2020-11-01 Ships Monthly

S Harriers taking off from Illustrious. existing ships and maintain an 1982. The deployment was of 1982, returning to home
During the 1980s the ship received air umbrella over the islands. notable for her embarkation waters before the year’s
several enhancements during refits, She departed her building yard of Sea King airborne early- end. Her subsequent service
including a steeper ski-jump to on 18 June 1982, only four warning helicopters and the followed the pattern of many
enable the Harriers in the air wing days after the end of the war, incorporation of Phalanx close- warships, with training and
to take off with a larger payload. and was commissioned during in-weapons systems as part operational deployments
her voyage to her home base of her defensive armament. interspersed with periodic
X Illustrious in Sydney on her visit at Portsmouth two days later. The two innovations reflected refits and upgrades.
for the 75th anniversary of the Royal This was reportedly the first harsh lessons learned from
Australian Navy in 1986. time a Royal Navy warship had the recent conflict and have The cumulative impact of
conducted a commissioning at since become staples of Royal the various changes – notably
1976 and launched by sea ceremony. Navy operations. removal of her Sea Dart
Princess Margaret, Countess missile system to make space
of Snowdon on 1 December Following the completion of A LENGTHY SERVICE for additional aircraft and
1978. She was still in the an accelerated work-up period, ordnance and the installation
course of completion when Illustrious sailed for the South Illustrious handed over her of a third mast at the aft end
the 1982 Falkland Islands War Atlantic, where she relieved Falkland Islands duties to of her island – had a marked
broke out, making her speedy her sister Invincible in August RAF aircraft in the autumn impact on her appearance.
completion a national priority.
Illustrious played an
COMMISSIONING AT SEA important part in post-Cold
War naval operations. She
In the event, the swift collapse helped maintain the no-fly
of the Argentine garrison in zone over Bosnia during
the Falklands saw the conflict the civil war in the former
end before Illustrious could Yugoslavia in the 1990s,
be completed. However, she and headed the task force
was still urgently needed in which restored stability to
the South Atlantic to replace strife-stricken Sierra Leone.
Although her duties often
S Illustrious spent her final years as a specialised helicopter carrier. She is seen here in July 2011 with British Army lacked some of the glamour
Apache helicopters embarked. CONRAD WATERS that marked her predecessor’s
leading wartime role, Illustrious
48 • November 2020 • www.shipsmonthly.com helped maintain security
during an uncertain time.

The ship’s last years were
marked by the impact of
the 2010 Strategic Defence
& Security Review, which
resulted in the premature
withdrawal of the Harrier jet
from British service. Illustrious
was temporarily retained as
an amphibious helicopter

ROYAL NAVY

S A Sea Harrier at the moment
of lift-off from the ski jump.

W Illustrious pictured at speed early
in her service life with a veteran

Wessex helicopter on the flight deck.
The shield to protect the flight deck
from the heat generated by Sea Dart

launches is clearly visible.

49www.shipsmonthly.com • November 2020 •

ILLUSTRIOUS STATISTICS carrier pending refit of the
specialised Ocean, completing
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS (1940) HMS ILLUSTRIOUS (1982) her final deployment in July
2014. One of her final duties
DISPLACEMENT circa 28,250 tons deep circa 20,000 tons deep was to berth adjacent to the
next-generation aircraft carrier
DIMENSIONS 710ft wl (740ft oa) x 95ft 9in wl x 28ft 10in 633ft wl (677ft 9in oa) x 90ft 2in wl x 29ft (sonar) Queen Elizabeth when the new
ship was formally named at the
AIR GROUP circa 35 aircraft circa 20 aircraft and helicopters start of that month.

ARMAMENT 8 x twin 4.5in DP 1 x twin Sea Dart surface-to-air missile launcher LONG SERVICE
6 x octuple 2pdr pom-poms 2 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS
Illustrious had served for a
PROTECTION 3in flight deck; 2.5in hangar deck, 4.5in side None total of 32 years when she
finally decommissioned, the
PROPULSION Steam turbines, 111,000shp Gas turbines, 112,000shp longest period for any aircraft
30 knots through three shafts 28 knots through two shafts carrier in Royal Navy service.
Although the government
BUILDERS Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness Swan Hunter (part of British Shipbuilders), Newcastle had announced an intention
to preserve her in recognition
NOTE Published data on the two aircraft carriers varies according to source and these details are indicative only. of the class’s service, like
many political promises this
S A view of Illustrious’ flight deck taken in the Indian Ocean in March 2008, with just a handful of RAF Harriers on her ultimately came to nothing.
flight deck. She is replenishing from the auxiliary RFA Fort Austin. The demands of operations in Afghanistan meant few She departed Portsmouth for
jets were available for carrier deployment at the time. CROWN COPYRIGHT 2008 the final time on 7 December
2016, bound for the
shipbreakers in Turkey.

