World Ship Society - FROM THE PAST - Old Enquiries
As a matter of interest and reference, we will be archiving older enquiries and responses that have been posted over the years to our Enquiries Board. For more current enquiries, please refer to Member Enquiries.
2008-018. My ancestors arrived in Australia in May 1888 on the TAIYUAN. They disembarked in Palmerston Port Darwin. I would like to know more about this ship and what happened to it. Christine Sandquest christine.sandquest@spc.nsw.edu.au
Response 1. Nov 26, 2008 - a response from our WSS Chatham Librarian. You will find the full history of the TAIYUAN in "Beancaker to Boxboat", by H.W. Dick and S.A. Kentwell, published by Nautical Association of Australia Inc. in 1988, ISBN 0 9599079 3 9, with an excellent photo of her on page 119. The book is now out of print but is presumably available in libraries or in secondhand bookshops.
************************************************************ 2008-017. MS SUNMOUNT and MS VANANGMALM. Can you help? I am trying to obtain photographs of the ships, so far with no luck. I sailed on the ships in the mid 1960's. The MS Sunmont was chartered by Saugney lines and the MS Vanangmalm (oil/iron ore bulk carrier) was registered in Kirknes, Norway. Hoping you can help. Best regards Mike Davis MDavis@rfdbeaufort.com
************************************************************ 2008-016. I'm interested in the reason the "Mimosa" vessel did receive such name. Mimosa was a clipper ship best known for carrying the first Welsh emigrants to South America in 1865. By the time Mimosa made the voyage she was already past her prime, having been built in 1853 at Alexander Hall&Sons in Aberdeen, Scotland, for R. Vining and W. Killey. It is said that the name Mimosa came after a plant: Mimosa tenuiflora (Jurema, Tepezcohuite) is a perennial evergreen tree or shrub native to the north-eastern region of Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco) and found as far north as southern Mexico (Oaxaca and coast of Chiapas). It is most often found in lower altitudes, but it can be found as high as 1000 m. Mimosa tenuiflora does very well after a forest fire, or other major ecological disturbance. It is a prolific pioneer plant.
But I believe it had more to do with the star Mimosa (Beta Crucis) of the Southern Cross constellation. Few are the first magnitude stars, as their apparent brightness requires either great luminosity, closeness, or both. Mimosa satisfies the first requirement. Tied for apparent brightness at number 19 in the sky with Deneb (apparent magnitude 1.25), and the second brightest star of Crux, the Southern Cross, Mimosa is too far south to have a traditional proper name, one assigned by the ancients. But very specially because the Southern Cross constellation is eagerly sought by travellers from the North, when visiting the Southern Hemisphere.
If anyone knows or could help any way, please use raine@speedy.com.ar Thanks a lot, Raine Golab
************************************************************ 2008-015. A WSS member is hoping someone can help him with his search for information about crew aboard the RMS ATHLONE CASTLE. Alan Brooke writes — My father 'Ernie' Brooke was a crew member of R.M.S. ATHLONE CASTLE thoughout W.W. 2. From his Seaman Certificate of Discharge Books, Voyage Record Cards and a series of sheets discovered in the Public Record Office which detail some of the movements of troop ships including the ATHLONE CASTLE, I have started to prepare a record of the voyages made by her during the war. Whilst I now have the "bones" which I need, from names of ports visited, with dates of when arrived and then sailed, I now would like to add some "flesh" to them. For example I would like to know which voyages she made in convoy and which she made as an independent, that is, sailing as a fast troop carrier. It would also be good to know who or what she carried. The ship also spent a lot of time in and out of New York including one voyage which commenced on 30th January 1943 after several days in dry dock and finished in Casablanca on 19th February 1943. Through e-mail, I would be willing to answer any queries regarding my research, which does include photos of Dad, with other members of the 6" gun crew. Alan Brooke alan.brooke@ntlworld.com
2008-014. A enquiry from Lynton Trahern of Durban. lynton@netralink.com The ARVINGTON COURT ran aground off Durban, South Africa around 1942. Does anyone know any history of this vessel. I live in Durban and have the ships bell that came off the wreck but is it engraved AMBLESTONE CARDIFF. I would really like some history of this story. By the way parts of the ship are still visible at a very low tide.
Response 1. Nov 20, 2008 - A response from our resident Chatham Librarian The correct name of the ship is OVINGTON COURT, 4742 grt. She was wrecked at Durban on 26th November 1940. She was built as AMBLESTONE of Cardiff in 1924 and sold to Court Line and renamed in 1927.
************************************************************ 2008-013. An enquiry from Michael Willoughby mikewilloughby672@btinternet.com One of my hobbies is collecting postcards of merchant ships, and I wonder whether you could put me in touch with anyone sharing this interest.
