Showing posts with label 7-0. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 7-0. Show all posts

Friday, 1 January 2016

A Happy and Peaceful 2016



A Happy and Peaceful 2016

We would like to wish all of our many visitors both to this Blog and the Leith Shipyards website a very Happy and Peaceful 2016






Ship No 347 started out with the name LOCH KATRINE one of the Loch Class Frigates built at the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb Ltd, in the dark days of the Second World War
She went on to become part of the New Zealand Navy, as HMNZS ROTOITI and spent some years based in the far south of the Southern Ocean on station as a rescue and weather ship as support to the bases in the Antarctic.

So please spare a though or two for those who may not be able to be at home at this time of the year.

Sunday, 20 December 2015

Final aircraft carrier section arrives at Rosyth

With the final section (Superblock) for the second of the U.K.'s new Aircraft Carriers to be named as Prince of Wales it just remains for the guys at Rosyth who are assemling the carriers to put the last remaining blocks together in the dry-dock and sometime next year she will be joining her sister ship Queen Elizabeth in the fitting out basin for around another three years of work before she will be handed over for commissioning trials and then into the Royal Navy, it is to be hoped that by this time the U.K. will have aeroplanes in the form of the new F35's to fly from her decks.
For more on the story see the BBC website link


A barge carrying the aircraft carrier's Aft Island completed its journey up the Firth of Forth to Rosyth on Sunday morning

It is also pretty amazing that she had to complete a journey which as the crow fies is around 50 miles, by being barged all the way around the British Isles southwards from the Clyde down to the English Channel and then back up the East Coast of the British Isles through the North Sea to arrive in the Firth of Forth a seaward voyage of some 1,300 miles.


Wednesday, 14 October 2015

SA WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE

We could not resist showing this great photograph taken by D. Shackleton and sent into the Leith Shipyards website by L. Pollard.
 Same photographer took the almost identical shot of her sister ship the SA JOHN ROSS which had been built at a local South African shipyard and was launched a bit after the Leith built SA WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE which just looked right.


SA WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE Z-TUG

SA JOHN ROSS Z-TUG
They show the two mighty ships arriving at Cape Town for the first time ready to go about there work.

Don’t know about you but I know which ship looks the better and leave you to choose your own preferred picture.



Sunday, 27 September 2015

Fairfields Shipyards


The launch of HMS DRAGON in this posed picture

Another fine use for some of the shipbuilding heritage and history in Scotland has arrived with the opening of the former head offices and old drawing office of the Fairfields shipbuilding company.

The Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company opened its new Govan yard in 1864 and was named after the once agricultural land it occupied.
Fairfields would become the greatest shipyard in a city that was responsible for 20 per cent of global production by 1913.

At its peak, the industry on the Clyde employed 100,000 staff at more than 40 yards.



While shipbuilding of course continues at the Govan yard on a somewhat smaller scale the The A-listed former Fairfields head offices and drawing rooms, which had lain empty for several years, were bought in 2009 by social enterprise Govan Workplace.

The refurbished buildings now provide office space for local businesses and is home to the Fairfield Heritage centre.

Surely a better use than turning it into another shopping centre?



Sunday, 20 September 2015

Last Surviving Building from Leith Shipyards to Re-Open

We are pleased to be able to tell you that the only remaining building from the Leith Shipbuilding era is to be re-opened as an art studio for budding artists to present there work.

This is the only remaining building that Forth Ports at the time never managed to knock down, which was no surprise as it was originally built to sustain attack from German Bombers during the dark days of World War Two.

The last remaining building of hundreds of years of shipbuilding at Leith


Built at the request of the Admiralty to help protect all the many ship plans and drawings that were required to build all the many warships at the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb Ltd, such as Corvettes and Frigates for the Royal Navy during the six years of War.
They required a secure facility from the threat of fire from incendiary bombs dropped by German aircraft.

Hell what chance had Forth Ports of knocking it down when the German bombers could not do it.


The building was constructed the same as a traditional riveted ship's superstructure complete with riveted seams and ships portholes.

Also used as a first aid station and latterly as a chemical/paint store it is just good to report that some use has been found for the building.

The building is now some 150m away from where it was originally in what may be the only "Listed" building in Scotland to have been physically moved from its original place. (Read more on the website)

There are also plans to turn some of the building into a small museum space to show some shipbuilding items from this long almost lost history of hundreds of years of the art of shipbuilding at Leith, Scotland.

You will also see more of what the art group intend to do here at http://www.dokartistspace.org/

Saturday, 19 September 2015

Leith Built Ferry leaves the U.K.

ST HELEN Ship No 535 now named as ANNA MUR


The ex ST HELEN now named as ANNA MUR owned by Delcomar has now left the waters of the U.K. heading for her new home port in the Island of Sardinia.

The last ship built at Leith as Ship No 535 has finally left the British Shores for warmer climes. She will soon join her sister ship the ex ST CATHERINE (GB CONTE) working in the warmer waters of the Mediterranean. ST HELEN sailed for Italy as Delcomar's Anna Mur on Thursday 17th September, leaving Southampton at just gone 13:00.