Whilst the two aircraft
carriers named Illustrious are
little more than memories,
they both had a marked and
prolonged impact on the
development of British naval
aviation. Their legacy can
be seen in the new Queen
Elizabeth class carriers which
are now embarking on their
operational careers leading the
Royal Navy’s fleet.

T Illustrious pictured operating with
the US Navy amphibious assault ship
Boxer (LHD-4) in 2013. She retired
from service the following year.

CROWN COPYRIGHT 2013

50 • November 2020 • www.shipsmonthly.com

The 6,574gt Australian icebreaker Aurora Australis
berthing in Hobart. Built by Carrington Slipways
and launched in 1989, the vessel is owned by P&O
Maritime Services, but is regularly chartered by
the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) for research
cruises in Antarctic waters and to support
Australian bases in Antarctica. DAVID SMITH

PICTORIAL

HSeanvdeysyohoouurwicamanasegoeuthttesotbSaehnsidptisinnMgsohpniphtohpltyhoofottohr gainrtacwlpuhsoyiouanldroinguntrhadectseheeopuwargoegrlsda,.lwlehriyc?h

Since the March withdrawal of some cross-Channel ferry
services due to COVID-19, the only conventional ferry still
serving the Port of Poole is the ro-ro freighter MN Pelican

(1999/12,076gt), which makes two round trips a week to
Bilbao for Brittany Ferries. KEVIN MTCHELL

51www.shipsmonthly.com • November 2020 •

The Turkish frigate TCG Gökçeada (F-494, ex-USS The 1973-built 21,891gt cruise ship Boudicca (ex-Royal
Mahlon S. Tisdale) arriving at Grand Harbour, Malta in Viking Sky) seen from the Forth Bridge as she departs
September. She served with the US Navy from commissioning Rosyth on 28 September destined for Tuzla,Turkey, where
in November 1982 to September 1996. MARIO BUHAGIAR she is to become an accommodation ship. JIM PRENTICE

52 • November 2020 • www.shipsmonthly.com

The 149,314gt container ship CMA CGM Mexico at Southampton
in August. The 15,128TEU vessel, completed in 2019, is one of five

newbuilds on charter to the Marseilles-based carrier from Eastern
Pacific Shipping of Singapore. MARITIME PHOTOGRAPHIC

The Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier
Astra Perseus (2012/34,837gt) on the
Thames at Tilbury in July. FRASER GRAY

53www.shipsmonthly.com • November 2020 •

SOUTH AFRICA’S
STEAM TUGS
REMEMBERED

Jim Shaw recalls some of the steam-powered tugs operated
in the ports and harbours of South Africa, as photographed

by Durban-based photographer Trevor Jones.

South Africa is known S The 817gt J.R. More, her tripod mast distinguishing her from earlier sister S Given the honour of escorting
for having one of tugs Danie Hugo and FC Sturrock, incorporated the final two sets of triple- Union Castle’s Windsor Castle on
the last fleets of expansion marine steam engines built by Rankin & Blackmore at Greenock. her final departure from South
steam-powered tugs Africa in 1977, the 620gt T.H.
in operation, many DURBAN MARITIME MUSEUM/JOHN WINTERS Watermeyer served for the Admiralty
of which were coal-burners as Watermeyer immediately after
up to their final days. The her completion by A. & J. Inglis Ltd
last survivor of these ancient in 1939, but she was released to
workhorses still in the water South Africa in November 1940.
is the 59-year-old J.R. More, Reboilered in the early 1960s, the
which was recently returned 43-year-old tug survived until being
to the Durban Maritime broken up at Cape Town in 1982.
Museum in Durban, South
Africa after several months of
restoration work at Southern
African Shipyards.

Completed by Ferguson
Brothers Shipbuilders Ltd,
Glasgow in 1961 for the

S R.B. Waterston, which carried an oblong-shaped rather than cylindrical-shaped funnel, was completed in 1954 by
William Simons & Co Ltd, Renfrew as the final coal-burning tug ordered for South African harbours. She was operated in
East London and Walvis Bay before being moved to Cape Town in the mid-1970s, where she was broken up in 1982.

