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Black Jack

Issue No: 161 Winter 2011

QUARTERLY MAGAZINE SOUTHAMPTON BRANCH WORLD SHIP SOCIETY www.sotonwss.org.uk

Price £1.00

Enforcer (7624g built 2004), a Dutch container ship operated by JR Ship Management, sailing from 204 berth on a rather wintry-looking day. Photo by Monty Beckett

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Black Jack – Winter 2011 No.161

Editorial team Mick Lindsay, Nigel Robinson and Editorial Assistant Michael Page. Website – Neil Richardson Black Jack is the quarterly newsletter for the Southampton Branch of the World Ship Society. Four editions available for £5 inclusive of postage.

Branch Meetings Venue: St James Road Methodist Church St James Road Shirley Southampton, SO15 5HE All meetings commence at 19.30 and the meeting room is to be vacated by 21.30. Meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month. Honorary Branch Secretary Colin Drayson 57 The Drove Commercial St Bitterne Southampton, SO18 6LY 023 8049 0290 Chairman Neil Richardson 109 Stubbington Lane Stubbington Fareham, Hants, PO14 2PB 01329 663450 Treasurer Andrew Hogg “Debanker” Lyburn Road Hamptworth Salisbury SP5 2DP 01794 390502 Visits Organiser Adrian Tennet 34 New Road Fair Oak SO50 8EN 023 8060 0197 Full details of all committee members can be found on the Southampton WSS website at www.sotonwss.org.uk Editorial contacts: michael_lindsay@hotmail.co.uk gillrobinson@freenetname.co.uk

2012 Branch Meeting Programme

January 11th

Shanghai Shipping 2010 – Jimmy Poole

February 14th Cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean – Bill Lawes March 13th David West’s Slides – Paul Gosling April 10th Titanic Anniversary – Alistair Arnott May 8th Falklands Anniversary – Bill Lawes June 12th Gosport Ferries – Phil Simons July 10th My First AGM – Monty Beckett August 14th Members’ Image Gallery – Our annual competition with slides and digital entries September Ocean Liners and Cruise Ships 1905 - 11

th 2005 – Doug and Daphne Toogood

October 9th Blue Funnel Line – John Lillywhite November A.G.M. – Plus “The Start of it All”, 13th Colin Drayson December At Sea in the ‘Fifties – 11th Edwin Goodfellow

Plus the Annual Branch Cruise on

Saturday 2nd June 11am to 6pm from

Ocean Village

All contributions to BJ either by post, email, floppy disk or CD are most welcome. Any article with a connection to the Solent area would be much appreciated. The BJ Edi-tors could reproduce magazine or newspaper articles but preference is given to articles ‘by the branch – for the branch’. Any member who would prefer to receive the Branch Magazine Black Jack by email please contact the Editor. Colour printing costs are relatively high so all recent Black Jacks can be viewed in full colour via the Branch website in pdf format. www.sotonwss.org.uk

2012 WSS Subscriptions

Information re-subscriptions for 2012 is as follows:- For all current members, £30 to cover both WSS and local branch subs; for life members or those who are members elsewhere but also belong to our branch, £5. Members must renew their subs via Andrew Hogg the Branch Treasurer (address opposite).

http://www.sotonwss.org.uk/mailto:michael_lindsay@hotmail.co.ukmailto:gillrobinson@freenetname.co.uk

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Berths 204 - 7 Container Ships:

Wega 7550/96, CMA CGM Lyra 131332/11, MOL Competence 86692/08, MOL Charisma 36692/07, OOCL China 66046/96, Sofia Express 93750/10, Enforcer 7642/04, APL Minnesota 71787/08, CMA CGM Titan 131332/11, OOCL Rotterdam 89097/04, CMA CGM Centaurus 131332/11

Ro-Ro Vessels:

Jupiter Spirit 45961/11, Ocean Challenger 60213/10, Toscana 61328/09, Zenith Leader 62080/07, Hoegh Osaka 51770/00, Platinum Ray 57772/00, Morning Celesta 57542/08, Morning Cornet 57542/07,, Carmen 74258/11, Morning Laura 70687/10

