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This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation
Blue Boats
Portsmouth Harbour Tours & Waterbus
This page is devoted to photographs of the Blue Boats of Portsmouth Harbour Tours, which operated a circular waterbus service around Portsmouth Harbour calling at Old Portsmouth, Portsmouth Harbour, Gosport Submarine Museum and latterly Gunwharf Quays, plus harbour trips from the beach near Clarence Pier, Southsea. Portsmouth Harbour Tours owned no vessels, which belonged in 2005 to J.Butcher and D&P Faithfull. Previous partners included M&G Pearce, Bon Hope Cruises and the
Gosport Ferry
. No trips operated in 2007. Harbour trips from the Hard restarted in 2008, but the circular trips were not restored.
Solent & Wight Line
maintained harbour trips from the Historic Dockyard and Gunwharf Quays throughout these problems using the larger
Solent Cat
.
Other small Portsmouth operators are also included on this page.
Sections on this Page:-
Blue Boats - Portsmouth Harbour Tours
J.Butcher & Sons
D&P Faithfull
Gosport Ferries
- Waterbuses only
M.G.Pearce
Other Operators
Ship Names on this Page:-
Alice James
- J.Butcher - built: 1986
Colin James
- J.Butcher - built: 1977
Darthula II
- M.G.Pearce - built: 1939
Devon Belle
- Spitbank Fort Cruises
Diana-S
- M.G.Pearce - built: 2001
Exonia
- D&P Faithfull - built: 1976
Faithfull Servant
- D&P Faithfull - built: 2004
Paul James
- J.Butcher - built: 1972
Solent Prince
- Gosport Ferries
Solent Princess
- Gosport Ferries
Southsea Belle
- M.G.Pearce - built: 1928
Associated Pages:-
Blue Funnel Cruises
Gosport Ferry Limited
Hovertravel
Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company
Solent Steam Packet Ltd
- SS Shieldhall
Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards - Home Page
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References:-
Trip Out Guides
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Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted
Portsmouth Harbour Tours
J.Butcher & Sons
In 1977, the fleet of J.Butcher consisted of
Colin James
(1977),
Colin Ray
(1964),
Gary
(1969) and
Paul James
(1972).
Gary
had left the fleet by 1983.
Alice James
(J.Butcher - built: 1986)
Alice James
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Alice James
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Alice James
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Alice James
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Alice James
passing Gunwharf Quays
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 17th, 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Alice James
passing Gunwharf Quays
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 17th, 2006
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Alice James
at Old Portsmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 17th, 2006
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Alice James
at Old Portsmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 17th, 2006
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Alice James
at Old Portsmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 17th, 2006
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Alice James
at Portsmaouth Harbour Station
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 17th, 2006
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Colin James
(J.Butcher - built: 1977)
Colin James
in 1997
Photo: © Terry Creswell, 15th August 1997
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Paul James
(J.Butcher - built: 1972)
Paul James
in 2004
Photo: © Terry Creswell, 24th May 2004
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Paul James
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Paul James
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
M.G.Pearce
M.G.Pearce was operating the
Southsea Belle
from Portsmouth Hard by 1981.
Southsea Belle
was previously the
Folkestone Belle
and had also run on the
Hayling Island Ferry
.
Darthula II
(M.G.Pearce - built: 1939)
Darthula II
was built in 1939 by Dickie at Tarbert (Loch Fyne) for Alexander Black of Taynuilt for use on Loch Etive between Achnacloich to Lochetivehead. He had previously used the Euglena on the run from 1924.
The Loch Etive Tour had run from Oban since 1877, initially using coach and horses to connect to Achnacloich from Ballachulish which had a steamer service from Oban. In later years the railway reached Oban with connections to Tyndrum and Ballachulish, so the coaches ran to these stations. Boats used on the service before WW1 were
Ben Starav
(1877-1879),
Glenetive
(1880-c.1886),
Osian
(1885-1913). The service ceased in 1913, the provision of the coach and horses links to Ballachulish and Tyndrum stations becoming uneconomic. Boat services resumed in 1922 when motor charabancs were available to replace the coach connections. The boat used was the
Jano
owned by Scott and Smith. In 1923 she was replaced by the
Loch Etive Queen
of Donald R.McKay of Taynuilt, which ran until WW2.
Rena
and
Euglena
joined her on Loch Etive services in 1924.
Darthula II
was used by the Admiralty in WW2, returning to Loch Etive service in 1946. She was sold to J.H.Lynn of Dalmally, who continued running her on the same route. From 1962 she was owned by Loch Etive Cruises (Edward T.F.Spence).
Darthula II
ran on the Thames from 1964. Ronald Ricketts advertised that
Darthula II
(65 grt, 120 passengers) would operate cruises from Erith between May and September in 1965. Departing at 9:00, destinations included Kew, Richmond, Tower Bridge, Southend etc. From 1964 she was owned by R.G.(Passenger Launches) Ltd of Bexleyheath.