54 • November 2020 • www.shipsmonthly.com

STEAM TUGS

T A broadside view of the
786gt Sir William Hoy, which
was completed by Armstrong,
Whitworth & Co Ltd in 1929 and
broken up at Durban in 1982.
Although unsuccessfully proposed
for conservation into a floating
museum following her retirement
in 1979, the old tug was
nevertheless featured on a 70 cent
postage stamp produced by the
South African Post Office in 1994.

S The 812gt F.C. Sturrock assisting the American freighter Austral Pilgrim at Durban prior to being broken up at Walvis
Bay in 1984. Built by Ferguson Brothers Ltd, Port Glasgow in 1959, the tug was powered by twin inverted three-cylinder
triple-expansion engines driving two screws to give a bollard pull of 27 tons. ALL PHOTOS BY TREVOR JONES UNLESS STATED

55www.shipsmonthly.com • November 2020 •

S South Africa’s coal burners could produce some startling sights, especially if they were not visible while assisting
ships, such as this apparent blaze forward on Union Castle’s 1948-built Edinburgh Castle as she makes her final arrival
at Durban in 1976.

South African Railways & now displayed on land: the During their heyday,
Harbours Administration, 1927-built Ulundi at the Durban-based photographer
the 805gt J.R. More was Durban Maritime Museum Trevor Jones managed
the final steam tug built for near J.R. More, and the to capture most of South
South Africa service. Two of 1959-built Alwyn Vintcent at African’s steam-powered tugs
the country’s smaller steam- Villiersdorp, 70 miles east of in operation, and a sample of
powered pilot tugs have also Cape Town, to where she was the vessels and the work they
been saved, but both are moved in 2012. did is presented here.

S Built by W.J. Yarwood & Sons,
Northwich in 1952, the coal-fired
pilot tug H. Sawyer waits as Shaw,
Savill & Albion Line’s 1962-built
Northern Star gathers speed for her
exit from Cape Town harbour in the
mid-1960s, when the British liner
briefly wore a green funnel.

S A pre-war built vessel, the 146ft
by 15ft John Dock was completed in
1934 by Harland & Wolff, Glasgow
and fitted with two Harland & Wolff-
built triple-expansion engines and
four Babcock & Wilcox watertube
boilers. Displacing 551 tons, and
with a coal bunkering capacity of 209
tons, the tug was repositioned to
Durban in the mid-1960s and broken
up there in 1977.

X The 812gt Danie Hugo, seen at
speed in Cape Town harbour, was
retired in 1984 and dismantled at
Walvis Bay in the following year, but
its wheelhouse was retained and is
now part of a restaurant known as
‘The Tug’ in nearby Swakopmund.

56 • November 2020 • www.shipsmonthly.com

STEAM TUGS

T Seen on the Cape Town Syncrolift X The 1927-built Ulundi, a product
in 1991, the 1959-built pilot tug of the Henry Robb Ltd yard at
Alwyn Vintcent was moved 70 miles Leith, is the oldest steam-powered
overland to Villiersdorp by the tug preserved in South Africa and is
Western Cape Veteran Tractor and displayed on cradles at the Durban
Engine Club in 2012 and is currently Maritime Museum. The 75.4ft by
being restored there as the last 18.1ft vessel was fitted with a
steam-powered vessel to have been direct acting compound expansion
listed on the South African Register engine of 54 hp built by Wm.
of Shipping. Retired in 1983, the 83ft Beardmore & Co. Ltd., Coatbridge.
by 20ft tug was last steamed as an Durban Maritime Museum. DURBAN
excursion boat in 1994.
MARITIME MUSEUM

57www.shipsmonthly.com • November 2020 •

LAID UP IN

THE FAL

Carrick Roads, in the estuary of the River Fal, forms a
natural deep-water anchorage which, for many years,
hosted a variety of vessels in the latter stages of their
careers. The Roads offered an ideal lay-up mooring while
owners and operators decided what the future held for the

vessels, as Duncan Mackenzie’s photographs show.

