Flat irons

[Ivan Cloherty]

Ivan,
I knew someone in the membership had worked on them, but could not remember who.
Thankyou for the information, were the insides of the cargo holds a grey colour ?

Best regards.
Mike

inside of hatch coamings were normally silvereene (dull silver hard wearing), top wing tanks in hold also silvereene, rest of hold normally unpainted, very little corrosion as scantlings were heavier then general cargo coastal/short see vessels. Probably given token coat at every quadranniel survey.

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Good to se you back onboard Ivan, best Rgds Den

Not back yet Den, but thanks for thought, just flicking through and thought I could be of help, I will do an 'Arnie' but still a bit raw just now.

Kind regards Ivan

[Doc Vernon]

Hope things are well with you and yours Ivan?
Do return in full when possible, i know there are many here who miss your inputs ! I am one of those , as you always do help !
Cheers Keep Well

[j.sabourn]

For those who sailed with Saguenay Terminals either on bare boat charter or their own ships will rememberhow all the outside housings were silvereened , as was the company’s colours, I was there over 10 months but can never remember soogying the same , only giving it another roller coat of what we called lumina. As we carried the bauxite to make aliminium seemed the appropriate name. All the housings were coated between Port Alfred and Montreal before the passengers arrived at the top of the gangway to be met by yours truly , the Chief Steward , and one of the stewardesses. Chief Steward to welcome and give each a Saguenay flight bag, the stewardess a bunch of flowers to each female, or male if necessary, and me with the bar card and to escort them to the passenger lounge bar whilst any luggage was being transferred to their cabins. The first drink was on the house so I was deluged with answering drinks, then escorted them to their cabins and tucked them in. Then got changed into working gear and back down the holds looking for daylight and any requirement for thistlebond patches on the
steelwork. A voyage of 6 weeks on a regular basis and a life of extreme opposites. Those were the days wine, women, and song, and thistlebond patches. JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John
I don't know who owned Corries East coast colliers, I think a northeast Company maybe, the one I was on was registered in London.
Des

[j.sabourn]

I was referring I think to John Cory another trampships owner Des, but think they finished shipowning in. 1966. JS

[Doc Vernon]

Gents again going off Topic sorry but can we try and stay on the Subject started by Mike, he wants to know things concerning a Flatiron Ship, not all about other things.
Thank You

[Fouro]

A poem for those who served o them.

They were nicknamed the flat irons,
Because of the ship's design,
There purpose was very simple,
Taking coal dug from pits around the Tyne,
They looked like they were squashed flat,
This was for a sensible reason,
To get under the river Thames bridges,
No matter what the tide or season,
When fully loaded up with coal,
They looked about twenty feet tall,
And when you think of that nasty North Sea,
They were no real size at all,
These ships were built for a reason,
Specially to serve the river Thames port,
Sadly the flat irons are gone now,
By Greek owners some were bought.

Regards from
Fouro.

[David Bell-Lennan]

Mike. in 1972 on a trip back to my home town Grays went to the beach where as a boy I spent many hours. along from the beach Columbia Wharf and Wards Shipbreaking Yard the Collier Brimsdown was there, I went onboard found several old log books which the watchman said I could take. Also the Tug Contest where I also found a log book for the year 1957. going through my Seamans Discharge Book Contest assisted the Orcades and Brasil Star that year. David

[Doc Vernon]

Mike. in 1972 on a trip back to my home town Grays went to the beach where as a boy I spent many hours. along from the beach Columbia Wharf and Wards Shipbreaking Yard the Collier Brimsdown was there, I went onboard found several old log books which the watchman said I could take. Also the Tug Contest where I also found a log book for the year 1957. going through my Seamans Discharge Book Contest assisted the Orcades and Brasil Star that year. David

Just a Pic David For interest Cheers and good Colours for Mike to see !

Brimsdown1951.jpg

[j hardy]

nice words fouro. my father was cook/steward with stevie clarkes from 1948-1968, 12 years alone on the "murdoch" i remember with much happiness the time i spent with him when on "watch aboard", regards, john hardy.