The Freda Cunningham was the first diesel ferry to be commissioned and was in use when the ferry service was called the "Market Place Ferry".
This vessel had a reputation for unreliability and was frequently out of service.
The ferry's name came from the wife of North East Labour Party leader Andy Cunningham, who was later jailed for corruption.
She was also the mother of politician and cabinet minister, Jack Cunningham.
She was commissioned in 1972 to replace the steamship Northumbrian and sold in 1993 when the Pride of The Tyne came into service.

In 2006 the vessel, now named Mystic Waters, began operating between west Cork and Sherkin Island.
The Freda Cunningham was the first diesel ferry to be commissioned and was in use when the ferry service was called the "Market Place Ferry". This vessel had a reputation for unreliability and was frequently out of service. The ferry's name came from the wife of North East Labour Party leader Andy Cunningham, who was later jailed for corruption. She was also the mother of politician and cabinet minister, Jack Cunningham. She was commissioned in 1972 to replace the steamship Northumbrian and sold in 1993 when the Pride of The Tyne came into service.
In 2006 the vessel, now named Mystic Waters, began operating between west Cork and Sherkin Island.
Shields Ferry