Of some interest perhaps!!

[Doc Vernon]

Of some interest perhaps!!

Sheaf Shipping Company

The company was founded by W. A. Souter in 1906 and named after the Sheaf River that ran through his home city of Sheffield, although the company was based in Newcastle. Starting out in the Baltic, Biscay and Mediterranean trades the company operated in both deep sea tramping and the North East coal trade between the wars. The company suffered heavy losses during the Second World War. At the end of the 1950s it moved out of deep sea tramping and into the iron ore trade, acquiring bulk carriers from the 1960s. Its subsidiary Bamburgh Shipping Co. Ltd was sold to Ben Line in 1976. The remaining ship management side of the business was taken over by Danish shipbuilders Burmeister & Wain and traded as Souter Hamlet."
Jarig Bakker, 28 August 2004

Cheers

[tsell]

Hi Vernon

Souters was my my first company and my first ship, as peggy, was 'Sheaf Arrow' (formerly 'Empire Shepherd'). Did a few hairy trips across the Bay on her including the one which hammered the 'Flying Enterprise'. We were only 2000 tons and were lucky to limp home with considerable damage and a heavy list. Great excitement for a young lad though!

Taffy R556959

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Taff
Well gald that someone took the start here with the new Thread!
I had put it on gor a new Member George Murray,and hope that he will also post something on here now!
He said there was nothing on this Company so lets see what comes of it!
Cheers and thanks!

[DeepSea]

"Travels of the Tramps" by Norman Middlemiss ISBN 1-871128-02-1 has a full history of Souter & Co.

[george murray]

hi vernon,, thanks for your reply .my number is R795148 .and i sailed with w&a.souters of newcastle..first ship was mv.bamburgh castle(bamburgh shipping co) joined her in march 1965 in birkenhead and discharged in oct that year,,crew was chinese and all oficers were geordies except the old man the sparky and myself who were jocks.wowever you could not have sailed with a better bunch of guys .and i never left souters after that until circumstances made me leave the service...other ships i sailed on mv sheaf mount ..mv longstone(3 times) mv sheaf tyne.mv sheaf field..

[Doc Vernon]

Hi George
Thanks for the details ,i will pass them on to Mike HALL as well,as he is doing the Mian Flag!
Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

Very interesting which brings me to the point of just how many shipping companies were there since about 1900 as every now and then one pops up that I have never heard of. Vernon over to you mate!

[calvin]

joined my fisrt souter ship in hartlepool for nouadhibou 1969 ships sailed on were longstone lindisfarne dunstanburgh castle cheviot 4 times as second steward and second cook and baker start off as saloon steward great crew great times

[Doc Vernon]

Very hard one that John,as there must have been a heck og a lot since 1900,and we are talking of UK based ones only!
The best bet to try and find out is i suppose to look at the Lloyds Shipping Registers,but that i think will cost ! Not sure!
But its something for me to persue,and i will see what comes up!
Cheers

Here is a good start anyway John!
Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

Well Vernon as you say one hell of a lot. Should have said nothing maybe. Quite amazing that there were so many. Would suggest many on site will not have heard of even half of them. Now for your next task maybe the names of all their ships..............................