She left via the Western Solent via the needles and gave several blasts to those of us who came to see her off near Hurst point. The following video is shown here and produced by Anni at (Wightlink) who was there to see her off, Anni spent many years working on both the Saint Class ferries built at the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb Ltd.

Here's some video of her blasting farewell...

https://youtu.be/CLI4gTwuG1o


You will be able to see much more about the last two ships built at Leith on the website Many more stories and photographs to go in so keep checking back with www.leithshipyards.com



Leith Ferry in warmer waters



The ex ST CATHERINE now named as GB CONTE and owned by Delcomar seen in warmer waters.


GB CONTE ex ST CATHERINE


GB CONTI seen here in Sardinia on the right of this photograph from Anni (Wightlink) taken on a visit to see the ex ST CATHERINE now working away in the sunshine for Delcomar.

She is looking as good as new some 30 years after being launched as Ship No 534 from the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb Ltd.

Here is a nice video taken by Anni as she joined the old ferry for a few trips in the warm waters of the Island of Sardinia.


https://youtu.be/5rDkQVm1hcQ


She is soon to be joined by her sister ship the ST HELEN now called ANNA MUR

Monday, 24 August 2015

HMS EDINBURGH


HMS EDINBURGH



HMS Edinburgh sets sail for scrap in Turkey

A HISTORIC Navy destroyer left Britain for the last time to be sold for scrap in Turkey after a campaign to turn it into tourist attraction in Edinburgh ended in failure. 

It had been hoped that HMS Edinburgh, the last of the Royal Navy’s Type 42 destroyers, would find a new home in Leith. But after proposed costs for the venture were deemed too high, the ship – the largest in its class – was sold to a Turkish scrap merchant, a fate which befell her sister ships, HMS Manchester and HMS Liverpool. Click for more on HMS EDINBURGH




Thursday, 20 August 2015

Under the Italian Flag




As the ex ST HELEN is prepared for her voyage out to Sardinia as the ANNA MUR she will now be flying the Italian flag proudly on her stern.


The ANNA MUR will be taking passengers and cars while sailing in the warmer waters off the coast of Sardinia now that she is being looked after by Delcomar, it is hoped that she will have many useful years left to fly the flag.

Tuesday, 18 August 2015

ST HELEN Re-Named

We are happy to let you know that the last ship launched at the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb Ltd bringing to an end some 660 years of recorded shipbuilding history in the Port of Leith, is now been looked after by her new owners.

ST HELEN Ship No 535 has been re-named to ANNA MUR BY HER NEW OWNERS Delcomar of Italy with a new registration port of Cagliari.


She is still at her berth at Hythe being looked after by her new crew from Delcomar and with a new lick of paint and other necessary maintenance work she will soon be ready to take up her new role in Sardinia.

Working along side her sister ship ST CATHERINE which has been out there for a couple of years now and also re-named to GB CONTE

ST HELEN Re-named as ANNA MUR



Photograph of the re-named ANNA MUR sent in to the website by Anni
 Good to know that her shipbuilders name plate remains to show her build yard at Leith You will see more photographs on the ANNA MUR on the website.



Monday, 17 August 2015

J. Bolson & Son Ltd, shipyard

We like to bring you the old and the new in shipbuilding and like to feature some of the perhaps less known of the shipyards, which all formed the mighty shipbuilding industry that used to be prevalent in the British Isles.

This small to medium shipyard was based in the south of England on the Dorset coast in the town of Poole, a place perhaps better known today for it’s very wealthy residents in there very expensive house’s.


This old yard had a pretty long history of building fine ships and in fact the yard also built the very first U.K. built offshore supply ship Yard No 552 and named as NORTH SHORE along with many other types of ship.

The LADY BRIGID Yard No 555 was sister ship to the first U.K. built offshore supply ship NORTH SHORE built at the J. Bolson & Son Ltd, shipyard in Poole, England



The smaller yards such as Henry Robb Ltd and J. Bolson & Son Ltd, were dotted all around the coast of the British Isles and contributed to the shipbuilding industry in Britain being at the very top of the tonnage list of ships built in the world for many years.


These shipyards also employed many people and along with the long list of suppliers required for the building of a ship from engine makers right down to suppliers of linen to the small corner newsagents shop (remember them) all put cash into the country.

The Bulk Carrier MV CHICHESTER CITY Yard No 571 ready for launch 1968



We are pleased to feature many original photographs from the shipyard from the 1960’s all sent into the Leith Shipyards website by an ex-Draughtsman (John King) who was employed at the Bolson shipyards for many years until closure.

This particular draughtsman in fact ended up in his own business still in the maritime world and was in fact the last owner of the MV CRESSWEL Ship No 474 and launched from the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb Ltd in 1959 

Many more exclusive and original photographs can be found on the ship photo’s pages on the website.

Part of this old shipyard is now the well know yacht makers “Sunseeker”



Sunday, 16 August 2015

Aircraft carrier section leaves Clyde shipyard

Lowe Block 04 Prince of Wales


A massive 11,200-tonne section of an aircraft carrier built on the Clyde has begun its journey around the coast of Scotland to Rosyth for final assembly.
The section, called Lower Block 04, is the largest part of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.
It is 20 metres high, 80 metres long and comprises a fifth of the overall vessel.
We like to bring you news of new and old shipbuilding matters, for more on this story and some very good photographs please see the rest on the BBC website.