Falmouth, including S Former Sealink train ferry
Carrick Roads, is Cambridge Ferry (3,294gt) was
allegedly the third built in 1963 for the British Railways
largest natural Board by Hawthorn Leslie & Co,
harbour in the Hebburn-on-Tees. She was launched
world and as such has hosted a on 1 November 1963, completed in
huge variety of ships, large and December 1963 and made her maiden
small, within its safe deepwater voyage from Harwich to Zeebrugge on
anchorages. The port, which 2 January 1964. Laid up in 1988 after
as a whole provides a diverse the closure of the Harwich-Zeebrugge
range of maritime functions train ferry service, she was sold to
and commercial shipping Malta in 1992 and renamed Ita Uno.
operations, is managed by She was renamed Sirio in 1993 and
a combination of Truro, reflagged to Panama in 1998. The
Falmouth and Falmouth ship was scrapped in Turkey in 2003.
Docks authorities, all working
to ensure water users large and X The 1968-built cargo vessel Golden
small, commercial and leisure, Dolphin (16,158gt) was built as Port
enjoy the benefits of the port. Caroline by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders,
at Linthouse. She arrived on the Fal
UNIQUE SHIPPING LAY-UP in July 1982 as Brocklebank’s Matra,
a name she held from 1981 to 1983.
The Fal and Carrick Roads She was sold to Kappa Maritime
offers a unique shipping lay-up Ltd and renamed Golden Dolphin
area a few miles from the open in 1983, but was broken up at
sea, where large commercial Shanghai, China in 1985.
ships can be easily berthed.
The unusually deep waters,
typically of 12-14m in depth
in many places, allow ships
of over 190m in length to be
safely moored midstream.

As Falmouth Bay stands at
the gateway to the Western
approaches and close to the
world’s busiest shipping lanes,
many ships have called to
benefit from the facilities and

58 • November 2020 • www.shipsmonthly.com

LAID-UP SHIPS

The sisterships Methane Princess and Methane Progress (1964/2l,876gt), pictured in April 1982, traded regularly
between Canvey Island and Arzew in Algeria for 16 Years. They were built at Vickers shipyard, Barrow-in-Furness, for
British Gas, and Methane Princess was the first LNG carrier in service when she debuted in 1964. Measuring 621ft (189m)
by 82ft (25m), she was powered by a 13,750shp engine and delivered the world’s first commercial LNG cargo to Canvey

Island on 12 October 1964. The service came to an end when British Gas refused to pay a substantial price increase
requested by the Algerian State Oil Company. Methane Progress was laid up in the Fal in July 1981 and Methane
Princess in February 1982, with the former being scrapped in1986 and the latter some time later in 1998.

S The cargo liner Lady Madonna (1965/8,367gt), laid up in 1983. Built by the Greenock Dockyard Co as Clan Ramsay, she
was transferred to the Union Castle Line in 1977 and renamed Winchester Castle. In 1979 she was renamed Winchester
Universal, and the following year was sold to Kappa Maritime. She was broken up at Gadani Beach, Pakistan in 1985.

59www.shipsmonthly.com • November 2020 •

S The cargo vessel Southgate (1976/3,687gt) was laid up on the Fal in
1982. Built by Appledore Shipbuilders, for the long-established shipowner
Turnbull Scott, she was sold to Triton Continental Shipping, Liberia in 1983
and renamed Southern Star. She was again renamed in 1984, becoming Ugur
Yildizi for Turkish owners, and there followed further renamings after changes
of ownership: Agios Spyridon I in 1991, Lady Cleopatra in 1996, Terra in 2004.
Capital Vega in 2008, Baikal M in 2012 and Manassa in 2013, and she was
broken up at Aliaga, Turkey in 2017.

S The bulker Mentor (1980/16,482gt) was laid up in the Fal in 1983 prior T Cape Avanti Due (1968/13,436gt) safe anchorage. It provides
to being sold on. Built by Scott Lithgow Ltd, Greenock for Ocean Transport was laid up in 1986 prior to being a wide deepwater area for
& Trading Ltd of Liverpool, she was renamed City of London for a charter to sold on for breaking, ending her days shipping to shelter during any
the Ellerman Group in 1981-82. In December 1982 she became Mentor again, at Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1987. She severe weather, and has also
being sold to Hake Shipping, Cyprus in 1984 and renamed Normania. She had had been built in 1968 by Lithgows, been used to provide lay-up
a series of further names, including ALS Reliance in 1986, Hoegh Normania in Glasgow as Sugar Producer for Sugar moorings for ships which
1988, Rickmers Hang Zhou in 1989, St Nikolas I in 1990, DSR Shanghai in 1992 Lines. In 1979 she was purchased by are either reaching the end
and Tamatiki in 1995, before being broken up May 2001. Greek owners and renamed Cape of their careers or are about
Avanti Due. She became Delta Port to change owners and enter
Said under the Liberian flag in 1986.

