Derricks

[william wallace]

Which ship had the most derricks that you have sailed on? 22 derricks plus 2 Jumbos was the most I have ever worked with.
Not only was the raising and lowering of the derricks was a chore but also the servicing of all the equipment. Usually done outbound and homeward bound. They there was the painting of the Samson posts and the derricks themselves. PortLine,Blue Star and SSA were well known for having plenty of derricks.
So which ship had the most?

[Captain Kong]

I was on the Melampus , Blue Funnel, 28 sticks.
Brian.

[joseph connor]

I was on the Melampus , Blue Funnel, 28 sticks.
Brian.

Brian , remember the cross overs on the island tween two and three ? it was like dancing the may pole with guys , bewildering when you first saw them being lowered .

[kurutai]

They had the cross over aft on the boat deck as well if I remember Agapenor Antilochus Pyrrhus Perseus have I got that right 50 years ago now since I sailed aboard a bluey regards to all hands .

[joseph connor]

They had the cross over aft on the boat deck as well if I remember Agapenor Antilochus Pyrrhus Perseus have I got that right 50 years ago now since I sailed aboard a bluey regards to all hands .

Same for me too 50 years ,Kurutai, sorry don't know if that's your first name , but your memory serves you well, there were cross overs aft of the boat deck , but if my memory is right they were ,nt as complicated as those for,rd ,and the M boats of course had four hatches up for,rd with two islands ,
Did my first trip on Menelaus and thinking s*** I,l never learn those , cheers Joe.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Try the PSNC 'S' class ships (and some of the old 'O' class) for stupid derrick arrangements, four derricks at one end of the hatch and only two winches, when all four derricks in use had to use rope falls/runners off the continuous running drum ends with schooner guys and preventer wires crossing the hold to be discharged whilst taking cargo in over the starboard side and discharging over the port side, all to save the cost of 6 - 8 winches and upgrading the generators to cope with power requirements, reckon they spent a lot more on wires/ropes/overtime/lost time than the cost of the extra winches over the lifetime of the ship. When we went to NZ with the 'S' class all the inboard derricks had to be stripped and lashed up against the masts and Sampson posts before the dockers would even contemplate switching on a winch. Rigging and using the Jumbos at #2 and #4 was another story, hold numbers 1 and 5 had to cease all work as we needed their winches for the steam guys, only ships I've been on with those unusual arrangements

[Trader]

I sailed in Blue Funnel for four years between 1952/56 on Bellerophon, Astynax, Neleus all deep sea and Ixion and Nestor coasting. Most had six hatches with four derricks per hatch plus two Jumbos. The "M" boats that Brian and Joseph were on had an extra small hatch on the poop with two derricks. I well remember the crossover derricks joseph on the islands, they were a bit of a work up. I have put a photo on of the crowd dropping derricks on the Bellerophon on the island at no.3.

What a surprise I had when I left Blueys and joined Manchester Liners with just 12 derricks.

Alec.

[joseph connor]

we don't see enough photos like that , brilliant thanks . joe.

[Andy Louch]

Good day all, I'm trying to remember the nickname we used for Gen Cargo ships with loads of derricks; it was something like:

'sticks and tricks'!

Any ideas? Cheers, Andy

[Doc Vernon]

I was on the Melampus , Blue Funnel, 28 sticks.
Brian.

Is this the one Capt ? Or the earlier one ?
Cheers

The Allen Collection|Blue Funnel Line (benjidog.co.uk)