Sugar Boats

[jimmys]

Once a big industry in The UK , the last refinery in Greenock shut and the last sugar boat came into the Clyde at Greenock around 1997.
The last we have is a wreck the Captayannis which is at the tail of the bank and is nicknamed the sugarboat she hit a tanker and sunk.
Where is the industry now?? I have not heard of anything for years. A lot of ships involved in the past.

regards
jimmy

[robpage]

Lot of sugar is from Sugar beet produced in the UK and the EEC , Cane sugar is imported less , and I think Sugar consumption is down . The beet sugar gives . Whissington processes over three million tonnes per annum of beet from a 1000 Uk growers , produces 50MW surplus energy from a CHP plant . I believe an EEC subsidy killed the imported sugar around 1990 . There are a few specialist sugars left , and the Tate & Lyle stuff , but BSC is now part of S&W Holdings . I understand consumption is expected to fall 20% in the foreseeable future and world prices will drop when the EEC allows cane sugar mports to compete with unsubsidised beet .

[robpage]

If you are having a go at my post , I was explaining that teh demise of the sugar boats was caused by EEC policies in agriculture . If you have a problem complain to the Admin , If you dont understand ask , If you feel the need to be personal in remarks , try the school playground ,, that is the last time i let remarks bother me !

[john sutton]

cant recall being on a sugar boat but i do know that trips to the west indies with harrisons meant we spent a good deal of the outward bound splicing sugar slings.
stood me in good stead in later life on the canadian oil rigs as i was the only man that could splice a rope
john sutton

[Alan Smart]

Hi, I did a couple of trips on the Sugar Exporter about mid 70's, Savannah-la-mar to Silvertown. Really liked Sav. 5 or 6 days anchored in one of the most beautiful bays, and I know we have all enjoyed views that others pay a fortune to see, and a good little run ashore a nice country place so different to heavy duty places like Kingston and Ochre Rios. Good people, good rum and good herb if that took your fancy.
The way those wharfies abused the winches and running gear took some serious splicing to keep up with 'em. Plenty of work and a good sun tan.

Blue Skies, Alan

[John Albert Evans]

I shiipped out of Greenock a couple of time in 1963 on The Booker Venture. Good ship and Good Company.We went to the west indies cannt remember which port but Haiti, Port au Prince is ringing a bell.

John Evans

[John Albert Evans]

I also did one trip on the Crystal Bellll, a sugar boat out of Liverpool. Tate & Lyles I think.
Old ship but good crew.
I was second cook/baker.
I make a load of rum hooch out of the cane sugar unfortunately the captain found it and didnt approve and it got tossed over the side and I got fined 10 shillings.
Looking back it was all good fun.

John Evans

[Tony Wilding]

I did a few sugar runs with royal mail to jamaica, loaded sugar at black river the day jamaica celebrated 1 years independance from british rule, what a night that was, ! second thoughts i think it was with PSNC on the Salinas

[vince cowie]

vince cowie here. i was on the sugar exporter for 3 trips in 1976.good crowds and brilliant ports.you are right about the views, fantastic? use to have days out negril beach etc.

[Keith Tindell]

was on the Durham Trader which was on the Cuba sugar run, after discharging the sugar in London, Dagenham?), we fitted shifting boards and headed back to Cuba, six week trip!!!!, the Cuban crisis blew up, and after being buzzed by yankee planes about 200 miles from Cuba, we abandoned the Cuba cargo, loaded grain in Durban for japan, Aus, and many more, arrived back in Sunderland 9mnths 22 days later,to an, un happy girlfriend, but loaded with dosh, ah happy days regards Keith