Darthula II
subsequently operated for M.G.Pearce at Portsmouth, where the photos below were taken.
Darthula II
in service on Loch Etive
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Darthula II
arriving at Old Portsmouth from Gosport
Photo: © Ian Boyle
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Darthula II
arriving at Old Portsmouth from Gosport
Photo: © Ian Boyle
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Darthula II
and P&O's
Pride of Hampshire
Photo: © Ian Boyle
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Diana-S
(M.G.Pearce - built: 2001)
Diana-S
laid up at Portsmouth during the winter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 16th November 2002
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Diana-S
laid up at Portsmouth during the winter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 16th November 2002.
Southsea Belle
(M.G.Pearce - built: 1928)
Southsea Belle had previously worked as
the
Folkestone Belle
,
used by the Spraggs in the 1950s on the
Hayling ferry
.
Folkestone Belle
also worked for Portsmouth City Council when they took over services in 1961. She later ran from Portsmouth for M.G.Pearce as
Southsea Belle
.
Valentine postcard of the
Hayling ferry
Folkestone Belle
(later
Southsea Belle
).
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo Precision postcard of the
Hayling ferry
Folkestone Belle
(later
Southsea Belle
).
Click to open larger image in new window
Southsea Belle
on the Portsmouth water bus in 1997
Photo: © Terry Creswell, 15th August 1997
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Diana-S
and
Southsea Belle
(right) laid up at Portsmouth during the winter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 16th November 2002.
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Diana-S
and
Southsea Belle
(left) laid up at Portsmouth during the winter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 16th November 2002.
D&P Faithfull
Exonia
(D&P Faithfull - built 1976)
The modern fibreglass boat
Exonia (2)
joined
Orcombe
in 1976. In 1983, A.Stuart took over the Starcross ferry along with
Exonia (2)
and
Orcombe
. In 1987, B.B.J.Rackley took over the ferry, along with the
Orcombe
.
Exonia (2)
remained with A.Stuart. By 1999,
Exonia (2)
had passed to D&P Faithfull of Portsmouth, for use on Portsmouth Harbour Tours. In 2010
Exonia (2)
began operations with
Coniston Launch
as the
Campbell
.
Exonia
on the Portsmouth water bus in 1997
Photo: © Terry Creswell, 15th August 1997
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Exonia
off Gosport.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th June 2004.
Exonia
off Gosport.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th June 2004.
Exonia
crossing Portsmouth Harbour.
Both
Normandie
and
Pride of Bilbao
(far right) are in the background.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th June 2004.
Exonia
passing the steam tug
Challenger
, in Portsmouth for the D-Day 60th Anniversary.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th June 2004.
Exonia
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Exonia
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Exonia
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Exonia
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Exonia
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Faithfull Servant
(D&P Faithfull - built 2004)
Faithfull Servant
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Faithfull Servant
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Faithfull Servant
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Faithfull Servant
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Faithfull Servant
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Faithfull Servant
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Faithfull Servant
on waterbus duty during the Festival of the Sea.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 2nd July 2005
Faithfull Servant
at Gunwharf Quays
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 16th, 2006
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Faithfull Servant
at Gunwharf Quays
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 16th, 2006
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Faithfull Servant
passing Portsmouth Harbour Station
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 17th, 2006
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Faithfull Servant
passing Portsmouth Harbour Station
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 17th, 2006
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Faithfull Servant
passing Portsmouth Harbour Station
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 17th, 2006
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Faithfull Servant
passing Portsmouth Harbour Station
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 17th, 2006
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Faithfull Servant
at Gunwharf Quays
Photo: © Ian Boyle, July 17th, 2006
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Faithfull Servant
passing Gosport
Photo: © Ian Boyle, September 7th, 2006
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Faithfull Servant
passing Gosport
Photo: © Ian Boyle, September 7th, 2006
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Faithfull Servant
passing Gosport
Photo: © Ian Boyle, September 7th, 2006
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Faithfull Servant
passing Gosport
Photo: © Ian Boyle, September 7th, 2006
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Faithfull Servant
passing Gosport
Photo: © Ian Boyle, September 7th, 2006
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Gosport Ferries
Solent Prince
Solent Princess
(Gosport Ferries)
Successors to the original watermen continued to offers trips around the harbour, from the Portsea pontoon and from the beach near Clarence Pier in Southsea. In the mid-1980s they formed Portsmouth Harbour Tours, and subsequently began operating a circular waterbus service around the attractions of Portsmouth Harbour. The boats remained owned by the individuals, but proceeds were shared between them proportionate to the number of boats deployed. All boats received a pale blue livery - they are often referred to as the "Blue Boats".The Portsmouth Harbour Ferry Company (PHFC) initially joined this consortium, using two Blue Boats of their own, the