New Britannic is a 56-foot passenger launch originally built to carry up to 117 passengers on trips from Ramsgate. The vessel proved ideal for rescuing men from the beaches during the Dunkirk evacuation. Coxswain W. Mathews of the Royal Navy took command of the launch from its owner, Charlie Priddle of Ramsgate, to participate in the Dunkirk operation.

Designed to carry a full load of passengers safely, New Britannic featured a 54-foot open deck with easy access, a shallow draft of 3 feet 6 inches, and a powerful 65hp Lister engine capable of pulling her clear of the sands. These characteristics made her well suited for the rescue mission. She is credited with evacuating approximately 3,000 men from the beaches and remained in service with the Royal Navy for the duration of the war, performing patrol duties.

After World War II, New Britannic was sold and operated first in Weymouth and later in the Scilly Isles, where she was renamed Commodore. She continued to carry thousands of holidaymakers until 1991, when new regulations led to her withdrawal from service. Without intervention from a preservation trust, she would have been broken up.

Having been out of commission for some time, it was impractical for New Britannic to return to the mainland under her own power. Consequently, she was towed by a fishing boat returning to Falmouth. Although the tow was successful, the vessel sank at her moorings upon arrival and required salvage. The remainder of the journey to Southampton was completed by road transport.

Upon arrival, New Britannic was in poor condition, revealing the extensive repairs needed to make her seaworthy and move her to the slip for restoration. With assistance from friends providing a powerful launch, a pump, plywood, nails, and putty, she was moved to the Boathouse where restoration work began in November 1993.

A decision was made to adapt New Britannic to carry wheelchair users and other disabled persons on fishing and leisure trips in the Solent. A major rebuilding project was undertaken, largely by volunteer labor. The hull was stripped inside and out, 120 new ribs were steamed and fitted, the hull was recaulked, and the engine rebuilt. The wheelhouse was extended to include a toilet compartment large enough for wheelchairs, and a sink, water tank, and pump were installed. New decks were also fitted.

Subsequent stages of the restoration included installation of tanks, wiring, glazing, equipment, and painting. Many firms supplied materials and equipment either free of charge or at a discount. However, the project’s success was primarily due to the efforts of two individuals: Chris Brown, who contributed approximately 2,500 hours of labor, and Jim Newman, who organized or sourced materials and completed all wiring and much of the engineering work.

New Britannic was relaunched in August 1996. After additional work afloat, she was ready to carry passengers and completed several successful trips before the end of that season. At the start of the following season, the berth rent increased from £500 to £5,000, necessitating a new home. The vessel was returned to Ramsgate, where the East Kent Maritime Trust assumed responsibility for her maintenance, completed unfinished work, and operated trips for disabled passengers.

In mid-2008, the East Kent Maritime Trust relinquished ownership of New Britannic, and she entered private ownership for further renovation. In 2015, New Britannic participated in the 75th Anniversary Return to Dunkirk and was inspected by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent.

Currently, New Britannic lies at Conyer in Kent. She has recently appeared in the 2017 films Dunkirk and The Darkest Hour.