When I selected this image of the Hythe to Southampton passenger ferry Hotspur IV, my intention was to include it with my other image of this vessel in the Ferries Sub Gallery. However it became evident from some of the Internet Web sites that I visited to obtain information about her history, that she is frequently described as an historic Ship. That is why I have chosen to include this image in the Historic Ships Sub Gallery. The 54 Gross Ton Hotspur IV was built in the United Kingdom in 1946 at the Rowhedge Iron Works in Colchester and was capable of transporting 300 passengers. After a long career she was withdrawn from service in 2014 but unfortunately I have no information about her eventual fate. This image of her was captured in September 2005 and shows her berthed at Hythe Pier on Southampton Water Southampton awaiting her next group of passengers. My camera position at the time the image was captured was on the Hythe Pier itself.