The MV Cardiff Castle is a twin screw

Propeller

A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's...

 passenger vessel, operating on the River Dart

River Dart

The River Dart is a river in Devon, England which rises high on Dartmoor, and releases to the sea at Dartmouth. Its valley and surrounding area is a place of great natural beauty.-Watercourse:...

 in South Devon

South Devon

South Devon is the southern part of the county of Devon, England.South Devon may also refer to*South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty*South Devon *South Devon College*South Devon cattle, a breed of cattle...

, UK

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

, mainly on the cruise

Cruising (maritime)

Cruising by boat is a lifestyle that involves living for extended time on a boat while traveling from place to place for pleasure. Cruising generally refers to trips of a few days or more, and can extend to round-the-world voyages.- History :...

 / ferry

Ferry

A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...

 route between Dartmouth

Dartmouth, Devon

Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...

 and Totnes

Totnes

Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...

, but also on circular cruises from Dartmouth, for Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd.

History

MV Cardiff Castle was built in 1964 for the River Dart Steamboat Co Ltd

River Dart Steamboat Co Ltd

The River Dart Steamboat Co Ltd and its predecessors: the Dartmouth Steam Packet Company and the Dartmouth and Torbay Steam Packet Company were the major ferry and excursion boat operators on the River Dart in South Devon for 120 years, until its demise in 1976...

 (RDSC) by Bolson's of Poole

Poole

Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...

. She was a near sister of Conway Castle and was built to replace Totnes Castle. She was originally fitted with Totnes Castles wheelhouse on a flying bridge structure above her main (open) passenger deck. She also had a lounge on the lower deck. She operated passenger services on the Dart until 1977; by this time she was the last passenger vessel owned by RDSC. In 1977 she was sold to Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co Ltd

Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co Ltd

The Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Company was a ferry operator on the River Tamar in South Devon. It was started in 1894, and initially operated a fery route from Millbrook in Cornwall to Plymouth. It expanded, and eventually became the largest river boat operator in the Plymouth area, until its...

, which at that time was the largest operator of cruises from Plymouth

Plymouth

Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...

. They rebuilt her to her current condition, with a large deckhouse on the main deck, and open deck seating above, behind a new wheelhouse. The bar is still located on the lower deck. In 1980 the Millbrook Company, and all of its vessels were bought by Dart Free Houses Ltd, parent company of Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd. In 1985 the Millbrook operation was wound up and there were various transfers of vessels between the fleets of different south Devon companies. Cardiff Castle returned to the Dart, and can now be seen operating regularly on her original route from Dartmouth to Totnes.