Berth 107 - 109 & No 7 Dry-dock:

Wilson Nice 6118/10, Ivy 2061/85, K Coral 32539/10, Ayr 2451/06, Krempertor 2351/90, Meridiaan 5887/10, Heinrich G 2446/97, Solenne 3170/00, Chaves 2956/09, Ocean To-mo 31243/10, Elke K 2449/93, Richelieu 2400/07, Sea Hawk 1959/89, Bandura 5425/10, Heinz G 2545/11, Arklow Rogue 299/07, Luminous Orange 36712/97, Najland 3826/89, Lady Nola 1978/02, Risoluto 2848/97, Delfin 2780/98, Nestor 4252/08, Arklow rose 2997/02, Brigga 2818/95, Hydra 2281/07, Fokko Ukena 2451/07, Komarno 2446/93, Emsmoon 4563/00, Hau Zander 1960/90, Flinterbay 2560/04

Berth 104:

Humboldt Rex 7637/98, Columbia 6399/91, Nagato reefer 7367/00

Marchwood Bulk Berth:

Patria 2210/95, Karmel 3183/04, Mungo 664/80, Stagard 2868/00

Berths 36:

Sofie N 2999/99, Casablanca 2061/94, Ingunn 2998/01, Janet 2748/98, Minka C 2291/08, Tina C 3391/08, Karla C 4151/10, Kristin C 4145/10, Flinterbirka 2474/06, Kelly C 4151/10, Kikki C 4151/11, Arklow Manor 9682/09, Kitty C 4151/11, Nekton 1996/96, Kimberly C 4151/11 Burnley Wharf:

City of London 3660/89

Dibles Wharf:

Swift 794/89, Martin 794/86, River Trader 794/89, River Pride 794/84, Bounder 1984/89, Marc Andre 2518/07

Prince’s Wharf:

Krempertor 2351/90, Bramau 2452/05, Marne 2530/05, Arlau 2461/04, Suderau 2461/05, Muhlenau 2461/04, Arklow Rose 2999/02, Norderau 2461/05, Bekau 2461/05

Passenger Vessels:

Costa Atlantica 85619/00, Aidablu 71304/10, MSC Orches-tra 92409/07, MSC Poesia 92627/08, Artania 44588/84

Other Cargo vessels:

BBC Konan 8831/00, Artisgracht 7949/90, Beluga stavang-er 17634/10, Diamantgracht 13706/09, Leiria 1921/03, Singergracht 16641/00, Dolfjingracht 13706/09

MONTY’S NOTEBOOK A round-up of new or infrequent recent callers to Southampton Docks. Details and photographs supplied by Monty Beckett. Photos top to bottom:Columbia, Arklow Manor, CMA CGM Centaurus

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FAVERSHAM SHIPS LTD

Part Two

by David Hornsby

FORMERLY OWNED OR MANAGED VESSELS

All ships are general cargo motorships with a four-stoke oil engine and single screw, unless indicated otherwise.

CONFORMITY (I) 599 gt 880 dwt; 56.1 loa x 9.9 x 3.2m draft; I hold (1134 cm grain); 750 bhp 6-cyl Mirrlees Blackstone, 11 knots IMO 7413957 11/1975 completed by NV Scheepswerf Ferus Smit, Foxhol, Netherlands (yd. 213) as CONFORMITY for (1994 – 1999) F T Everard & Sons Ltd (499 gt) 5/1994 acquired by Faversham Ships without name change, Everards remained freight managers, UK flag 1999 sold and renamed CONFORM by Admirable Shipping, Fort Lauderdale under Panamanian flag; still in service.

