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”

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.

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

BRITISH COAST VIDEO

The MV BRITISH COAST Maiden voyage

The MV BRITISH COAST Model on her maiden voyage seen here in the U-Tube Video.

http://youtu.be/ydxOHD289nU

For more photographs visit the website at www.leithshipyards.com

The BRITISH COAST Sails once more

The model of the Leith Built MV BRITISH COAST has now been put to the test in the water by her maker Steve, and she passed with flying colours.

Steve Heward seen here guiding his model of the Leith Built MV BRITISH COAST
We will have lots more photographs and video on the website soon at www.leithshipyards.com 

China ship capsize

'Race against time' in Yangtze rescue

As ever yet another stark reminder of the perils of being on the water, inshore or deep sea.

For more on this sad tale see the BBC link

HMS NESS - Model

Pleased to show the model of HMS NESS which has just been completed by Andy Forrest, and sent into the website where we shall feature many more photographs of the model.

Built and launched at the Leith Shipyards of Henry Robb Ltd, the "River Class" Frigate was launched in July 1942 (Ship No 326) as the first of Six such ships built at the yard during times when the Nation needed as many ships as possible to help in the battle against the U-Boats, a battle at one time which could have meant the end for the British Isles but for such ships and the men of the Merchant Marine who sacrificed so much to keep the country supplied so they could continue the fight against the enemy.

The model is shown in her wartime camouflage colours.  Camouflage is the 3 colour Western approaches scheme and reflects the Ness shortly after commissioning.

Keep checking the website for the many up-dates on this project.

Another picture of the Ship Model below showing some of her Aft end details,

HMS NESS Aft end details