Fairmile Bs abroad

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   Hello Roger,
The "Challenger" was hull number AV 2769. She was acquired by the Water Transport Division of the Army in Fremantle, named " Maureen",  and was used to transport army personnel to the Kingston Barracks on Rottnest Island from their base in the Swan River. She was in very original livery including the Hall Scott's. The Islander (ex ML 826) ran as a passenger ferry to Rottnest (also with Hall Scott's) was often moored alongside her at Rottnest in the 1950's. As the son of one of the Islander's owners, we used to see her overtake us at about 18 Knots while we ran at 12. She was later sold to the Fremantle Harbour Trust, later the Fremantle Port Authority, who converted her to a pleasure vessel, put in diesels, and renamed her Challenger.

Edited by Pioneer - 03 October 2014 at 6:09pm

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Barrack Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 21 September 2014 Location: Dunsborough Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote Barrack Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 September 2014 at 9:20am
	Hello Roger, The "Challenger" was hull number AV 2769. She was acquired by the Water Transport Division of the Army in Fremantle, named " Maureen", and was used to transport army personnel to the Kingston Barracks on Rottnest Island from their base in the Swan River. She was in very original livery including the Hall Scott's. The Islander (ex ML 826) ran as a passenger ferry to Rottnest (also with Hall Scott's) was often moored alongside her at Rottnest in the 1950's. As the son of one of the Islander's owners, we used to see her overtake us at about 18 Knots while we ran at 12. She was later sold to the Fremantle Harbour Trust, later the Fremantle Port Authority, who converted her to a pleasure vessel, put in diesels, and renamed her Challenger. Edited by Pioneer - 03 October 2014 at 6:09pm

johnk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 March 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1355	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 September 2014 at 2:30pm
	Hi there, Just seen this thread and Rottnest Island mentioned, I went there 30 plus years ago! on a conventional ferry ship, as I dimply recall now, sure was not a wooden Fairmile by then....many thanks, Johnk

tony Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 16 January 2007 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 15	Post Options Post Reply Quote tony Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 14 April 2016 at 2:14am
	Hi Roger, The Challenger was recently scrapped, she had a keel problem that was not really fixable. Challenger was built for the Army. Her number was AV 2769 and operated in Fremantle for many years. She was built by Halvorsen's. hope this helps. Tony
	tony

johnk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 March 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1355	Post Options Post Reply Quote johnk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 April 2016 at 6:24pm
	Hi there, Ah, bit sad but she had a good run, my last was dimly, sure perhaps was typo or.. auto correct?.... had a colleague at the Paddle Steamer Medway Queen enquire after RML 497, happy to tell him now at Portsmouth and RML 526, advised last heard still at Rye, albeit last news was HOPING to get to Portsmouth... Johnk