S The tanker Brussels (1968/14,948gt) was laid up on the river Fal 1983. She
operated as Texaco Brussels between 1968 and 1983 under the ownership of
Texaco Overseas Tankship. In 1983 she was purchased by Greek owners and
renamed Brussels. Two years later she was renamed Abu Ahmad and placed
under the Panama flag. In 1996 she was sold to Indian shipbreakers.

60 • November 2020 • www.shipsmonthly.com

a new phase of their lives, as before or after their time Fleet, particularly Royal Fleet LAID-UP SHIPS
these photographs show. laid up. A&P have extensive Auxiliary vessels. This small
facilities, including the use selection of photographs W The container ships Manchester
A&P, the owners of of three dry docks. Some of from the 1980s shows some Vanguard and Manchester Venture
Falmouth Docks, offer ship the ships seen in the bay may significant historic vessels, (1977/17,385gt) laid up in the Fal
owners a wide range of be waiting to enter the docks such as Methane Princess and in August 1980. The two ships
services, including ship repair, for such maintenance work. Manchester Vanguard, which were built by Smiths Dock, Tees
refitting, painting and general Falmouth is also often home have taken advantage of the for charter to Manchester Liners
maintenance, and many ships to some of the Royal Navy’s Fal’s lay-up berths. during the period that the company
will visit the facility either was entering the container trade.
The cargo and passenger shipping
company, founded in 1898, pioneered
the passage of oceangoing vessels
along the Manchester Ship Canal.

The switch from traditional to
container shipping came in 1968,
but was relatively short-lived, as the
subsequent introduction elsewhere
of much larger container ships meant
that the company’s vessels, which
were restricted to a length of 530ft
imposed by the Canal’s locks, could
no longer compete economically, and
the line ceased operations in 1985.

Manchester Vanguard had a
chequered career, with many changes
of ownership and name. She became
Seatrain Trenton in 1977 on charter
to Seatrain Lines, Keelung in 1980
on charter to Gold Star Line, Oriental
Expert in 1983, OOCL Applause in
1991 on charter to Wellway Shipping
Ltd, and Eagle Respect in 1998. A
final name change in 2001, to Da Li,
was the name under which she went
to Xinhui for breaking in 2002.

T The refrigerated cargo vessel
Sangeorge (1961/11,043gt) was laid
up on the Fal in May 1982 towards
the end of her career, and was sold
to Bangladesh shipbreakers the
following year. Built by Alexander
Stephen & Sons Ltd, Govan as
Iberic for Shaw, Savill & Albion,
Southampton, she was renamed
Deseado in 1976 and was sold
to Greek owners Maistros Wind
Shipping of Piraeus in 1981, who
renamed her San George.

