MV Royal Daffodil

MV Royal Daffodil on the River Mersey in May 2012
History
Name
  • 1962-1999: Overchurch
  • 1999 onwards: Royal Daffodil
Owner
  • 1962-1968: Birkenhead Corporation
  • 1968-2019: Merseytravel
  • 2019 onwards- Liverpool City Sights Ltd
Operator
  • 1962-1968: Birkenhead Corporation
  • 1968-1990: Merseytravel
  • 1990-2013: Mersey Ferries
  • 2019-Liverpool City Sights Ltd
Port of registry1962 onwards: Liverpool,  United Kingdom
BuilderCammell Laird, United Kingdom
Laid downApril 1961
LaunchedNovember 1961
ChristenedNovember 1961
CompletedMarch 1962
Maiden voyageApril 1962
Identification
StatusIn Refurbishment
General characteristics
Class and typeClass IV with seasonal class III
Tonnage751 GT
Length44m
Beam12m
Draught3.5m
Decks4 - bridge deck, promenade deck, main deck, lower deck
Installed power2 × Cummins-Wärtsilä 170 diesel engines
Speed12–15 knots (22–28 km/h; 14–17 mph)
Capacity860 on ferry duties, 370 on cruises
CrewCaptain, mate, engineer, seapersons × 2, catering assistant

MV Royal Daffodil is a former ferry based on the River Mersey, England. From launch until a major refit in 1998 /1999, she was named MV Overchurch, she began service for Birkenhead Corporation Ferries in 1962 and was in regular service on the river until her withdrawal in December 2012. Despite her extensive re-build in 1999, the ship still retains a similar profile to that of her original design. After her withdrawal, the vessel remained idle since her dry docking and survey in January 2013. In April 2019 a new home was confirmed for the ship in the form of a new floating leisure attraction, in Liverpool's Canning Dock.