Continuing the story of the MS Oldenburg’s arrival in Bideford. The year is 1985; the ship has just arrived at Poole from Wilhelmshaven, in Germany. She had been having problems with her fuel filters, so on arrival, the crew cleaned out the fuel tanks. One foot of sludge was found, and it was evil smelling, but a job well done.

Within a day of arrival, the ship was swarmed by menacing looking customs officials brandishing demolition tools. Suspecting us of bringing illegal drugs into the country, they set about taking the ship apart. Fortunately, they were persuaded not to rip down the original paneling and no serious damage was caused. Finding nothing, after two days, they left. Ironically, our youngest crew member had hidden a bottle of spirits under a seat and this was never found. It was used to celebrate our newfound freedom, and we prepared to sail for Bideford. However, luck was not on our side, and we were visited by a local Department of Transport surveyor who pronounced the ship unseaworthy – in direct contradiction of the clearance it had received in Germany.

We had to comply with some extremely petty requirements and notices and, after several days, we were allowed to leave, but the captain was missing. He eventually turned up by taxi and announced that he was expecting delivery of a three-piece suite. Again, we waited and eventually a van arrived with the furniture. On departure, he ordered all lines to be thrown off. It was a strange way to depart but we obliged. He went full astern (backwards!) up through Poole Harbour and as the ship approached Poole Bridge, he went full ahead. After ramming a navigation buoy in the channel, the Master was pronounced drunk and the first Mate took over. 

It was 3 December and we were sailing for Lundy. The remaining trip was uneventful and the ship performed exceptionally well, losing little speed in the extremely heavy weather encountered after Lands End. On the morning of 6 December, she anchored at Lundy for the first time. A party was organised by island residents and they swarmed aboard their new ship, pronouncing her to be fine.

The next day she arrived in Bideford, her new home port. The band played and many dignitaries came aboard to inspect the first ship to carry a Bideford registration for many years: Lundy’s first own passenger ship.