61www.shipsmonthly.com • November 2020 •

CHARTROOM

SHIPS MAIL

Laid up in Glasgow MEMORIALS TO LANCASTRIA

You have reported on and provided I was interested by the article on this plaque was instigated by the U-boats in the Atlantic. Unfortunately,
good photos of the ever-changing Cunard’s Lancastria (SM, Aug). Until mentioned HMT Lancastria Survivors his death in 1944 denied him the
parade of cruise ships along the south a visit to Liverpool in 2018, I had Association, and we should thank chance to see that ultimate victory.
coast, and also at Tilbury and Leith/ never heard of the disaster, but I them for their efforts. Consider, in
Rosyth, but there is another cache became aware of it thanks to a brass light of the quote, how many people The Pierhead has some
which I have not seen mentioned. memorial plaque on a plinth on the have heard of Titanic, but how few magnificent memorials to those
The three Azamara vessels, Azamara Pierhead promenade by the Mersey. have heard of this ship and her who kept the Atlantic lifelines open,
Journey, Azamara Quest and Azamara disastrous and tragic end? from the first days of the war to
Pursuit, have been parked since This states, along with the the last. The Western Approaches
June in the King George V dock at number of casualties, survivors, date Incidentally, many more plaques are HQ museum, which reopened on 1
Shieldhall on the Clyde near Glasgow. and so on, that it was considered in the vicinity on Pierhead honouring August after being closed due to the
David Wise, Glasgow to be the worst disaster in British merchant sailors of many World pandemic, is not only an excellent
maritime history, with the most War II allied fleets. There is also a place to visit but also a worthy
British Victories appropriate phrase a the bottom: magnificent statue of Johnnie Walker, memorial to those lost in the war.
‘We will remember them’. I assume a leading figure in the defeat of the Phil Clarkson, Garstang
Regarding the article by Roy Fenton
about the British Victories (SM, July), thrown overboard. This number was from the Tees on my last night in late fracture had also developed in No.3.
I served on Karmala, one of the ships considered good, as there was cholera August prior to retirement. According However, it should be said that the
mentioned, joining her as a deck in that part of the world and getting to the Master, there are no plans to Doxford engines with a cylinder bore
apprentice in King George V Dock, fresh water was also a problem. change her route at the moment. of 670mm or less gave quite good
London in 1963. The photograph David Booth Andrew Knox service, but the 750mm engines were
must have been taken on a nice sunny Macclesfield Darlington, Co Durham definitely bad news. A case of too
day, as I found P&O’s stone-coloured many millimetres spoiling the broth?
upperworks very drab. Victory ships Wilhelmine at Teesport Doxford memories
were very basic, with kick out panels Finally, your reference to the 58JS3
in internal doors in case of distortion In the Maritime Mosaic feature (SM, Your article about Doxfords stirred engine as an ‘economical’ type I do
after a torpedo strike, although that Sept), I note your photograph of some memories, not all of which were not think is correct. True, it had three
was before my time. Wilhelmine. However, the caption good. The statement that ‘crankshaft cylinders, but its concept was as a
is somewhat in error. The vessel is problems dogged the engine division’ 5,000hp engine capable of reliably
I might say that the only good indeed still on the Teesport route, as I was certainly true, and I would add burning low-grade fuel. This was
things about Victory ships was that can verify, having piloted her outwards they dogged us in Ellerman Lines at a time when many owners were
they were not Liberty ships. The two as well. We had six of the 75LB6 struggling to do so with medium-
voyages I undertook from Europe took engines which entered service from speed four-stroke engines originally
me to Genoa, Suez, Aden, Malacca 1956, but by 1960 they all had new designed to burn marine diesel oil.
Strait ports including Belawan, and crankshafts fitted because of a design Tim Gibbs, Bideford
then Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, defect affecting No.3 forward and
and Manila. We also called once at No.4 aft side crankwebs. Fast Empires
Tabaco in the Philippines and Rejang
in Borneo, then Singapore, Malacca It turned out that the modified I well remember the Standard Fast
Strait port, Aden and back home. design was not much better, as in Empire ship Pinjarra (ex-Empire
1969, when I was Second engineer Paragon), with her smart black hull and
On one trip we loaded more than on City of Colombo in the Persian stone upperworks, built by Laing’s in
500 pigs in Bangkok for Hong Kong, Gulf, we found a fracture in No.4 1944 and transferred to P&O in 1946,
each individually crated and carried crankshaft. A massive strap was as listed in Roy Fenton’s excellent
on the hatches in the fresh air. Myself welded around the crankweb and article on Fast Empires (SM, Aug). My
and the other apprentice had to mix we slowly made our way back to father was her Chief Steward in 1951-
the ‘food’, individually feed them, then Sunderland, where we found that a 52, when he would take me on board
try to retrieve the metal food bowl.
They were sold by weight on arrival
in Hong Kong. We had six to eight
deaths among the pigs and they were

The Victory ship Karmala.