CONFORMITY (1) arriving Rotterdam 9/3/1995 (Hans & Simon Rosenkranz)

CELEBRITY 633 gt 946 dwt; 57.6 loa x 10.0 x 3.3m draft; I hold (1317 cm grain); 750 bhp 6-cyl Mirrlees Blackstone, 10 knots IMO 7392024 1/1976 completed by J W Cook & Co (Wivenhoe) Ltd, Wivenhoe (yd. 1448) as CELEBRITY for F T Everard & (1999 – 2003) Sons Ltd (582 gt); Mid-1994 to Apollo Shipping Ltd, (mgr: F T Everard & Sons Management Ltd), UK flag. 7/1996 to Nord Ship Management Ltd, Kirkwall, Orkney, under UK flag 1999 acquired by Faversham Ships without change of name 10/2003 sold to River Sea Trading Ltd, but shortly afterwards grounded off Stornaway, repaired; 6/2004 resold and renamed ANNA D (Big Ditch Shipping Co) reg: Runcorn and operated by KD Marine on Manchester Ship Canal. 3/2009 sold and renamed ANTUNES CARNEIRO (Sao Tome flag); still in service.

CONFORMITY (2) loading at Europoort on 5/8/2003 (Frans Sanderse)

CONFORMITY (2) River/sea trader with bridge on hydraulic pillar; 1,300 gt 1,450 dwt IMO 7601023 84.8 loa x 9.5 x 3.3m draft; I hold (2214 cm grain); 995 bhp 5-cyl SKL, 11.5 knots (1999 – 2004) 3/1977 completed by Gebr Koetter Schiffwerft-, Haren-Ems, Germany (yd 69) as EMS-LINER for River-Liner Bereederungs GmbH (mgr Gerhard Wessels) (498 gt); 1980 managing owner Reederei Alfred Hartmann KG, Leer, Germany; later owned by Rederij Markal and operated by RMS, Duisburg 26/11/1999 acquired by Faversham Ships and renamed CONFORMITY under UK flag (reg. Faversham) 6/2/2004 sold and renamed FAIRWIND (mgr: Eestinova Ou to 10/2007 then OOO Baff Vyborg, Dominica flag); 7/2008 renamed FAIRWIND I (Pan flag); March 2010 renamed SAN MARTINI (Ugmar Co, Ukraine) Georgia flag; 3/2011 sold without name change to Hartmile Projects SA, Panama under Tanzania flag; 2/8/2011 arrived breakers at Aliaga, Turkey.

http://media.shipspotting.com/uploads/thumbs/rw/172234_800/Ship+Photo+Conformity.jpghttp://media.shipspotting.com/uploads/thumbs/rw/85511_800/Ship+Photo+Conformity.jpg

