Amongst Digital Dry Dock’s latest projects have been a charitable job for the MV Balmoral Trust. With the help of Sunbelt Rentals, who kindly loaned us two Leica RTC360 laser scanners and software licences, we were able to provide the Trust with up-to-date and highly accurate point cloud data and 360 panoramic images to help assist with the management of the vessel moving forward.
VIEW THE DATASET HERE
The MV Balmoral is celebrated as one of the last surviving examples of a traditional British coastal excursion vessel. Its history reflects the changes in British leisure travel over the decades and the challenges of preserving maritime heritage. It was fitting that she should be dry docked in the historically significant Albion Dock in Bristol.
The MV Balmoral Trust is actively working to preserve and restore the vessel so it can be operational again in the near future.
History of MV Balmoral
The MV Balmoral is a historic excursion ship with over seven decades of maritime service.
Construction and early years (1949-1959)
Built in 1949 by the shipbuilding company John I. Thornycroft & Company, her original purpose was as a passenger ferry between Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
Bristol Channel Service (1959-1980s)
After ten years of operation, the ship was purchased by P&A Campbell. The MV Balmoral became a popular vessel for day trips from Bristol to coastal resorts in South Wales and the West of England. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s she was well-known to holidaymakers looking for short cruises.
Withdrawal and rescue (1980s-1990s)
With the decline of passenger numbers on ferry excursions, the ship was withdrawn from service in 1980 and used temporarily as a floating restaurant. In the late 1980s, the MV Balmoral was saved from potential scrappage by the charity Waverley Steam Navigation Co., who saw value in preserving the vessel as a heritage excursion ship.
Return to service (1990s-2000s)
Following significant restoration work, MV Balmoral resumed a schedule of coastal excursions around the UK in the mid-1990s. However, mounting financial and operational challenges have led to several temporary withdrawals from service.
Current status
Since 2017 MV Balmoral has been moored alongside at Bristol Harbourside near the SS Great Britain. She has a growing roster of educational activities onboard, becoming a floating classroom and interactive environment for schools in the region. In recent years the future of MV Balmoral has become uncertain, and the MV Balmoral Trust is doing great work to preserve the ship, alongside public support and Heritage Lottery funding grants.
Why donate 3D digital scans to an out-of-service vessel?
After some years out of action, we hope to assist the MV Balmoral Trust to get the ship back in commercial sea-going classification in line with MCA (Maritime Coastguard Agency) regulations.
Over four hours Digital Dry Dock was able to provide full survey data, including 131 scans and 1.1 billion data points.
This data can be used to update all ships plans, including the General Arrangement Plan and the Fire and Safety Plan, so that the vessel can become operational. Scans can also be used to model the hull and used to predict her stability to get a new stability book.
Get involved
If you’d like to visit the MV Balmoral or contribute to the restoration and preservation of this historic vessel, there are regular volunteering days and opportunities to donate.
If you’re interested in our 3D digital imaging services, please get in touch or visit our website to learn more.
