SS Andria

[Clive Williams]

I would be pleased to hear from anyone who sailed on the SS Andria at any time during their MN career. I only completed one trip on her from 07 /02/61-15/03/61.

I have read that she was sold, and renamed Union Faith. She was involved in a collision with an oil barge on the Mississippi river and was lost on Sunday April 6th 1969.

25 Mariners were killed in the accident, including the pilot.

After the Union Faith sank, the ship became such a problem for navigation, that the masts, and kingposts, had to be removed, as did, the superstructure at the boat deck level. Contractors had to dig a trench 600ft long, 100 ft wide, and 50ft deep alongside the ship. On Oct 31st 1970 the Ship slid into the trench.

30 years later oil sheen was noticed on the surface of the water. The scource of the oil was from the Union Faith. 500 barrels of oil were recovered from the ship.

Prior to the oil recovery, the Coast Guard held a ceremony for the family of the heroic New Orleans pilot, who stayed onboard to drop the ships anchors, so that the burning vessel did not drift into New Orleans wharves.



Many thanks

Clive Williams R739414

Link to Pics of disaster here!
Lest we forget

http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?158575

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Clice W
Would just like to give you a warm Welcome to this very good site!
Here you will find lots of info,good Crew and with luck also find a few old Shipmates!
So sit back,relax and just enjoy the trip!
Hope we will have you here for a long time!
A site truly worthy of the British Merchant Navy!
Cheers


Note Well

If you would like to join in and have your Full name R Number and First Ship
Included in the Flag project then please pass it on to Mike Hall who is doing a Main Flag for all
to be displayed some time in one of the UK Museums!
We need your names to get the New Flag full,so please do respond!
Thank you
Vernon (castleman)

Please go to following Link

http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/s...ead.php?t=1974

Or reply to me in person! Via Private Message Link above below I will pass on the info!


http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/p...?do=newpm&u=18


If you have already done this then please accept my apologies!

Hope you get some good replies mate!
Cheers

http://rmhh.co.uk/ships/pages/Andria-1.html

[Mike Hall]

its all done vernon,
thankyou

[Clive Williams]

Hi Brian

Many thanks for your reply Re-Andria. I was trawling the site, and found another member who sailed on her (Neil Morton). I have sent him an e-mail.

The trip I did was to France, then across to Canada (Halifax & St John). We encountered heavy weather off the coast of Canada, and had a problem with the steam turbine. We were escorted into Halifax by a Canadian Navy ship.

Thanks again Brian

Clive W Deck Dept

[Stuart Henderson]

ref Post#1

I was Chf Stwd on her sister ship Alsatia and my scouse buddy Frank Cannon a real character was Chf Stwd on Andria for quite a while. Great ships which really looked like ships. Both did the Gulf run, New Orleans,Houston besides the regulat NY and Montreal trips. I was with Cunard from 1957 to 1972, great memories and great crews
George Henderson aka stuart
R396049

[Clive Williams]

ref Post#6

Hi George

Many thanks for your reply. Yes, they were great ships, and often mistaken for passenger ships. It`s interesting to note that you were on the Andria`s sister Alsatia. You will of course know that both ships were purchased by Cunard from the Silver Line. The Alsatia was formerly named Silverplane, and the Andria was Silverbriar. The Alsatia, and Andria were sold by Cunard to Tiwan. The Alsatia was renamed Union Freedom, and the Andria was renamed Union Faith.

Clive W.

[Bill Forbes]

Hi,
I was an Apprentice with Cunard on the SS Andria from 8/61 to 6/62 then on the SS Arabia.

The Andria was the best boat I was on a fantastic sea boat. When I was on the boat had a crew of 54/57 but there was accommodation for 80/90 crew as I was told it was built for an asian crew. The boats, There were 2 were built in Belfast as Diesel and when launched they had forgotten to order the engines that is why the engine room was a mess.

Normal lookout post was on top of the forward funnel deck watch crew at night was Deck Officer, Apprentice, Helmsman (No automatic pilot in those days), Lookout and spare man below to rotate lookout and helmsman at hourly intervals.

Normal cargo was whiskey and cars west and rolls of news print and general cargo east.

Normal Summer run was out of London Surrey Commercial Docks ((i.e. where City airport is now south of the Thames) NOT KGV which is north of the river) to Le Havre, Southampton Roads for fuel then Montreal arriving at 09:05 Sunday morning to get a days overtime. Then back down to Quebec and back to London. Winter was out of London Surrey Commercial Docks to Le Havre, Southampton Roads for fuel, Halifax and New Brunswick the back to London.

Bill Forbes

[Clive Williams]

Hi Bill

Many thanks for the most comprehensive reply. My trip was the winter one from Surrey Commercial to Le Havre, Halifax, St John, and return. When I signed off, I joined the Port Line. I agree, the Andria was the best ship that I sailed on, not only for the accomodation, but the crew were fantastic. I always regreted signing off.

As a matter of interest Bill, when I left the sea, I thought that I would try something different. I joined the ranks of Professional Wrestling (using a different name)!

Clive W.

[alf corbyn]

hi bill. i am puzzled. when did they move city airport?. it was always what was originally KGV and royal albert docks which have always been north of the river. some upheaval that!. haha cheers. alf

[Bill Forbes]

Hi,
You are right I was told quite a few years ago that the airport was built over Surrey commercial and as I have not visited London for 30 years and assumed the info was correct.

Bill