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CORNET 892 gt 1,255 dwt; 64.0 loa x 10.4 x 3.8; 1 hold (1839 cm grain) 52 TEU (34 hold/18 dk) IMO 7422520 1220 bhp 8-cyl Mirrlees Blackstone, 11 knots; 9/1976 completed by Hancocks S B Co Ltd, Pembroke Dock (2000) (yd. RH1) as DAUNT ROCK for R & H Hall Ltd, Cork (one of four ‘Rocks’ managed by Irish Shipping Ltd) 1983 to Searaven Shipping Corp, Liberia (mgr: Alexanders Partners (Shipbroking) Ltd, London) under Bahamas Flag 1988 renamed CORNET by Franco British Chartering Agency Ltd (manager Campbell Maritime Ltd), Baha mas flag 2/2000 acquired by Faversham Ships jointly with Casu Investment without name or flag change; after just two weeks sold 3/2000 to Labrador Shipping Ltd (mgr. Zila Shipping Cargo Services), later to Louis Records Promotions, then 2001 to Caro Shipping Inc and renamed ZILA (Panamanian); still in service. ROUSTEL 892 gt 1,240 dwt; 64.0 loa x 10.4 x 3.7m draft; 1 hold (1839 cm grain) 52 TEU (34 hold/18 deck) IMO 7422532 625 bhp 8-cyl Mirrlees Blackstone, 11 knots (2000 – 2003) 5/1978 completed by Hancocks S B Co Ltd (yd. RH2) as SKELLIG ROCK for R & H Hall Ltd (mgr.Irish Shipping) 1983 to Searaven Shipping Corp, Liberia (mgr: Alexanders Partners (Shipbroking) Ltd, London) Bahamas flag. 1988 renamed ROUSTEL by Franco British Chartering Agency Ltd (manager Campbell Maritime Ltd), Bahamas flag 3/2000 acquired by Faversham Ships jointly with Casu Investment without name or flag change. 1/2003 sold and initially reported as renamed SKELLIG ROCK, but later confirmed as renamed EFTHIMIOS (Greek owned under St Vincent flag); 2005 renamed EVGENIA II; 2007 renamed EVGENIA N (Moldovia flag); 2009 renamed TAMARA by Ukraine owners under Sierra Leone flag; still in service. RIVER DART 536 gt 825 dwt; 50.0 loa x 9.2 x 3.4m draft; 1 hold (1011 cm grain); 575 bhp 5-cyl Callesen, 10 knots IMO 8012839 Launched 9/4/1981 and 6/1981 completed by A/S Nordsovaeftet, Ringkobing, Denmark (yd. 148) as RIVER DART (2001 – 2002) for General Freight Co Ltd, UK (mgr: F T Everard & Sons Management Ltd) 7/1985 to Ensign Express Shipping Ltd, London (mgr Tower Ships Ltd, later GT Gillie & Blair Ltd) under UK flag 6/2001 acquired by Faversham Ships without name or flag change 28/2/2002 sold to River Sea Trading (Capt Heather Mitchell), but Faversham remain managers to 6/2003, when Torbulk appointed managers; 2006 sold to Richard Grant, County Clare (mgr. Coastal Cargo Shipping) and time- chartered to JK Shipping ApS, Denmark; 2008 damaged when arriving at Randers, Denmark and detained; sold to Danish breakers at Grena, but 14/11/2008 resold to Greek owner Simi Shipping Lines Co under Moldova flag, then 2/2009 transferred to Greek flag and renamed PANORMITIS; still in service. CLARITY 986 gt 1,448 dwt 69.9 loa x 11.2 x 3.4m draft; hold (1918 cm grain); 1088 bhp 7-cyl B&W-Alpha, 11 knots IMO 8012815 1981 completed by A/S Nordsovaeftet, Ringkobing, Denmark (yd. 146) as UNION MARS for Union Transport (2001 – 2003) (London) Ltd (935 gt) 9/2001 acquired by Windle Shipping Co Ltd renamed CLARITY and managed by Faversham Ships (Barbados flag) 7/4/2003 sold to Baltnautic Shipping Ltd, Lithuania (St Vincent flag) without name change; still in service. SHETLAND 909 gt 1,315 dwt; 60.0 loa x 11.2 x 3.9m draft; 1 hold (1781 cm grain); 990 bhp 8-cyl Mirrlees Blackstone, 11 knots TRADER (I) 4/1980 completed by Cochrane Shipbuilders Ltd, Selby (yd. 110) as ANGELONIA for J Wharton (Shipping) Ltd, IMO 7827249 Gunness (at the time part owned by Everards); 4/1986 managers became FT Everard & Sons Management Ltd (2002 -2005) 6/86 sold to F T Everard Shipping Ltd and 6/1988 renamed COMITY; 10/1993 to James Fisher subsidiary Onesimus Dorey (Shipowners) and demise chartered to Torbulk and renamed PORTLAND. 1997 sold to John Flem ing & Co Holdings Ltd and renamed SHETLAND TRADER managed by Hay & Co (Lerwick) 22/4/2002 acquired by Faversham Ships without name or flag change, but 6/2004 to Barbados flag. 8/2007 sold and renamed HAV TIND by Frakt & Sandsoelan SpF (mgr: Alvar Hojgaard) Faeroes flag; still in service.

SHETLAND TRADER (1) in Flushing Roads (Wim Kosten maritimephoto.com)

TRINITY 997 gt 1,544 dwt 63.8 loa x 11.7 x 3.9m draft; 1 hold – 2065cm grain; 1824 bhp 6-cyl Krupp-MaK, 10 knots IMO 8421717 4/1986 completed by Bodewes Scheepswerven BV, Hoogezand, Netherlands (yd .551) as TRITON for Beck (2003 – 2008) Scheepvaartkantoor BV, Netherlands (Dutch flag) 1/2003 acquired by Faversham Ships and renamed TRINITY, Barbados flag 21/7/2008 sold and handed over at Shoreham, later 2008 renamed DON ANDRES K (Chile); still in service.

