Yard number 1367 Launched 1948 Draft 8.5 m | Maiden voyage 14 April 1949 Length 116 m Builder Harland and Wolff | |
Name 1949-1976 MV Hibernia
1976-1980 Express Apollon Owner 1949-1968 British Transport Commission
1962-1976 British Rail Operator 1949-1968 British Transport Commission
1962-1976 British Rail Route 1949-1976 Holyhead - Dún Laoghaire | ||
MV Hibernia was a twin screw motor vessel operated by the British Transport Commission from 1948 to 1962 and British Rail from 1962 to 1976.
History
She was built by Harland and Wolff of Belfast, launched in 1948 for the British Transport Commission and started service in 1949. She replaced a 1920 vessel of the same name, the twin screw steamer Hibernia.
In 1951 she was fitted with Denny-Brown stabilisers. In 1964-65 they were refurbished with airline style seating. Some cabins and staterooms were removed and replaced with second-class lounges, and a cafeteria. The screened areas were extended to provide further covered seating, and the first and second class smokerooms were converted into a tea lounge.
She was sold in 1976 to the Agapitos Brothers in Greece and became the Express ApollonBue never traded in Greece. She remained laid-up at Salamina, and was sold to Indian breakers in 1980. She arrived in Darukhana, India in 1980 for scrapping by Ankom Solid Steel Traders, and had been demolished by 1981.