M.V.AARO

M.V.AARO

Ship No 471

With world trade increasing and as part of a general upgrading of shipping line fleets, more orders were won from Ellerman Wilson.

The Motor Vessel AARO was the first of another three ship order from the line.

The M.V.AARO continued the tradition of fine looking ship’s built for Ellerman Lines.

She was just how a ship should look in the days before containerisation necessitated that most cargo vessels change to the boxed aft-island look.

At 2600 Grt, with a length B.P. of 300 feet with a beam of 48 feet and 6 inches, and a design draft of 19 feet and 9 inches she was launched into the Forth on 20th of January 1960 to herald in another decade at the Henry Robb shipyards.

MARABOU

Ship No 470

Was an order from the Crown Agents for the supply of a 310 ton twin screw grab dredger, with a length of 130 feet and a beam of 30 feet and 6 inches, she was launched on 13th of February 1959.

Ship No 469

Ramp ended Pontoon ordered by the Crown Agents.

M.V.MACAULAY

Ship No 468

The third vessel of the three ship order from Chine shipping company,

The three ships were amongst the largest Leith built ships from the Henry Robb Shipyard. A large ship for the shipbuilders in Leith to build, meant some form of continuing employment and a full order book

meant that the men could look forward with some hope for the future of shipbuilding in Leith.

She was a single screw diesel cargo ship, with a gross tonnage of 4650 tons.

She was the sister ship of the M.V.THACKERY

She had a length B.P. of 345 feet and a beam of 54 feet, with a design draft of 29 feet.

GRAIGLEITH

CRAIGLEITH (from Ship-Photos)

Ship No 467

Was an order fro the Leith Dock Commission for a single screw diesel tug to be called GRAIGLEITH. She was named after an Island in the River Forth just off the coast from North Berwick in Scotland.

She was 175 tons with a length of 88 feet and a beam of 25 feet.

She was launched on 16th of May 1958.

She was to work the busy docks of Leith for many years and was present at the launch of many fine Leith built ships from the shipyard of Henry Robb.

She was eventually sold to Canada and renamed “BEAUFORT SPIRIT” and after a working life of 46 years she was broken up in 1984.

Another of the fine Leith built ships.

Ship No 466

Ship No 466

Was an order for a dredging pontoon of 80 tons, for the Crown Agents.

M.V.POOLTA

M.V.POOLTA

Ship No 465

Last of the ships built for the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, the end of an era really.

She was 2200 tons with a length B.P. of 250 feet and a beam of 43 feet with design draft of 17 feet and 6 inches.

She was the last of the Leith Built Ships for the Union Steamship Company of N.Z. Launched on 13th of May 1959.

Sister ship to Pateena and slightly smaller than Kaitoa built by the leith shipbuilders 2 years earlier. Both ships were redundant a few years after arrival because of the increased use of ro ro ship however Poolta was lengthened by 18 metres in 1968 and converted to unit load and container carrier. This photo was taken after conversion.

Union Steamship Company of New Zealand Flag.