Sunday, 2 August 2015

Largest aircraft carrier section floated

Another of the many "Super Blocks" which once joined together will form the second of the Royal Navies new "Aircraft Carrier Force" was successfully floated out at Govan Shipyard in Glasgow last week.
Block 04 of the CVF "Prince of Wales" in Glasgow


The interesting thing for me in the photograph above from the BBC/Scotland website is the massive "Aft" poppet arrangement, built under the after lower hull to support the huge weight of the hull until she is joined together and floats.

 An 11,200 tonne aircraft carrier section has taken to the water for the first time on the Clyde.
Lower Block 04 is the largest hull section of HMS Prince of Wales.
For more from the BBC website see here

Monday, 25 May 2015

Three Queens River Dance


Interesting video to mark Cunards 175th anniversary, just a pity that none of the ships where built in the U.K.?

Click on the highlighted link to watch the video





Sunday, 24 May 2015

Model of the SCOT II

Pleased to announce that the start of a model build is now under way and at approx 1/25th scale being made by "ace" model maker Steve we shall have some photographs to record this feat in its entirety as the model progresses. (Keep checking the Leith Shipyards website)

The model is being built to original drawings and will be based on her original steam engine condition (pre-1960's) as she was intended before her conversion to diesel power in the 1960's by the Leith Shipyard of Henry Robb Ltd.
The SCOT II was launched at Leith as Ship No 184 in 1931
The only Leith built ship on the British Historic Register, and it is hoped that the actual vessel will also be restored to her former glory in the fullness of time.

SCOT II ice breaking historical ship









Thursday, 21 May 2015

Good news for Glasgow’s two Shipyards

It has just been announced that instead of closing one of the two remaining main shipyards in Scotland, that BEA will now make a large investment that shall ensure the future of the two yards for a good few years to come.




The Govan shipyard will be expanded under the £100m investment plan
For more on this story see the BBC website

Wednesday, 20 May 2015

Historic Ship SCOT II

SCOT II Steelwork



Just as an example of what was and what is now with regard to the condition that the old historic ship is now in and just looking at some of the photographs taken at her last survey before the waterways sold her on, would make any old shipbuilder just shake his head while containing the many expletives that would want to burst forth.
Just what the F**k were they thinking!

SCOT II Ship No 184 almost un-recognisable 


Difficult to put into words, what can be said about this conversion attempt circa 2005

It has to be said that her steelwork was still in pretty good condition after some 75 years the majority of the time spent in fresh water. As the photograph below shows taken as part of her last survey in 2005/6

SCOT II Steelwork circa 2005/6



All that changed when she was sold and she ended up sunk in the salt water of Ardyne Point where she sank and was under water  for 10 months just a few years later.

SCOT II Steelwork circa 2010






Her steelwork is still in pretty good condition but for how much longer without the proper care that she needs sooner rather than later.

With any luck she will not have too much longer to wait before some serious work can be carried out on her to begin her proper restoration.

Keep checking the Blog and website for regular updates, and once the work begins for real we shall be following the progress on the website and on the Blog.

Thursday, 7 May 2015

ST HELEN awaits new owners

The last of the Leith built Ships ST HELEN Ship No 535 launched in 1983 is at present laid up and waiting on her new owners sprucing her up and she will then go to the warmer waters of the Mediterranean to join her sister ST CATHERINE  while she sits on the mud at Hythe twice a day she will be fine once her new owners Delcomar go to work with the paint and soon she will be ready for her welcome new role in the sunshine.

ST HELEN laid up at Hythe at low tide while she awaits her new owners to take her to Italy
(photo by Doug Coulson)

Sunday, 3 May 2015

Model of the BRITISH COAST finished

After some 2 years of painstaking work and no little amounts of skill and patience we are pleased to tell you that the scale model of a ship designed and built at the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb Ltd as Ship No 198 and originally launched in 1933 has now been completed.
The model has been built by Steve a Brit who is now ensconced in the middle of Canada many miles away from any sea.
Such is the detail in this model right down to her ropes and wires that we feel the model could well be shown in a museum and not look out of place.





You can see much more of this fine model and her build process on the main website at

www.leithshipyards.com



Sunday, 26 April 2015

ST HELEN Retired

The final ship launched from the Leith Shipyards ST HELEN Ship No 535 has now been retired from British waters by her owners WightLink.

Retirement cake for the passenger ferry ST HELEN




St Helen retired after the 11:30 sailing from Fishbourne on Thursday March 26th after performing a final unscheduled round trip for invited guests, ex-staff and enthusiasts.

Amongst our guests were children from St Helen's primary school who were invited because her first passengers in 1983 were children of that very same school.

 

Her final traffic was led onboard by a 1983 Rover SD1 police car with it's blue lights flashing.

 

A buffet and cake was enjoyed onboard and she was given a salute of numerous blasts by St Clare as she left Fishbourne.

For more on the story visit ST HELEN