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Memories of the William Gray Shipyard and CMEW

MEMORIES OF THE Wm. GRAY SHIPYARDS & CENTRAL MARINE ENGINE WORKS.

by Derek Hinds.

My earliest memories of shipping was when I was around five years old, when my father, who worked in the Wm. Gray shipyards  as a charge-hand lathe turner, at their Graythorp ship-repair centre, took me to see a ship launched. The date was 8th July 1948 and the ship was the IRISH CEDAR, (No.1219), a 5,627grt. general cargo ship being built by the Gray yards for the Irish Shipping Company, from Dublin, Ireland. She was completed in February 1949. Re-named:- MUSTANSIR in 1959, and was broken up at Karachi from 15th January 1971.

There was a spell of seven years before I watched the next ship launched. That was on 21st July 1955, at the Central Yard, when the bulk iron ore carrier OREGIS, (No.1272), 6,858grt, was being built for Houlder Brothers Ore Carriers Ltd. She was completed in November 1955. In 1972 she was converted into an RV-DSS. There was some excitement on the River Tyne as she was sailing following her conversion, she ran aground adjacent to the Black Middens rocks near to the river mouth. She was refloated and repaired. Re-named:- 1974 - HTS COUPLER 1; 1975 – OREGIS. She was broken up at Vigo from February 1983. 

It was whilst I was at secondary school that I became more interested in ships and shipping. During our lunch break myself and a classmate used to cycle down to the docks to see what shipping was in port. At the secondary school we could see the shipyards from the upstairs classroom windows. The approaching time for a launch was when the ship’s hull was painted in its future owning companies colours, and a lot of the clutter of staging etc. was taken down. Over the next two years I witnessed nearly every launch from the Wm Gray yards. 

They were: -s.s ANATOLIAN (No.1281) – Launched:- 21st June 1955, from the Dock Yard. Completed:- November 1955, for Ellerman Papayanni Ltd., 3,799grt.  Re-named:- 1963 – CITY OF DURHAM; 1964 – ANATOLIAN; 1966 – ASCANIA; 1966 – ANATOLIAN; 1968 – ASCANIA; 1968 – ANATOLIAN; 1968 – AGIA SOPHIA; 1971 – FULKA; 1973 – KHALID; 1975 – GULF UNITY.  B/U:- at Gadani Beach, 19th Feb.1978.

s.s LANCASTRIAN (No.1282) – Launched:- 14th October 1955,from the Dock Yard. Completed:- February 1956 for Ellerman Papayanni Ltd., 3,799grt.  Re-named:- 1962 – CITY OF LEICESTER; 1964 – LANCASTRIAN; 1966 – ALSATIA; 1966 – LANCASTRIAN; 1969 – THEOKRATES; 1974 – KHORFAKAN.   Wrecked:- 12th February 1975 on Sharjah Jetty.

m.v PEARL STONE (No.1274) – Launched:- 31st October 1955, from the Central Yard. Completed:- March 1956 for N.G. Livanos Co., Greece. 8,001grt.  Re-named:- 1969 – TARPON SURF; 1974 – CHRISTOS.  B/U:- at Gadani Beach, 18th August 1977.

m.v LOTTINGE (No.1280) – Launched:- 30th January 1956, from the Dock Yard.

Completed:- July 1956, for Constants Ltd.  4,215grt.  Re-named:- 1974 – SAMANTHA M; 1975 – CUNSKI; 1991 – SHAHINAZ.  B/U:- Alang, 23rd January 1992.

m.v ORMINA (No.1273) – Launched:- 28th February 1956, from the Central Yard.

Completed:- May 1956 for Houlder Bros. Ore Carriers Ltd. 6,858grt.  Re-named:- 1974 – GENERALE FEDERICO.  B/U:- at Vado Ligure, 16th April 1986.         

m.v IRISH LARCH (No.1275) – Launched:- 11th June 1956, from the Central Yard. Completed:- October 1956 for Irish Sjipping Ltd. 8,283grt. Re-named:- ALIAKMON PROGRESS.  B/U:- Inchon, 28th November 1979.   

m.v IRISH MAPLE (No.1276) – Launched:- 3rd October 1956, from the Central Yard. Completed:- February 1957 for Irish Shipping Ltd. 8,288grt.  Re-named:- 1968 – ALIAKNON PIONEER; 1979 – ANNOOR. B/U:- Gadani Beach, 2nd March 1982.

s.s CASTLEDORE (No.1284) – Launched:- 20th October 1956, from the Dock Yard. Completed:- December 1956, for Michalinos & Co. Ltd.  7,952grt.  B/U:- Suao, 20th July 1974.

m.v PEARL SEA (No.1283) – Launched:- 19th December 1956, from the Central Yard. Completed:- April 1957, for N.G. Livanos Co., Greece. 7,977grt.  Re-named:- 1969 – TARPON SEA; 1975 – DAPO SEA.  Fire at Sitra Anchorage, Bahrain 1st June 1977. B/U:- Gadani Beach, 29th October 1977.

s.s LUCY (No.1285) – Launched:- 1st February 1957, from the Dock Yard.  Completed:- May 1957, for N.G. Livanos Co., Greece. 7,583grt.  Re-named:- 1973 – LEONIDAS MICHALOS; 1980 – BLESSING FIVE.  B/U:- Visakhapatnam, 30th March 1981. Her steam plant was removed by her builders in 1961, and a diesel engine was then installed.           

m.v IRISH ALDER (No.1286) – Launched:- 30th May 1957, from the Central Yard.

