotland. He is remembered at the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Albert Thomson (24) of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire. He is remembered at the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.

The wreck of the HMS Yorkshire Belle lies in the Humber close to Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. Parts of the HMS Yorkshire Belle can be seen on-board the current MV Yorkshire Belle to this day including fitting in the former ladies cabin and the Chrome work in the saloon bar. These were removed during the HMS Yorkshire Belle's conversion for the Admiralty. A photo of the HMS Yorkshire Belle in peacetime of 1938 is also kept aboard the MV Yorkshire Belle in the Saloon Bar.

Service with British Rail
In 1977 the Yorkshire Belle was leased to British Rail and joined their Sealink fleet. In service with British Rail she was given the TOPS code, Class 99. However, she never carried this number. She operated as a foot passenger ferry between Victoria Pier in Kingston upon Hull on the north bank of the Humber to New Holland pier on the south bank. She only spent a short time on this service as she wasn't suited to such operation. As a memento of her service for British Rail she carries a large dent in the port side of her hull toward the stern. This was suffered during a collision with Victoria Pier in Hull.

Cruises Available
The Yorkshire Belle provides cruises from Bridlington Harbour to various locations along the Yorkshire Coast. Shorter Cruises include the "Seaside Cruise", a 30 minute jaunt around Bridlington bay and the "Lighthouse Cruise", a 1 hour excursion to the tip of Flamborough Head. Medium Length Cruises include the 1hr 30 minute, Breil Newk and Silex Bay Cruises. Longer Cruises include the 2hrs 30 minute RSPB Bempton Cliffs Cruise and the 3hrs 15 minutes, Filey Bay Cruise. The Yorkshire Belle also provides special cruises on the occasions of visits and transits by Cruise Ships and Ocean Liners including the world famous, 150,000 tonne Ocean Liner, RMS Queen Mary 2, which performed a horn salute with the Yorkshire Belle off Flamborough Head. The Yorkshire Belle has also acted as a passenger tender for Cruise Ships anchoring in Bridlington Bay.

In late season the Yorkshire Belle also hosts special cruises including Disco Cruises along Bridlington's South Bay. She is especially known for her Halloween Ghost Cruises touring the wrecks, ghosts and mysteries of Bridlington and Flamborough.

The Yorkshire Belle is available for private charter, able to accommodate a variety of special events such as Birthday's and Wedding Parties. She is also available to hire for Funerals on "Ashes Cruises".

Prior to 2007 the Yorkshire Belle provided weekly summer cruises to Scarborough, occasionally swapping places with the MV Coronia. However, in 2007 the Maritime and Coastguard Agency changed their interpretation of an EU law governing Class 3 vessels. Under the original interpretation, Class 3 vessels such as the Yorkshire Belle were allowed to travel up to 15 miles from any safe harbour. However, under the new interpretation Class 3 vessels are restricted to within 15 miles of their port of departure. With Scarborough been 21 miles from Bridlington, the Yorkshire Belle is no longer permitted to travel to Scarborough while carrying passengers. The captains, crew, and loyal fans of the Yorkshire Belle continue the fight to restore the Scarborough Cruises. With Brexit underway after the triggering of Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty, there is hope that Maritime and Coast Guard Agency interpretations will be modified to allow cruises to Scarborough to recommence in the near future.

The Yorkshire Belle has also provided services to the renewable energy industry, taking executives and other VIP passengers out to North Sea wind farms sailing from Middlesbrough Tees Dock.

Safety Features and Navigational Systems
The Yorkshire Belle is fitted with the latest safety equipment and conforms to all requirements set out by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. She has life boat and life raft space for everyone on board with 2 rafts able to deploy automatically down to the side of the ship in case of emergency. Two further rafts are stowed on the upper deck ready for immediate deployment if needed. Life Jackets for all are provided under the seats in the indoor passenger area with additional Life Jackets available under seats at the bow and stern. The Yorkshire Belle is fitted with the latest Radio Telephone equipment and maintains contact with Humber Coastguard, and other vessels in her vicinity at all times. The crew also carry hand held VHF Radios also capable of contacting Humber Coastguard whenever needed. A full safety briefing is provided to passengers at the beginning of every cruise and safety information for people with hearing and visual difficulties can be obtained before you board. The Yorkshire Belle is an exceptionally strong vessel with a hybrid, riveted/welded hull composed of 3/4 inch thick steel plates. Her hull is divided by four transverse bulkheads into five watertight compartments. These are the, Fore Peak, Saloon, Machinery/Engine Room, Aft Cabin, and Aft Peak. Any two of these compartments can be flooded without compromising the safety of the ship. The Yorkshire Belle has two diesel engines driving twin propellers independently providing redundancy in the unlikely event of mechanical breakdown. She also features a flat bottom which gives her the ability to be deliberately beached in the case of flooding or emergency. She has a double bottom.

The Yorkshire Belle has the latest Radar and Satellite, Global Positioning Systems able to calculates her exact position and keeps a record of the vessel's track. The Radar has a selectable range up to 12 miles. The GPS links directly into the Radio Telephone System allowing a distress call to be sent by pressing a single button on the bridge. After pressing this button the RT will repeat a standard, Mayday call over channel 16 directly to Humber Coastguard and all vessels up to a range of 100 miles complete with the vessels exact positions. She is also equipped with the standard compliment of distress flares and rockets with additional flares kept in the life rafts. The Yorkshire Belle is also fitted with an EBIRP system that automatically activates upon submersion in seawater and constantly signals an SOS distress signal. The EBIRP float is fitted with strobe lights for night time operation as are all rafts.

Awards
In 2008, she won Winner of The Sunday Times Best Boat Trip in Britain and was highly commended in the Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards for 2017.