Launch of VICTRESS (Authors collection)

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VICTRESS 1,095 gt 1,622 dwt 66.2 loa x 11.4 x 4.5m draft; 1 hold (2227 cm grain); 1795 bhp 6-cyl Krupp-MaK, 11 knots IMO 8110875 13/3/1982 launched and 4/1982 completed by Niestern Sander BV, Delfzijl, Netherlands (yd. 507) as VICTRESS for (2003 – 2006) Beck Scheepvaartkantoor BV, Netherlands (Dutch flag) 9/2003 acquired by Faversham Ships without name change, under Barbados flag 7/8/2006 sold to Colombian owner under Colombian flag without name change; still in service. ISLAY 909 gt 1,315 dwt; 60.0 loa x 11.2 x 3.9m draft; 1 hold (1781 cm grain); 990 bho 8-cyl Mirrlees Blackstone, 12 knots TRADER (I) 2/1980 completed by Cochrane Shipbuilders Ltd, Selby (yd. 109) as LIZZONIA for J Wharton (Shipping) Ltd, IMO 7827237 Gunness (part owned by Everards); 4/1986 managers FT Everard & Sons Management Ltd; 6/1986 sold to F T (2003 – 2005) Everard Shipping Ltd and 2/1989 renamed CAPACITY; 1994 sold and renamed PENTLAND by James Fisher subsidiary Onesimus Dorey (Shipowners) Ltd, again managed by F T Everard & Sons Management Ltd, but later managed by Torbulk Ltd; 2000 renamed SEA KESTREL by Merlin Marine (F T Everard Management Ltd) 11/2003 acquired by Faversham Ships and renamed ISLAY TRADER under Barbados flag 5/2005 sold to G Giulietti and renamed SEA STAR; then 2006 to Eurotec, then 2007 renamed SAMOS ISLAND by Naftotrade Shipping, Piraeus under Barbados flag then almost immediately to Maltese flag; 1/2011 renamed SON I by Son Shipping & Trading Ltd, Istanbul (mgr. Derin Gemi, Istanbul) under Maltese flag; still in service. CONFORMITY (3) 993 gt 1,715 dwt; 64.8 loa x 11.0 x 4.3m draft; 1 hold (1955 cm grain); 950 bhp 5-cyl 2-stroke Bolnes, 10.5 knots IMO 8411542 1985 completed by Scheepswerf de Groot & van Vliet BV, Bolnes, Netherlands (yd. 415) as STEEL SPRINTER for (2004 – 2006) Marinus Smits, Denmark under Dutch flag, later becoming General Shipping & Chartering Services BV (Genchart), Dutch subsidiary of Smits Shipping Group and in 2001 renamed JENNIFER for Genchart BV subsidiary of HSS Holland Ship Service BV under the Cypriot flag. 2/2004 acquired by Faversham Ships and renamed CONFORMITY under Barbados flag 1/2006 sold to Colombian owner under Colombian flag without name change, reverting to Barbados flag in 2008. Still in service.

CONFORMITY (3) outbound from Rotterdam on 22/8/2005 (Wil Weijsters) VEDETTE 2,033 gt 3,502 dwt; 86.0 loa x 14.0 x 5.3m draft 2 holds (4262cm); TEU 152 (60 hold/92 deck); IMO 8909185 1795 bhp 6-cyl Krupp-MaK, 11 knots (2005 – 2010) keel laid 06/03/1990. launched 27/10/1990, completed 12/1990 by Bodewes Scheepswerven BV, Hoogezand, Netherlands (yard no.560) as VEDETTE for Beck Scheepvaartkantoor BV, Netherlands (Dutch flag) 9/2003 taken over by Beck Merwe Ship BV (Carisbrooke Shipping (Holland) BV) and management transferred to Soetermeer Fekkes Cargodoorskantor BV (later renamed Northern Ship Management) 18/1/2005 acquired by jointly owned Atlas Navigation Ltd with Faversham Ships as Managers, Isle of Man flag. 4/2010 sold to Turkish owners and renamed ALARA (St Kitts flag) and 5/2010 renamed SEABEE by Otto Shipping Co Ltd, Istanbul (mgr. Tanya Deniz) without flag change; still in service.

