MS ''Oldenburg'' is a British passenger ferry serving the island of
Lundy in the
Bristol Channel.
The ''Oldenburg'' was named after the former
grand duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, and launched on 29 March 1958 in
Bremen. On 6 August she was delivered to
Deutsche Bundesbahn Schiffsdienst Wangerooge, and used for a ferry service between the mainland and the
Frisian island of
Wangerooge.
She was first chartered in winter of 1975 by Reederei Warrings for
duty-free shopping cruises in
East Frisia. In 1982 she was sold to Harle-Reederei Warrings in Carolinensiel,
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a States of Germany, German state (') in Northern Germany, northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ' of the Germany, Federal Re ...
, Germany.
In November 1985 she was sold to The Lundy Co. Ltd. to replace
Lundy's transport boat, the ''Polar Bear''. After a refurbishment at
Appledore Shipbuilders including fitting a new crane and bringing the ship up to modern British shipping standards, she began her journeys for passengers and supplies to the island of Lundy in May 1986, under the management of the owner's parent,
Landmark Trust.
In 1999, the Lundy Co. Ltd received a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant which was used to upgrade the ship with two new 6-cylinder Cummins KT19-M425 diesel engines, each capable of producing 317 kW (425HP) at 1800RPM, increasing her top speed from 11.5 to 12.5 knots. The grant was also used to construct a new aft canopy and undertake a refurbishment programme, bringing the total passenger capacity count to 267.
Every year, the MS ''Oldenburg'' enters Sharpness docks for her annual refit. During these refits, essential maintenance is carried out in dry dock which are not possible during the sailing season. During the late 2019 refit, MS ''Oldenburg'' was fitted with a new rudder stock and foredeck crane, replacing the crane installed at the beginning of her Lundy tenure in 1986.
Gallery
File:Lundy.ferry.arp.750pix.jpg, ''Oldenburg'' in Bideford Harbour
File:Bild 062.jpg, ''Oldenburg'' at Lundy Island
File:MS Oldenburg in Bidefort (039).jpg, ''Oldenburg'' moored at Ilfracombe
File:Bild 057.jpg, ''Oldenburg'' lifebelt
References
External links
''Oldenburg'' on Lundy Island
Pictures on Flickr
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oldenburg
Ferries of England
1958 ships
Ferries of South West England
Water transport in Devon
Lundy
Ferries of Germany
Ships built in Bremen (state)