62 • November 2020 • www.shipsmonthly.com

READERS’ PAGES

at London’s Royal Docks to spend The Standard Fast Empire 1966, when P&O kindly allowed him Write to Ships Mail,
many happy hours ship-spotting and ship Pinjarra in Glasgow. to make a roundtrip to the Far East in Ships Monthly,
watching the bustle of cargo-handling Soudan, accompanied by my mother. Kelsey Media, The
and ship movements. Such a posting was unusual, but he He then retired, having served the Granary, Downs
needed to regain his sea legs, and the company since 1934 and throughout Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent ME18
After several successful trips in ship had experienced some persistent World War II, which was largely spent 6AL, or email [email protected].
P&O’s ‘white ship’ passenger liners, discipline problems which required the trooping around the world and on Please note that letters via email must
Corfu, Strathnaver and Stratheden, attention of an experienced officer. North Atlantic convoys, as his row of enclose sender’s full postal address.
and following six months of sick leave Aden was not built at one of the medal ribbons proudly shows. Contributions to Ships Monthly must
for treatment of a tropical illness, Standard Fast shipyards listed by Roy Richard Lingham, Truro be exclusive and must not be sent to
my father joined Aden in late 1956, Fenton, but her general appearance, other publications. The editor reserves
which was built by Alex Stephen in and almost all her specifications, Ships of the Bosphorus the right to edit material. Kelsey
1946 as Federal Steam Navigation’s made her a near-sister of Pinjarra, Publishing reserves the right to reuse
Somerset and was renamed on being and both were well regarded in the Thank you very much for the excellent any submission sent in any format.
transferred to P&O in 1954. company as fast vessels. article ‘Ships of the Golden Horn’
by Jim Shaw (SM, Sept), with great Harmony) collided in the middle of
My father returned to ‘white ships’ in photography and good detailed the Bosphorus. Tarsus was American
1958, and he served in them until July information. However, may I suggest Export’s Excalibur and was famous
that perhaps a better title would have for having evacuated the Duke and
been ‘Ships of the Bosphorus’, as all Duchess of Windsor from Europe in
these ships cruised along Istanbul the summer of 1940 from Lisbon to a
Strait and anchored or moored specially arranged stop at Bermuda.
there, rather than the Golden Horn?
Golden Horn allowed ships only for I have been reading Ships Monthly
repair when both Galata and Karaköy for over 20 years and enjoy it very
bridges opened after midnight. much. As a result of Covid-19, I had to
subscribe, as I could not travel to UK.
Only smaller tonnage vessels were Keep up the excellent work.
in the Golden Horn for repairs, while Dr Haluk Kabaalioglu
the larger ones were repaired at Istanbul
the Istinye floating ship yard (yüzer
havuz). Of course, Kocatas regularly Photo credit
sailed in the Golden Horn. The cargo
vessel Tarsus was destroyed after two The photo of the cruise ship Funchal
tankers (the Yugoslav-registered Peter in Portuscale colours, in the July issue
Zoranic and the Greek-owned World on pages 30-31, should have been
credited to Burkhard Schütt.

SEPTEMBER’S MYSTERY SHIP

THIS MONTH’S MYSTERY SHIP

This month’s mystery photo Send your answers and
shows a passenger vessel of some the identity of the ship,
kind wrecked near St Malo. The including your postal address, by
postcard states the vessel’s name email to: [email protected]; or by
as Hilda, but what happened to post to Mystery Ship, Ships Monthly,
her? When was she built and for Kelsey Media, The Granary, Downs
whom did she operate? How did Court, Yalding Hill, Kent ME18 6AL.
she come to such a tragic end? Emails preferred.

The mystery ship in the September was renamed Lars-Arild and three
issue is the 1967-built general cargo years later, owned by Myrgrunn A/S,
ship Kargit Bagenkop, which was was named Myrgrunn. She measures
built in 1967 but is still trading. She is 313gt and has a summer deadweight
now Polish-flagged under the name tonnage of 493, and is still operating
of Tanais, which was given to her in in and around northern Europe, with
2004, but has had a series of names recent calls at Kiel, Hamburg and
throughout her long career. She Brunsbuttel. Is she one of the oldest
became Seines under the ownership cargo vessels in service today?
of Morten Seines in 1974. In 1990 she Thorsvinn Hamnebõld, Skagen

63www.shipsmonthly.com • November 2020 •

CHARTROOM
SHIPS LIBRARY

Flying Focus 2021 tbheomooknofth
Lancastria was a pre-war Cunard
Fishery, Offshore Oil & Gaz, The Lancastria liner, and was requisitioned by the begun, as Churchill declared? Or
Offshore Wind Energy, Tragedy – Sinking Admiralty as a wartime troopship. was it a cover-up?
Shipping, Inland Shipping, and Cover Up On 17 June 1940, during Operation
Tugs & workboats and Aerial, while she was being used to Those who survived the sinking
European Lighthouses Stehen Wynn evacuate civilian refugees and British were told in no uncertain terms not
Published by Pen & Sword military personnel from France, to speak about their experience,
Flying Focus’ aerial photographer she was anchored about five miles although plenty did. With much of
Herman IJsseling conquered Books, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, from the coast of St Nazaire. While the information about Lancastria’s
the elements under challenging South Yorkshire, S70 2AS; email awaiting a naval escort to see her sinking in the public domain within
circumstances to take outstanding [email protected]; safely back to England, Lancastria was a matter of days of the disaster, why
photographs of ships in heavy weather www.penandswordbooks.com; attacked by enemy aircraft and sank are official documents in relation
and these outstanding images can be 184 pages, price £14.99. within 20 minutes. But as no official to the matter being kept secret
found in a series of calendars for 2021. numbers have ever been released until 2040? This 184-page softback
• All products can be ordered through The story behind the sinking of there is no way of knowing exactly volume by Stephen Wynn examines
Flying Focus website www.flyingfocus.nl the liner Lancastria comes in two how many lives were lost. the tragedy and the cover-up. It
and calendars measure 30cm by 38cm; parts: the sinking of the ship and contains six pages of photographs,
price of calendars €18.50 plus postage. the people who died, and the Winston Churchill placed what was and a list of those known to have
aftermath, which led to allegations known as a ‘D’ Notice on the incident, died in the area on that day. PS
of a government cover-up ordered restricting the press from reporting
by Winston Churchill. There is an the event. However, once a New York
‘officially accepted’ list of those who newspaper broke the story, the British
died, but allegations that hundreds newspapers followed suit. But why
more went down with the ship, and the ‘D’ Notice? Was it because the
have not been accounted for, still British public had already received
linger to this day. too much bad news since the war had