Completed:- September 1957 for Irish Shipping Ltd. 8,226grt.  Re-named:- 1971 – ALIAKMON PILOT; 1977 – ATTICAN UNITY.  Fire & beached Flushing Roads, 25th September 1977. B/U:- Bremen, 22nd March 1978.

s.s ROSE OF LANCASTER (No.1290) – Launched:- 29th July 1957, from the Dock Yard. Completed:- December 1957, for Guinea Gulf Lines.  5,197grt.  Re-named:- 1965 – BOCNA. Fire at Matadi, Zaire, 24th December 1977.  B/U:- Split, 23rd March 1978. This ship was fitted with a steam turbine for its main engine.   

m.v IRISH ASH (No.1287) – Launched:- 24th September 1957, from the Central Yard. Completed:- January 1958, for Irish Shipping Ltd. 8,269grt.  Re-named:- ALIAKMON POWER. B/U:- Ulsan, 20th June 1979.

m.v PEARL BEACH (No.1288) – Launched:- 12th December 1957, from the Central Yard. Completed:- April 1958 for N.G. Livanos, Co., Greece. 8,692grt.  Re-named:- TARPON SWIFT; 1977 – TAPROBANE GOODRICH.  B/U:- Kaohsiung, 27th August 1979.

m.v LORADORE (No.1291) – Launched:- 6th February 1958, from the Dock Yard. 

Completed:- June 1958, for Constants Ltd. 8,077grt.  Re-named:- 1966 – ALIARTOS; 1970 – THOMAS A; 1975 – IRENES BANNER.  Fire at Dawes Is. Anchorage, Bonny River, 19th January 1978, & Beached.

m.v PEARL CREEK (No.1289) – Launched:- 19th May 1958, from the Central Yard. Completed:- September 1958, for N.G. Livanos, Co., Greece. 8,692grt.  Re-named:- 1974 – LEODAMAS; 1978 – ZINOVIA.  Wrecked:- 24th September 1979.  B/U:- Gadani Beach, 3rd December 1980.

I left school at 15, and, as I was still interested in shipping, it was natural that I followed my Father into the shipyards. I started work as the ‘General Store Boy’ at the Central Marine Engine Works, of the Wm. Gray & Co. shipyards, of West Hartlepool. Running errands and issuing stores as required. I also learnt some of the tradesmen tricks like:- ‘Go to the store for a long stand,’ (which we duly obliged with, until the person asked why we weren’t serving him, when we said ‘well! you requested a long stand’).  or ‘Go for a capful of nail holes,’ (for a joiner or carpenter) or ‘Go for a bucket full of steam to test this ------ .’ etc. etc. I also learnt from other people’s mistakes, like measuring up for bolts and forgetting to allow for the nut and possible washer(s), which was a regular occurrence.

During my time in the General Store I assisted with the engineering stores for the following ships which were being built in the yards:-

m.v CLEVELAND (No.1293) – Launched:- 31st July 1958, from the Central Yard. Completed:- November 1958, for Stephenson, Clark Ltd. 8,619grt.  Re-named:- 1964 – VENICE; 1978 – HONG QI 131.              Deleted:- 2002.

m.v RIVERDORE (No.1294) – Launched:- 30th September 1958, from the Dock Yard.  Completed:- March 1959, for Constants Ltd.  8,080grt.  Re-named:- 1974 – SHAH-E-RAZA; 1975 – AL KARIM; 1978 – BACHDANG; 1980 – EASTERN CONQUEST.  B/U:- Gadani Beach, 8th March 1982.

m.v DEGEMA (No.1295) – Launched:- 27th November 1958, from the Central Yard.  Completed:- April 1959, for Elder Dempster Lines.  8,138grt.  Re-named:- 1979 – VEEJUMBO; 1982 – DEGEMA.  B/U:- Gadani Beach, 30th January 1983.

m.v DIXCOVE  (No.1296) – Launched:- 25th March 1959, from the Central Yard. Completed:- June 1959, for Elder Dempster Lines.  8,138grt.  Re-named:- 1979 – GULF EAGLE. B/U:- Chittagong, 15th June 1983.

s.s MARY HOLT (No.1300) – Launched:- 21st May 1959, from the Dock Yard. Completed:- October 1959, for Guinea Gulf Line. 5,577grt.  Re-named:- 1965 – SIPSAH.  B/U:- Gadani Beach, 1st February 1975.

