Mariners: Brief History of the Boat

Built by Acieries de Bruges, Bruges as gunboat ss Argus

Launched 1899, commissioned 1900 for the department of the Belgium State

May 1940 Requisitioned by "Corps de Marine" (Belgian Navy)- sunk, raised and repaired by the Germans

11 December 1945 Returns to owners in Antwerp and back in service as FLANDRIA VII

1952/53 Fitted out as a Red Cross hospital ship and renamed FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE (Dutch Flag)

In the early Seventies Fitted out as a party boat and operated as such for 18 years

November 1990 Handed over to Contship Ltd and subsequently crossed to Harwich and moored in Ipswich Docks. Transformed into an Italian restaurant named Il Punto.

March 1994 Taken over by Mr Regis Crepy (owner of the Great House, Lavenham and Maison Bleue, Bury St Edmunds) and changed to a French Brasserie.

Today Mariners (Formerly Il Punto) is an award winning restaurant, open Tuesday to Saturday, serving French food in a fantastic atmosphere, with Al Fresco eating on our patio deck in fine weather.

The boat can be booked for special parties