Royal Navy Motor including on D-Day. Her fighting quality international ferry services
Gun Boat career, restoration and recent rebuild to the country’s nearest overseas
are all covered in detail in this volume, neighbours. This impressive new
MMGABN 81U (ABrLitish which covers the only operational volume tells, for the first time, the
example of an RN Coastal Forces MGB story of the development of short-sea
Power Boats) 1942-45 of World War II. NL routes from Norway to the European
• Published by Haynes Publishing, continent and to the UK since the
PORTS OF CALL During World War II the Royal Navy’s Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7JJ, early steam age. It is covered by a
flotillas of small, fast and powerfully [email protected], 01963 440635, detailed text accompanied by high-
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, armed motor gun boats (MGBs) were 192 pages, hardback price £25. quality illustrations, many of which
and the continued uncertainty looked upon as the ‘Spitfires of the have never previously been published.
surrounding cruise ship calls, we seas’. Operating from harbour bases Color Line
have omitted the Ports of Call around the south and east coasts of Color Line’s present fleet includes
listing for November; we hope to England, RN Coastal Forces crews set and the development of five of the most technically advanced
include a listing in when cruise calls out under cover of darkness to look Norwegian international and aesthetically impressive ferries
get back to normal. for trouble with German shipping in ferry services in the world, such as Color Fantasy
the Channel and the North Sea. The Bruce Peter and Color Magic, and the design and
centrepiece of this manual is MGB 81, development of these vessels is given
a combat veteran which saw repeated Color Line emerged 30 years ago as special attention, with numerous
action between 1942 and 1945 in the the inheritor of the great Norwegian onboard photographs showing
North Sea and English Channel, maritime tradition of providing high- the impressive facilities which are
provided. Thanks to these ships,
including the new Color Hybrid, going
to and from Norway by sea has never
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than in recent years. NL
• Published by Ferry Publications,

PO Box 33, Ramsey, Isle of Man

IM99 4LP; tel 01624 898445, info@

lilypublications.co.uk, 168-page

hardback, price £21.50 plus postage.

64 • November 2020 • www.shipsmonthly.com

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ON

NEXT ISSUE NSAOLVE

FERRY HERITAGE 27
WHERE
ARE THEY
NOW?

Recalling what
became of a string of
well-known Sealink
and Townsend
ferries when their
days in home waters
drew to an end.

PLUS

ITS GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI • A look at the design and career of
the Italian Navy’s 35-year-old aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi,
which is due to be replaced in 2022.

ADMIRAL NAKHIMOV • Built as Berlin in 1925, the Soviet liner
Admiral Nakhimov was twice sunk during a long career, the
second time with tragic consequences.

CUNARD’S ‘FAMILY’ SHIPS • Stephen Payne traces the origins
and careers the two post-war liners Media (1947) and Parthia
(1948), which entered service to great acclaim.

WORLD SHIP SOCIETY

Founded in 1947, the World Ship Society has some 2,000 members worldwide who are interested in ships,
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PHOTOGRAPHS - The World Ship Society has over a million ship photographs – one of the largest and most wide-ranging collections in the world - including black & white and colour prints,
negatives, colour slides and digital images. Prints are available at reasonable cost through regular members’ offers published in “Marine News”.
BRANCHES - The World Ship Society has over 50 local branches worldwide which hold monthly meetings involving slide shows, Powerpoint presentations and illustrated talks given by invited
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MEMBERSHIP - annual membership of the World Ship Society (includes 12 digital copies of “Marine News” and digital Supplements per annum) costs £26 (£22 outside UK and EU) Get a trial digital
copy of ‘Marine News’ by e-mailing your name and address to:
[email protected] or write to the Membership Secretary, World Ship Society, 17 Birchdale Road, Appleton, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 5AR (UK)

WORLD SHIP SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER VALUE www.worldshipsociety.org

66 • November 2020 • www.shipsmonthly.com

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