This ship was fitted with a steam turbine for its main engine. It was also the last steam turbine to be built by Gray’s in the Central Marine Engine Works.

m.v PEARL HAVEN (No.1292) – Launched:- 5th October 1959, from the Dock Yard. Completed:- January 1960, for N.G. Livanos, Co., Greece.  8,693grt.  Re-named:- 1968 – THETIS; 1973 – EVANGELISMOS; 1975 – ANGLIA; 1976 – CHIOS. B/U:- Kaohsiung, 4th October 1979. This was the last ship to be launched from the Dock Yard slipways.

After a spell of nearly a year in the General Store, it was time for me to move into the Engine Works to start serving my apprenticeship as an engineer. I started on light machining, turret lathes, drilling, milling and slotting. Marking off castings, and materials before they went for machining. Following a spell of working on boiler fittings I was moved into the Offices doing progress and planning, until the demise of the engine works. With people leaving at this time, taking up new jobs elsewhere, I was moved back out of the offices to marking off, as I was one of the last apprentices with that experience.

Whilst I was serving my apprenticeship the other ships that were built and completed by the Gray’s yard were:-

m.v MABEL WARWICK (No.1301) – Launched:- 14th February 1960, from the Central Yard. Completed:- June 1960, for Houlder Bros., Ore Carriers Ltd. 11,632grt.  Re-named:- 1976 – NIKOLAS MALEFAKIS; 1980 – RUBINI.  B/U:- Eleusis, 8th June 1983, following engine damage 10th -14th July 1982.

m.v IRISH SYCAMORE (No.1302) – Launched:- 17th January 1961, from the Central Yard.  Completed:- May 1961, for Irish Shipping Co.  10,560grt.  Re-named:- 1973 – MARIA; 1978 – ELIANE; 1980 – MALDIVE NOBLE.  B/U:- Alang, 7th April 1984.

m.v JOYA McCANCE (No.1307) – Launched:- 11th July 1960, from the Central Yard.  Completed:- October 1960, for Houlder Bros., Ore Carriers Ltd.  11,871grt.  Re-named:- 1966 – ST MARGARET; 1978 – HADIOTIS; 1987 – MARITIMA VI (Barge). Stranded:- River Orinoco, 12th July 1985.  B/U:- Turkey, 1989 / 90.

m.v BLANCHLAND (No.1303) – Launched:- 29th June 1961, from the Central Yard.  Completed:- November 1961, for Stephenson, Clark Ltd.  8,999grt.  Re-named:- 1968 – EUGENIA M; 1982 – IONION PRINCESS. B/U:- Qinhuangdao, January 1986. Damaged by an explosion, August 1985.

The BLANCHLAND was the last ship to be built by the Wm. Gray shipyard and the Central Marine Engine Works at West Hartlepool. The company ceased trading a year or so after the last ship sailed away.

It was during my lunch breaks that I first became aware of the Ben Line and their ships. (This was the company which I later joined, and sailed, for a few years, on some of their steamships.) Sitting on the quayside one day, I watched first, the BENARTY, a heavy lift vessel, of 7,795grt, sail from Hartlepool, to be replaced in port the next day by the BENLEDI,an identical sister ship. She remained in the port for a few years until she in turn was replaced by another similar sister ship the BENALBANACH.

The BENARTY was built in 1945 as the EMPIRE WALLACE, joining Ben Line in 1956. Sold in 1962 she was renamed ELYS HARBOUR, over the next few years she was renamed UNIQUE DEVELOPER; FERMENCO; AVALON and BAHIA COLOMBIA. She was broken up at Chittagong in 1988.

BENLEDI was also built in 1945 as the EMPIRE ADMIRAL, renamed PETER DAL, before she joined Ben Line in 1951. She was sold in 1963 and was renamed ANDROS TOMENNO later to become UNIQUE CARRIER before she was broken up at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 1969.

 BENALBANACH was built in 1946 as the EMPIRE ATHELSTAN, Ben Line acquired her in1947. She was sold in 1966 to the Ministry of Transport and was renamed CAMELOT. In 1969 she was again sold and was renamed DRAGON CASTLE. Following another sale she finally arrived for breaking up at Split, Yugoslavia in 1975.

I was later to learn, when I joined the Ben Line, that the vessels in Hartlepool were on a Government Charter, which meant one of the vessels had to be in a U.K. port at all times in case the need arose to transport heavy military equipment by sea. The ships, whilst in port, were manned by a skeleton crew who kept them in a working condition, in readiness in case they were needed.

Just before the final closure of the Gray’s Shipbuilding Yards, I was transferred to the J. Readheads shipyard and engine works at South Shields, on Tyneside, were I spent eighteen months, until I had completed my apprenticeship.

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