Royal Scotsman
Ship Number
964
Vessel Type
Passenger / Cargo Ferry
Built
Belfast
Slip Number
5
Launch Date
March 11, 1936
Launched By
Mrs Berkeley
Delivered
May 29, 1936
Owner
Burns & Laird Lines Ltd
Weight
3244 grt
BP Length
320 feet
Breadth
47-6 feet
No. of Screws
Twin
Speed (approx)
17 knots
Propulsion
Single Acting (S.A.) Diesel
Official No.
164080
Registered
Glasgow
Fate
Scrapped
Royal Scotsman

In 1936, two new Coast Lines standard ships, Royal Scotsman and Royal Ulsterman, were built for the Burns & Laird Glasgow-Belfast service. Unlike their predecessors, they had only one funnel, which gave them a smart modern appearance. Strangely, they were not designed to be able to replace the initial Belfast SS trio on the Liverpool service, since they would not fit the Liverpool locks. They were rather large for their designed service in winter, and one would think ideally suited to cover the overhauls of the Liverpool ships. Both ships survived WW2, and ran on their intended route until the 1960s.
 
Royal Scotsman was sold to Ron Hubbard of Scientology fame, who renamed her Apollo.
 
She was scrapped in Texas in 1984.