(Photo: Wikipedia/Dave Pape)

Veteran Isle of Wight ferry retires
Robb Caledon product of 1973 makes final run...

She has plied between the mainland and the Isle of Wight faithfully since her introduction in 1973, but now the CAEDMON has transported her last customers on the Lymington to Yarmouth service, berthing at Lymington around 10pm last night.

Her two sisters the CENWULF and the CENRED will continue Wightlink's service on this route until the introduction of the new Wight-class ferries. The services from Portsmouth to Isle of Wight will see the introduction of new catamarans later in the year.

The CAEDMON saw her first ten years of service on the Portsmouth - Fishbourne route until she was displaced by Saint Class vessels in 1983. From that year she continued on the Lymington service.

She was built by the Scottish shipbuilders Robb Caledon of Dundee in 1973 and was fitted with two 6 cylinder Blackstone Diesels. All three of the class were built at the Dundee shipyard.

As a matter of interest, when she was moved to the Lymington route it was another Robb Caledon vessel that ousted her, being the ST CATHERINE. She however, was built at their Leith yard.

It is not clear what will happen to CAEDMON, but rumours suggest she may already have a buyer.