MV Royal Iris

Added 1605199341 by Photographer Gino Cinganelli.

The MV Royal Iris was Launched in 1950 as a Mersey Ferry. It is 159ft Long. It was designed to carry 2296 passengers across the river.

In 1951 The Iris was hit by HMS Duke of York and was put out of action for a wile .

In the 1960's many acts associated with Merseybeat scene performed on this ferry including The Beatles and Gerry@the pacemakers.

It became know as the fish and chip saloon

in 1971-72 the Iris went in for a refit and then was almost exclusively used as a cruise vessel. the £68,000 refit included a steak Bar and dining area, (replacing the fish and chip saloon)

In 1977 wile docked for a service a fire broke out in the engine room which caused extensive damage.

On 21st June 1977 The Royal Iris carried Queen Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh on the Silver Jubilee.

The ship was used by Granada TV during the summer of 1980 as the setting for the ITV Children's TV show The Mersey Pirate.

in 1984 The Iris was sent on a 1500 mile publicity drive, on its return it was docked at Tower Bridge with HMS Belfast.

In 2002 The vessel was towed to Woolwich where it was set to have a refit as a floating nightclub.

in February 2010, still docked at Woolwich police were called as the vessel was taking on water and up to the passenger deck was underwater. There was evidence found that squatters had been living on board.

The Iris in 2014 was settled on the mud bank with a hole in her lower side. The cost of moving her back to Merseyside would run into six figures, according to a local MP, this is unlikely to go ahead.

The ship now is still moored at Woolwich and is increasingly derelict