Norwest Hovercraft



This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of Norwest Hovercraft. An alphabetical list of ships shown on this page is shown below. The Table beneath gives links to complete history pages on selected individual ships. Below the table is a Fleet List in chronological order.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Ltd (IOMSP) ceased sailings from Fleetwood in 1961. Services to Belfast had ceased before the war, when the LMS concentrated services on Heysham. Fleetwood railway station and pier were demolished, and part was redeveloped by British Transport Docks Board with a new concrete pier and passenger terminal. These were first used in 1969 by Norwest Hovercraft. Their original intention was to use the sidewall hovercraft Denny Enterprise for services to Douglas and Barrow, although she was unsuited for such open sea work, and was later used for shorter excursions. In her place, the small Norwegian ferry Stella Marina was chartered and ran with some success through the summer of 1969. Her accommodation was attractive and modern compared to the traditional IOMSP vessels. For 1970, Stella Marina was not available, having been sold by her original owners. Norwest purchased the elderly and slow David MacBrayne motorship Lochiel which was noticeably inferior to the IOMSP competition running from nearby Heysham. Whilst was being prepared, the Queen of the Isles of the Isles of Scilly SS Co was chartered. Lochiel entered service as the Norwest Laird, but proved to be too slow and unreliable, and Norwest Hovercraft went into liquidation. In 1971, the IOMSP re-introduced services from Fleetwood.


Vessels on This Page:-
Stella Marina
Norwest Laird
Hovercraft

Associated Pages:-
Fleetwood - Overview of ferries from Fleetwood
Fleetwood-Knott End Ferries History
IOMSPCo - Isle of Man Steam Packet Company
North West Excursion Steamers - Steamers of North West England and North Wales
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Stella Marina

Stella Marina in 1965 by Rolandwerft GmbH, Bremen, Germany. She ran for Skagenpilen A/S on the route Frederikstad-Skagen-Kungshamn. Between April and October 1969, Stella Marina was chartered to Norwest Hovercraft who re-introduced services between Fleetwood and Douglas, Isle of Man, for the first time in many years. This was a passenger-only service and did not make use of the small car deck on Stella Marina. I believe Norwest hoped to repeat the charter in 1970, but Stella Marina was sold to Grundstads Rederi A/S, Oslo, as Holiday Princess for a service between Sandefjord and Strömstad. In 1972 she was sold again to Greek owners as Marianna, becoming Chrysanthemun in 1975 and Expresso Brindisi in 1979. After two years laid up with machinery problems, she was sold to the Government of the Republic of Senegal as Casamance Express, but I have no details of subsequent use or fate.


Photographic postcard of Stella Marina in Norwegian service with Skagenpilen.
Photo: © A.Duncan.



Simplon Postcards issue of Stella Marina.
She is on her maiden voyage from Fleetwood to Douglas in 1969, hence the crowds on the beach.
As far as I am aware, this is the only commercial postcard issued of the service.
Photo: © Terry Boyle.



Photograph of Stella Marina, on her maiden voyage from Fleetwood to Douglas in 1969.
Photo: © Terry Boyle.



Photograph of Stella Marina, on her maiden voyage from Fleetwood to Douglas in 1969.
Photo: © Terry Boyle.



Photograph of Stella Marina, on her maiden voyage from Fleetwood to Douglas in 1969.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.



Photograph of Stella Marina, on her maiden voyage from Fleetwood to Douglas in 1969.
Photo: © Ian Boyle.



Photographic postcard of Stella Marina at Fleetwood in 1969.
Photo: © Peter Brady - Issued by Peter Horsley



Photographic postcard of Stella Marina at Fleetwood in 1969.
Photo: © Peter Brady



Photographic postcard of Stella Marina at Fleetwood in 1969.
Note deterioration in paintwork compared to card above.
Photo: © Peter Horsley.



Photographic postcard of Stella Marina leaving Fleetwood in 1969.



Photograph of Stella Marina at the then new pier at Fleetwood.
Following the demolition of the Railway Pier, services from Fleetwood were not possible until the completion of this pier.
Photo: Alistair Deayton.



Photograph of Stella Marina at the then new pier at Fleetwood.
Photo: Alistair Deayton.



Photograph of Stella Marina at Douglas, IOM.
Photo: Alistair Deayton.



Photograph of Stella Marina at Douglas, IOM.
Photo: Alistair Deayton.



Photograph of Stella Marina at Douglas, IOM.
Photo: Alistair Deayton.



Photograph of Stella Marina at Douglas, IOM.
Photo: Alistair Deayton.



Photograph on board Stella Marina.
Photo: Alistair Deayton.



Photograph on board Stella Marina.
Photo: Alistair Deayton.







Norwest Laird

Photographic postcard of Norwest Laird.



Photograph of Norwest Laird at Douglas, IOM.
Photo: Alistair Deayton.



Photograph of Norwest Laird at Douglas, IOM.
Photo: Alistair Deayton.



Photograph of Norwest Laird at Douglas, IOM.
Photo: Alistair Deayton.



Photograph of Norwest Laird at Douglas, IOM.
Photo: Alistair Deayton.



Photograph of Norwest Laird (at Glasson Dock?).







Hovercraft

Photographic postcard of Denny sidewall hovercraft D2-002.
Photo: © Peter Brady




Postcard of Denny sidewall hovercraft D2-003.
Photo: © Peter Brady



Photographic postcard of Denny sidewall hovercraft D2-003.
Photo: © Peter Brady
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Name	Other names	Built
Norwest Laird	Locheil	1939