MV Royal Daffodil
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MV Royal Daffodil Is currently the flagship vessel of the three Mersey Ferries.
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[edit] Overchurch
The MV Royal Daffodil was formerly MV Overchurch. She was built for Birkenhead Corp Ferries in 1962 at Cammel Laird.
The ferry was the first of all the Mersey Ferries to be of all-welded construction and she is currently the last Mersey Ferry to be built. The Overchurch was a popular ferry with its Captains and Mates as its navigation bridge spanned the whole ship, rather than having a a wheelhouse, central control centre and side cabs such as Mountwood and Woodchurch used.
The Overchurch contained identical navigation equipment and engines to Mountwood and Woodchuch, however the ship was heavier that its two near sisters and was therefore a knot or two slower. The original plan was to have a third ferry built to the designs of Mountwood and Woodchurch, however, Birkenhead corporation decided to design a completely new vessel.
Overchurch was fitted with a small deck area just behind the bridge and around the rakish funnel. The funnel was joined to the bridge at the front and was quite high, giving the ferry a top heavy look. There were also sheltering bulkheads beneath the bridge wings. The reason for these is that Overchurch could be fitted with awnings for rough weather or heavy rain. Aboard the bridge in 1962 when she was built, she was somewhat more advanced than the two sisters. She had a completely enclosed navigation bridge and advanced radio system, she also had 3 window-wipers, a loudaphone system and an automatic whistle control.
[edit] Engines
The two medium speed Crossley diesel engines were controlled via three Chadburns Synchrostep telegraph pairs, one on each wing and one central, the same as Mountwood and Woodchurch. Unlike most other telegraphs which had simple commands of slow, half, full etc, she had over 20 speed settings ahead and astern e.g. half 1,2,3,4,5 full 1,2,3,4,5. Overchurch was almost always operational from 1962 up until the early 1990's as she was not withdrawn for a major overhaul as Mountwood and Woodchurch were. The Overchurch is the most common ferry on photographs of these periods.
[edit] Popularity
The Overchurch was a popular ferry with passengers and was described as "the warm one" by many familiar with her. Why she was warmer is unknown. Overchurch was operational throughout the late 1960's where cost cutting enforcements meant that her sisters Mountwood, Woodchurch and former Wallasey boats Leasowe and Egremont were docked in East Float for some considerable time. Overchurch and the larger Royal Daffodil and Royal Iris operated the service.
[edit] Standby vessel
Overchurch was chosen to operate a new service to Otterspool during the Mersey Flower Festival, when all the ferries were given a new livery of red white and blue, replacing the black and green livery given in the mind 70s. She operated alone throughout the Mountwood and Woodchurch refurbishment, her last full season was 1989, in 1991 she was used until the two sisters returned in time for the QE2's first visit to Liverpool. She was then placed as a standby vessel, ready in case one of the two sisters broke down. This had a somewhat detrimental effect on the ferry. Mountwood and Woodchurch were reliable boats and worked on an interchanging rota with around two weeks of operational service and then two weeks of repairs and maintanence. This meant that the Overchurch was rarely used. It is unknown why Mersey Ferries did not use Overchurch much, as she was more than suitable for ferry service, but for lengthy periods the ferry lay silent in the East Float.
Some were sad that a boat once used so much was given a laid-up state. During 1997 Overchurch was used several times. The age of the ship and lack of serice was apparent: the decking was green, the engines billowed thick black smoke and streams of soot ran down the funnel. In a conversation one of the ferries engineers commented 'She's burning oil, its nackered'. Why the Overchurch's engines were in such a poor state is likely to be due to lack of operation and also heavy usage during the 1980s, but without a doubt the ferry's age was showing.
[edit] Refurbishment
However soon after Overchurch made its way up the Manchester Ship Canal. Here her funnel and bridge were removed and placed in storage. the rest of her superstructure was modernised and refurbished. New engines were fitted and the resulting transformation was spectacular. Overchurch looked fantastic. Her original Bridge and funnel were retained, albeit with some minor additions. The bridge still has its binnacle and brass helm.
[edit] Royal Daffodil
She was re-named Royal Daffodil and was back in service by 1999, however if you look closely at the bows and stern, the name "Overchurch" can still be seen beneath the black paint. The Royal Daffodil changed considerably from her guise as Overchurch. The lower main and forward saloons were gutted and extensively re-built, spanning to whole width of the ship. Catering and bar facilities were installed plus fabric seating, carpets and tables and chairs. The upper saloon was also enclosed and extended, with a dance floor fitted and another bar area. The bridge deck was also extended to the full width of the ship. Immediately behind the bridge a small crew room was installed. Below decks there is another large dance floor in the former smoke room and there is crew accommodation at the stern of the vessel. The engine room was completely gutted during the refit, and major re-structuring work took place within it. The new engines were fitted further back to allow greater space around them for additional machinery. The engine room also contains a control centre which includes a set of telegraphs a large switch board and radar screen. The main deck stairwell was also covered over with a shelter-like structure. Royal Daffodil is often used for functions and party or special cruises. When she was refitted, her original helm and binnacle were re-installed onto her bridge. Her rebuild differed from Mountwood and Woodchurch as she was re-built for cruising, whereas Mountwood and Woodchurch have been re-built as standard multi-purpose ferries.
