BISCO ships, Ravensworth

[John Arton]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/manc...spmo&ref=share
Hope this works as I know someone on here sailed on her.
Rgds
J.A.

[j.sabourn]

Doesn’t open for me John . Is it a picture of her in Port Talbot ? JS

Tried again and got it . This new second hand iPad slightly different than the old one.
Cheers JS

[James Curry]

The 'Ravensworth' passing Barton, June 1970
The ore carriers that discharged their cargoes at Irlam Ore Wharf had to sail a further seven miles up the Canal and through three locks, just to be able to turn round and sail back down again and out to sea. The large ships loading soda ash etc. at Partington Basin had to do the same thing. One wonders why the Canal Co. didn't dig a convenient turning basin.
In the years following the Second World War, the newly-formed British Iron & Steel Corporation (BISC) wanted to reduce the costs of delivery of iron ore to UK steel plants. They therefore commissioned a huge programme of ore-carrier construction. The ships were to be ordered and owned by various well-established shipowning companies and chartered to BISC under 10 or 15-year contracts.
A total of 73 ore carriers were built between 1952 and 1963 in three distinct size-ranges. The smallest size, (24 ships) were built to fit the restricted dimensions of the entrance lock to Port Talbot Docks and hence were known as the Port Talbot type. They were also able to access the small harbour at Workington and were ideal for bringing ore to the Lancashire Steel Company's works at Irlam. The 'Ravensworth' was one of these. She was owned by The Watergate Steamship Co., (R S Dalgliesh Ltd. - managers) of Newcastle. Her carrying capacity was 9,740dwt.
The next size range - middle or intermediate size - (around 15,000dwt), were too big for the canal but were frequently to be seen at Bidston Dock, Birkenhead.
The 1960-built 'Ravensworth' lasted longer than most of these ships. Many were scrapped not long after their BISC charters ended but this ship was sold in 1975 to a Dutch firm who converted her to a pipe layer for use by the offshore oil industry and she was not finally scrapped until 2001.
In my picture, the ship has just passed the Barton swing bridges on her way up to the docks to swing. Further upstream, on the left, a couple of coasters are at Irwell Park Wharf. In the far distance, on the right, it looks like the 'Gloxinia' or 'Photinia' at Brown & Polson's / CPC (later Cerestar) Wharf, where the Arklow ships have discharged in recent years.



368282012_7127342633962546_6021808598392617532_n.jpg hope this opens for you John S.

[John Arton]

No John, it's her going up the s
Manchester ship canal to discharge at irlam steel wharf, will see if I can resend the original post so all can see it.
Rgds
J.A
Whoops, just seen James has posted the article and it looks like all should be able to see it, thanks James.

[Keith Tindell]

opens fine for me John A, some very good photos, so hope you can open John S as i think you were on her at one time.

[James Curry]

#1 hi John I did post an apology , not trying to hi jack your post. Typical of me a bit fast off the mark. No offence intended.

[j.sabourn]

All ok John , I left her in 1966 , and went swashbuckling on the Spanish Main , Running Montreal Quebec , Port Alfred , Halifax , Bermuda , Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands ( left them as I found them ) Chagaramus and Port of Spain , and back to Canada 6 week round trip for a year. American owned Liberian flag plus 12 passengers 13 if you count me. I could do the Limbo in those days . Cheers JS