Oldest ships sailed on ?

[Stuart Henderson]

What was the oldest ship forum members have sailed on ? I went to sea as galley boy in 1947 and in the early 50s sailed on several veteran ships built in the 1920s and plodding on round the oceans. There was the P&O liner Maloja, Union Castles Llanbibby Castle, Athel Lines Athelcrest & AthelViscount (happy ships these two), and also France fenwicks colliers Sherwood and Dalewood. Think most were scrapped in the same decade. All these were launched 1924-1929 so were OLDER than me..........
Stuart

[jimmys]

The oldest I have sailed on was the Sir Walter Scott a triple acting steam up and downer that sails in Loch Katrine in Scotland. I was Second Engineer/stoker/trimmer and surveyor. She held a full passenger certificate. Built in 1899. A fine little vessel which still plies. She burned smokeless fuel at the time and the boilers fed on raw water from the loch.
Real deep sea ships a number of T2's and the Talthybius a Victory VC2s-AP2 (Blue Flu) original name the Salina Victory. They were all around 1944 build.

regards
jimmy

[Doc Vernon]

Cant compare with those two thus far,my first Ship the Dunnottar Castle was Built in 1936 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast, for Union-Castle Line
Mind you there was of course the other Dunnottar (not that i was on her haha not that ancient!) Built 1874 see link of the old bugger haha!

http://www.merchant-navy.net/gallery...php?photo=8870


Cheers

[alf corbyn]

i think the oldest one i sailed on was the llandovery castle also the athel viscount and the P&O stratheden. the kingsbury was old(houlders) but i don't know how old. alf

[Neville Roberts]

the oldest I sailed on was the Orontes ,1928 or 9, a two flue job no air out too aussie

[Louis the Amigo]

My first trip to sea non pool "Westward Ho" P and A Campbell white funnel fleet 1894 build in Glasgow ? Not my oldest I have been on all the Tall ships, on the round the world race, but only on the dock in Southampton a few years back. and all the Famous Passenger ships, bunkers for Esso {small} tankers, run from fawley to Southhampton . Cant' remember all the names Too many to list. Been on subs and warships and m.t.b boats. dont know what was the oldest.

[Anneli Partma]

The oldest I have sailed on was the ferry ST.Ola have saaremaa laevakompanii ship, it was build at 1979.
I sailed vith ST.Ola at 2007 sommer between mainland and island Hiiummaa(on estonia)

[Stuart Henderson]

Thanks to Jimmy,John,Castleman ,Alf and Lpois for their interesting replies most informative.
Reading your reply Jimmy and you being an engineer reminded me of another of my oldies which was Rpyal Mails Gascony which was I believe one of the first motor ships, I was engineers steward in fifties and remember all the cabins had wooden decks which were scrubbed on hands & knees,dont think mops were invented ! ! ! Alf, see I was on Athelviscount Jan to March 1054 as A/S.
Trained aboard Vindicatrix which of course dated back to 1893 but dont think being on board could be described as sailing.
Thanks again for your replies
Stuart

[Alex Macdonald]

The oldest ship i sailed on was the Port Fairy the first and last time i sailed before the mast.This was in 1962
on the MANZ run.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Alf
Was this it at all! 1944



Single Ship Report for "5157169"IDNo: 5157169 Year: 1944
Name: SAMLAMU Keel: (then became KINGSBURY)
Type: Cargo ship Launch Date: 14.6.44
Flag: GBR Date of completion: 6.44

--
Tons: 7210 Link: 1645
DWT: 10865 Yard No: 2378
Length overall: 134.6 Ship Design: EC2-S-C1
LPP: 126.8 Country of build: USA
Beam: 17.3 Builder: Bethlehem-Fairfield
Material of build: Location of yard: Fairfield
Number of
screws/Mchy/
Speed(kn): 1T-11

Naval or paramilitary marking :
A: *
End: 1969-
Subsequent History:
47 KINGSBURY - 60 HUTA BEDZIN - 69 MP-ZP-GDY-6

Disposal Data:
BU Hamina 7.82 [Haminan Laivaromu Oy] (hulk 1969)