SY Tern, currently operating as MY Tern, is a historic passenger vessel on Windermere, England, and is recognized as the oldest vessel still active on the lake. Launched on 27 June 1891, she was built for the Furness Railway by Forrest & Son of Wivenhoe, Essex. Constructed in sections and transported by rail to Windermere, she measured 145 feet (44 meters) in length, with a beam of 18 feet (5.5 meters) and a depth of 9 feet (2.7 meters). Her gross tonnage was 120, and her original passenger capacity was up to 600. The vessel featured a distinctive canoe-shaped bow, two masts, and an open navigating platform amidships, with a single funnel. Initially powered by two horizontal two Westray Copeland crank compression expansion steam engines delivering approximately 200 bhp, Tern was equipped with twin screw propellers. She had a traditional open design with a forward navigating platform and was fitted with a tall, straight funnel. Her design included a notable canoe-shaped bow, characteristic of her era. Throughout her long service life, Tern remained exclusively on Windermere. She survived a severe storm in 1893 that sank her at moorings but was refloated the same night. She was part of the Furness Railway fleet until 1923, when her owners became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. During World War II, she was requisitioned as a sea cadet training ship and temporarily renamed Undine to honor a local submarine. After the war, she continued service and was later incorporated into British Railways and Sealink operations. Tern underwent several refits, including a significant engine replacement in 1957/58, when her steam engines were replaced with two 120-bhp Gleniffer diesel engines. She has also seen modifications to her superstructure, including the replacement of her funnel and the addition of an enclosed wheelhouse. Notably, she appeared in a near-miss incident in 1973 involving a vessel used in filming "Swallows and Amazons," and in 1996, she featured in an episode of "Agatha Christie's Poirot." Today, Tern is a flagship vessel operated by Windermere Lake Cruises, with a passenger capacity of up to 350. She is registered as part of the National Historic Fleet and has been preserved for her regional and national significance. Her operational history includes carrying the Olympic Torch in 2012, celebrating her 125th anniversary in 2016, and continuing regular sailings seasonally, with facilities including a licensed bar, heated saloon, and wheelchair accessibility. Her enduring presence makes her a prominent symbol of Windermere's maritime heritage.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.