VEDETTE (Faversham photograph) DOWLAIS 794 gt 1,360 dwt 58.3 loa x 9.4 x 3.9m draft; 1 hold (1770 cm grain) IMO 8403521 Twin screw with 720 bhp twin 6-cyl Cummins to directional propellers, 8 knots (2007) 1/1985 completed by Yorkshire DD Co Ltd, Hull (yd. 288) as DOWLAIS for Harris & Dixon (Shipbrokers) Ltd, London and managed by R Lapthorn & Co Ltd, Rochester; 2002 renamed UNION ARROW (Union Transport Group) 2/5/2007 acquired by Faversham Ships and renamed DOWLAIS under Barbados flag. 6/2007 resold and renamed DOWLAIS D by Caledonian Shipping Co Ltd (mgr. The Big Ditch Shipping Co Ltd) under Sierra Leone flag; 3/2009 sold Greek owners Doxa Shipmanagement Corp and renamed ASTRADENI; 2010 renamed CPT. LAMPROS by Bold Maritime SA, Greece under St Vincent flag; 1/2011 sold to Deji Shipping Co; 5/2011 renamed TOKAS by Alpha & Alpha SA under Sierra Leone flag; still in service.

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DOWLAIS in Whitstable Harbour on 11/5/2007, newly repainted in Faversham Ships colours (Ben Mann) VISCOUNT River/sea trader with bridge on hydraulic pillar; 1,513 gt 2,366 dwt 74.9 loa x 11.4 x 4.4 draft; 1 hold (3070 cm bale) IMO 9030515 twin screw with 1482 bhp twin V12-cyl Cummins to Schottel rudder propellers, 10.5 kts (2008 - 2010) keel laid 16/3/1992, launched 6/7/1992, delivered 9/1993 by Rosslauer Schiffswerft GmbH, Rosslau, Germany (236) as LASS SATURN for H H Wubbe Nachfolger, Hamburg and operated by Walter Lass; 1993 renamed GREIFSWALD; 1994 renamed LASS SATURN; 2005 managers SKR Reederei GmbH, Madeira (Portuguese) flag. 4/2008 acquired by Faversham Ships and renamed VISCOUNT (Barbados flag); 12/2010 sold and renamed ARTIC OCEAN by Artic Shipping AS, Norway under Barbados flag and converted to fish meal carrier servicing fish farms on north-western Norwegian coast.

To be continued – Part Three will feature the present fleet.

JOHN SOMERSET HAVERS (1920 – 2011)

John passed away peacefully on 15th October. John’s father was Dr. Geoffrey Gordon Havers, B.A., M.R.C.S., L.P.C.P., D.A., who was living at 4 Brookvale Road, Southampton and his surgery was at the same address. The family later moved to “Knightwood”, Chilworth.

During the 1930s, John was able to visit Southampton Docks regularly and also made visits to various ships. In September 1939, he was expecting to be called up for National Service, but this never happened due to his bad feet (one of his toes on each foot crossed over another). On the 10th of that month he received a phone call from a naval officer at South Western Hotel offering him a job with the Navy, working in Southampton Docks and he had to report to the Commander at the hotel. When John went to report, he found that the Royal Navy had taken over one whole floor (the establishment was known as HMS Prosepine). After the interview, he was accepted as a sub-Lieutenant in the R.N.V.R. and was placed on a 24-hour watch, shared with two other officers. He remained working in Southampton for the next few months.

On 12 July 1940, he embarked at Southampton on the troopship Strathnaver for Colombo, where he arrived on 19 August. He then went by ferry and train to Bombay where, on 28 August, he embarked on B.I.S.N.C.’s Ekma and arrived at Suez on 12 Sep-

tember. He travelled by car to Port Said and was based at Navy House for the next eight months, being involved with numerous ships passing through.

In April 1941, he was moved to Suda Bay in Crete and during the following month, the island was invaded by German troops. At the end of the month it was decided to evacuate the island, and so, on 27 May 1941, John, with many others, embarked on the fast minelayer H.M.S. Abdiel (built by J. Samuel White at Cowes in 1939) and was landed at Alexandria.

