The United Kingdom is marking a historic achievement as the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer celebrates the 80th anniversary of her launch. The Waverley, a steamer that was launched in Scotland in 1946 and which continues to be an iconic symbol of UK shipbuilding, is this week celebrating a major milestone as the last steamer that is still in operation.

The Waverley boasts a rich history, having been named and launched at the Pointhouse Yard of A.&J. Inglis in Glasgow on October 2, 1946. The steamer entered service the following year in June, beginning what would become a remarkable career that would see her become one of the most recognizable historic vessels in the world.

As the last paddle steamer to be built in Scotland, construction of the historic ship began in 1945, but due to post-World War II material shortages, she was not launched until 1946. Her boilers were finally installed in 1947, enabling her to enter service that summer. The Waverley went on to operate until the early 1970s as a commercial ferry in western Scotland and then briefly was in service, offering a combination of excursion cruises along with her ferry service.

Waverley measures 240 feet (73 meters) and has a displacement of 1,524,600 lbs. (691 meter tons). She has a historic  2100 horsepower diagonal triple expansion steam engine turning two 216-foot diameter paddle wheels, and each paddle float is 36 feet deep. Originally fitted with a double-ended Scotch boiler, it was replaced in 1981 with a Babcock Steambloc boiler. She was originally certified for 1,350 passengers but today carries a maximum of 860 people.

 

 

In 1974, she was gifted for £1 to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, and she spent the next decade operating cruises. The steamer was rebuilt in the early 2000s, restoring her to her 1940s style and once again returning her to service as an excursion steamer. In May 2019, her career was again threatened by a boiler failure but was saved by a public appeal that raised over $3 million to replace her forty-year-old boilers. The refit project saw new boilers and electrical systems installed, along with other areas of the vessel being refurbished. She entered drydock in the spring of 2020, and after delays, including due to COVID-19 restrictions, she completed sea trials in mid-August. 

This week, the Waverley is celebrating her remarkable achievement of being the world’s last paddle steamer in service. Part of the celebrations saw the steamer make a spectacular passage through London’s Tower Bridge as part of a special anniversary sailing on the River Thames.

 

 

“Waverley reaching her 80th anniversary is a remarkable achievement, and one that everyone connected with the ship can be incredibly proud of,” said Paul Semple, General Manager of Waverley Excursions. “She was built to serve the Clyde coast and, 80 years later, she continues to give tens of thousands of people the opportunity to experience the joy of travelling by steam.”

He added that from her early beginnings to her survival as a working paddle steamer, Waverley has become much more than a ship and is today a living piece of maritime history. She is a part of the UK’s national heritage.

As part of the 80th anniversary celebrations, a new book titled “Waverley 80 Years of Pleasure,” has been compiled, documenting the steamer’s extraordinary eight-decade story. The Waverley is sailing on the River Thames until October 11, before making a return to Glasgow and the Clyde in mid-October. She will make two final sailings, bringing her 80th anniversary season to a close on her home waters, before her winter layup. 

 

Stay on Top of the Daily Maritime News

The maritime news

that matters most