The SS Worthing was a steam-powered ferry built for the Southern Railway, launched on 3 May 1928. Designed for passenger and vehicular service, she operated primarily between Newhaven and Dieppe, serving as a vital link across the English Channel. As a vessel of the late 1920s, specific details about her dimensions or tonnage are not provided, but she was equipped for the ferrying duties typical of the period. Her first captain was Charles Lever Cook MBE, under whose command she commenced service. The Worthing remained in civilian operation under the Southern Railway until the outbreak of World War II, during which her role shifted dramatically. With the onset of hostilities, she became part of the British Expeditionary Force to France, being ordered to be in Southampton on 8 September 1939. She subsequently sailed to Southampton two days later and was repurposed as a troop carrier. During the war, she made six crossings of the English Channel to Cherbourg, transporting troops and equipment in support of the Allied war effort. Her service in the Royal Navy continued until 23 March 1945. Following the conclusion of World War II, the Worthing resumed her civilian ferry service between Newhaven and Dieppe. Initially operated by Southern Railway, she continued under British Railways until 1954. In 1955, the vessel was sold and relocated to Greece, where she was renamed Phryni. Her post-war service and her transfer to Greece mark the end of her notable maritime career. Overall, the SS Worthing holds historical significance as a wartime troop carrier and as a representative of early 20th-century British coastal ferry design, serving both civilian and military purposes across her operational lifespan.

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