Back at Suez in 1941, John visited Royal Mail Lines’ Atlantis (then in use as a hospital ship), as he had been instructed to obtain an inventory of “all Royal Mail Lines’ goods and chattels”, as the vessel had been bought outright by the Government. That year, John got his first sighting of the new Queen Elizabeth. He was also in Suez when White Star Line’s Georgic was bombed and set on fire on 17 July.

He finally left Egypt on the Britannic on 16 October 1943 and arrived at Liverpool in November. Once home, he spent some time at Tilbury and later at Newport (Mon.) and then Cardiff. On 29 September 1944, he was moved to Liverpool, where he remained until 22 May 1945, when he went on embarkation leave.

On 5 June that year, he embarked on the Strathmore for Colombo, where he arrived on 26 July. Early in 1946, he was due to be demobilised and he arranged to return home on the smaller Heron of G.N.S.C., which left Colombo on 28

th March and arrived at

Workington on 27 April, when he went home on leave.

It was later in 1946 that he joined Union Castle Line’s Carnarvon Castle as a purser and spent the next 14 years travelling be-tween Southampton and South Africa with the company.

Back on shore, he opened two shops with a partner (four shops eventually) in Southampton, selling tobacco and confectionery – Havers & Campbell at 249 Portswood Road and 396 Bitterne Road. The other two were in Latimer Street, Southampton and High Street, Winchester, respectively.

He became vice-Chairman of the Southampton Branch of the World Ship Society in 1972, and Chairman from October 1974 until October 1985. In addition, he was vice-Chairman of the Solent Maritime Society from 1969, becoming Chairman the following year, serving until December 1999.

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A - Z OF SAIL

by Michael Page

“M” is for the “Maria Asumpta” What a grand name for a grand old lady, she was built of wood in 1858 at Badalona near Barcelona as a brig, and in her early days was involved in the textile trade between Argentina and Spain.

She was finally lost off the North Cornish coast at Rumps Point near Padstow on the 30th May 1995, and was at that

time the oldest active square rigger in the world.

After her trade in textiles she was later used to transport slaves and salt. This sort of trading carried on for many years until in the 1930’s an engine was installed and she was renamed Pepita. So with an engine her rigging was reduced and in 1953 she was renamed again - this time Ciudad de Inca, but further changes were coming as by 1978 she was operating without masts in the Mediterranean.

In 1980 her owners wanted to sell her engines and burn the ship, however upon the scene came Mark Litchfield and Robin Cecil Wright who had founded the China Clipper Society. So they decided to buy the Ciudad de Inca purely for the value of the engines.

Then their new project began, and over about 18 months they restored the ship and it became a sail training ship in 1982. From 1984 to 1988 she was based at Quebec sailing on the Great Lakes.

Then a further change she was given her original name of Maria Asumpta and registered as a private yacht. At this point she was the oldest surviving sailing ship; what an honour that was. Another change was that she later on regained her sail training ship status and in 1994 took part in the Tall Ships events at Rouen.

Then disaster struck, after a refit at Gloucester she was sailing down to enter Padstow Harbour, and against all ad-vice the captain Mark Litchfield took her between the Mouls and Pentire Point, the engine stopped due to contami-nation and she started to drift and then hit some submerged rocks, in spite of a major rescue operation, 3 of the 14 crew were lost.

At the trial Mark Litchfield was charged with manslaughter and jailed for 18 months. This case is used in teaching gross negligence in law. What an unhappy ending for such a fine ship with such a fine history. Builder………………. Nicholas Pida Launched…………... Badalona, Spain 1858 Tons………………… 127 Length……………… 123 feet (37.49 m) Beam……………….. 25 feet (7.62 m) Draught…………….. 10 feet 6 inches (3.20 m) Propulsion…………. Sails plus 2 x GEC Dorman 6 LET diesel engines - (175 hp. (130 kW) each Sail plan……………. Brig

Two views of Maria Asumpta in Cornwall … left - off St Michaels Mount … and right - leaving Fowey