Fermain V

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Dunkirk Little Ship
Dunkirk Little Ship
Fermain V

Dunkirk Little Ship
1926
40ft
Ford diesel
12ft6ins
Originally Silver Queen, and since re-named Fermain V, this passenger carrying vessel was built by Horn Brothers in Southampton in 1926 as a harbour launch. With a 2ft draught she was certainly never designed to cross the channel.

At the time of Dunkirk, she was towed across, because she was ideal for ferrying soldiers from La Panne beach to the larger destroyers and transports which brought them back to England. Boats of her kind were considered expendable once their task had been fulfilled and no-one would have expected her to come back unscathed. In fact, she was reported to have sunk, but was later re-floated.

She then found her way via Sheerness, where she was briefly owned by a Commander Carter, to Guernsey in the Channel Islands. She was then bought by C.B. Ferguson who renamed her Fermain V as she was used on the regular daily run from St Peter Port to Fermain Bay which is a popular holiday beach. This service was continued by his son Percy until 1996 when he retired and she was laid up ashore.

After three years Fermain V was deteriorating badly and after discussions with the Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust it was agreed that she should be transferred to them. Percy Ferguson very generously offered to pay for the repairs necessary to make her seaworthy.

Fermain V was based at Tilbury for two years, where she was used to train Sea Cadets in boat-handling skills.

Having taken part in the 2000 Commemorative Return to Dunkirk she is now based on the River Thames at Shepperton.

In 2001 she made the 460-mile return journey to The International Festival of the Sea at Portsmouth.

In 2002 a new rudder was built by the Restoration Trust. Constructed of 8mm steel sheet, clad with Greenheart and weighs well over 1cwt the rudder is built to last.

She has been a regular attendee at the Thames Traditional Boat Rally and 2008 was no exception. Her latest claim to regal fame was being skippered by Sir Robin Knox Johnson with H.R.H. Prince Michael of Kent as a passenger in Eton in May 2008.

The boat once had a passenger carrying certificate of 47 people. She would make an excellent open ferry (a canopy could also easily be fitted) for lake, river or estuary, provided the necessary MCA licence was approved. Alternatively for a hotel or for private use she will carry 12 guests extremely comfortably. The Boat Safety certificate is valid until June 09, current EA licence.

There are cushions and a winter cover.

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