The MV Dartmouth Princess is a single 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...

. She is presently mainly used on the Dartmouth Passenger Ferry

Dartmouth Passenger Ferry

The Dartmouth Passenger Ferry, also known as the Dartmouth Steam Ferry, is a passenger ferry which crosses the River Dart in the English county of Devon. It is one of three ferries that cross the tidal river from Dartmouth to Kingswear, the others being the Higher Ferry and the Lower Ferry...

 service from 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...

 to Kingswear

Kingswear

Kingswear is a village and civil parish in the South Hams area of the English county of Devon. The village is located on the east bank of the tidal River Dart, close to the river's mouth and opposite the small town of Dartmouth...

, where she runs year-round as the main vessel.

Design

MV Dartmouth Princess is a steel twin-deck passenger vessel. The main deck is slightly lower than the gunwale, so she has a forward well deck, with a partially enclosed saloon aft with bar and toilets on the main deck. The aft part of the saloon has a removable fabric roof, and is open to the stern. There is a large open deck on the upper deck along with the wheelhouse

Wheelhouse

Wheelhouse or Wheel-house may refer to a number of topicsIn nautical context*The location of the steering wheel of a boat or ship**Bridge **Pilothouse...

, accessed by an external stairway forward.

History

Built as MV Devon Belle II for K J Bridge of 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...

, where she operated from West Hoe Steps. In 1994 she was sold to G.H. Riddalls and Sons

G.H. Riddalls and Sons

G.H. Riddalls and Sons was a passenger boat operator on the River Dart, in South Devon, UK. They operated on the route from Dartmouth to Totnes, on circular cruises from Dartmouth and also ran the ferry service from Dartmouth to Dittisham...

 of Dartmouth. She was used on their cruises from Dartmouth to 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...

, and on circular cruises from Dartmouth. Shortly after being bought by Riddalls, her superstructure was extended to the stern. In 2000 the Riddalls fleet was bought by Dart Pleasure Craft Ltd and she was transferred to their fleet, with her former red hull painted blue. She was placed on the Dartmouth-Kingswear ferry, which operates in conjunction with the steam trains of the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway

Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway

The Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway is a heritage railway on the former Kingswear branch line between Paignton and Kingswear in Torbay, Devon, England....

which is owned by the same company.