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- The estimated cost of the new Balmoral in 1947
was £154,750. Of this, £79,480 was for the
hull, machinery £37,100, overheads £27,970
and the builders profit £10,200.
- After the launch of Balmoral by Mrs Pinnock,
over 200 guests gathered at the Polygon Hotel in Southampton
to see her presented with a platinum wrist watch, set
with diamonds. Toasts were proposed to 'The Ship and her
Sponsor', The Builders' and 'The Company'.
- The corporate logo of Red Funnel Ferries today still
depicts Balmoral's flat-topped funnel as its central
image.
- Over
£300,000 was required to refit and renovate the
Balmoral to service in 1985.
- At the 1953
Coronation Fleet Review at Spithead, Balmoral was
accompanied by large number of famous pleasure steamers
including; Royal Daffodil, Royal Sovereign,
Cardiff Queen, Bristol Queen, Medway
Queen, Glen Gower, Consul, Embassy,
Monarch and Emperor of India.
- Balmoral
originally had a car deck to convey around 12 cars to
the Isle of Wight. When free of cars this became a much-sought
after sun deck for deckchairs. The car deck now forms
the space occupied by the Dining Saloon.
- When Balmoral
acted as a tender to the Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1995,
both vessels required bunkering of gas oil. Unfortunately,
the supplier got the invoices mixed up and the QE2
got a bill for £2,000 whilst the Balmoral
received one for £120,000!
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