************************************************************ 2008-012. Member searching for Chadburns telegraphs WSS member D. Midhage Dickmidhage@aol.com looking to borrow slides or prints and short stories about these well-designed and solid brass telegraphs, including later acquisitions such as Bloctube, Robinson, etc. from 1900 to about 1970. This sad period in the company's history lead me to carry out research and make effort to trace hidden documents. Mailing address for those without e-mail: D. Midhage, 1, Lumley Road, Clifton, YORK, YO30 6DB, United Kingdom. Dick is the Hon. Secretary of "Chadburns Ship Telegraph Society" http://www.chadburntelegraphs.com
************************************************************ 2008-010. We are trying to find out about a ship named INDEPENDENCE that was dismantled on the Tyne in Newcastle at Vickers. A relative worked on the breakup of the vessel, we believe after the turn of 1900. It would be greatly appreciated if you could provide any information on the ship. Please send your response to ronnie.christine@ntlworld.com
2008-009. A request for help from your webmaster. I am looking for scans of any of the books that have been listed in the WSS Member Publication sections, that presently do not show an image.
Check your library collection and see if you own any of the books that I want to add images to. Maybe you know of a website that has already posted a cover scan that I could use.
In addition, I would like to hear from any member who has written a book that is not listed in our WSS Member Publication sections. I would be delighted to consider any posting of a currently available — or out-of-print book that you have authored, or published. A scan would be helpful, but not necessary. Just send the details (similar to what you would find on any of the listings) to me at webmaster@worldshipsociety.org
************************************************************ 2008-007. Tom Burke writes — On January the 9th 1930 a steamship called ss PORTHMEOR (No. 145721), beached at Ardglass, Co Down, Northern Ireland, all hands were saved. I am looking for a photo of the ship and information on that event. thomburke@hotmail.com
************************************************************ 2008-006. I would like to know how to find further information about the shipwreck of the BEN RHYDDING off Aberdeen in March 1811, on which a relative of mine (Michael Carroll) was probably the sail-maker. If you can help, please contact Kevin Doran at kevin.doran@dublindiocese.ie
************************************************************ 2008-005. I am trying to find out info on the STAR OF TASMANIA built 1856 at Alexander Hall in Aberdeen and lost off the coast of New Zealand Feb 1868. I am now in possession of a ships cannon believed to have been from the ship and I wish to authenticate the provenance of the cannon. My father purchased the cannon sometime before 1968 in New Zealand. Thank you. Elaine Jamieson w4water@xtra.co.nz
Response 1. Sep 23, 2008 - Once again, a response from the WSS's Chatham Librarian. I am not sure what you mean by authenticating the provenance of the cannon off the "Star of Tasmania". However I have found reference to the shipwreck in "New Zealand Shipwrecks 1795-1975" by C.W.N. Ingram, published by A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, Sydney and London, 5th edition, revised & enlarged 1977. ISBN 0 589 01047 6. The reference gives a description of her loss off Oamaru in Feb 1868, without giving much technical detail or later information about the wreck. If you have not seen this, no doubt you could find a copy in a local library. As everything seems to point to NZ sources, I would suggest that the New Zealand Ship and Marine Society would be the best place to enquire. Their website is http://www.nzshipmarine.com Thier Secreaty, Capt. M.H. Pryce, is also the NZ representative of the World Ship Society.
*********************************************************** 2008-004. Dredgers off Nigeria. The following question was submitted to us. Can anyone respond?
Do you know of any books or other information that I can get hold of on dredgers that worked off the Nigerian coast during the 1970s? Any help will be appreciated. Mike Hall kefs@blueyonder.co.uk
************************************************************ 2008-003. Query about PENTRIDGE HILL. I am making enquiries about a ship named the PENTRIDGE HILL. It was also known as the GLENNEVIS when it was first bult and then the AFRICAN PRINCE. My husband was on the PENTRIDGE HILL in 1938 when it caught fire on the way back to the Continent in 1938. He was picked up along with one of the wives who was on board. They were taken to Brema Germany. My husband would like to know what happened to the PENTRIDGE HILL - if it went down at sea or if it made it back to port or was badly damaged, or if it was scrapped afterwards. I know from records in Lloyd's Register they built a new PENTRIDGE HILL in 1941.
If you can provide this reader with any information about the ship after the fire on board in 1938, please contact K. Carol Merino-Carress at longhillkinship@yahoo.co.uk
Response 1. Aug 30, 2008 - Response from the WSS's Chatham Librarian. The PENTRIDGE HILL must have been repaired. In 1939 she became the BOTLEA owned by the Miinstry of Shipping, London, being managed by Sir Wm. Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd. From 9/1939 to 12/1941 she was the LAMBRIDGE of the Royal Navy, commissioned as a decoy ship, and from 2/1941 she was an Armed Merchant Cruiser. In 1941 she reverted to BOTLEA of what had become the Ministry of War Transport. She survived the war and was scuttled with hazardous (gas shells) in 55-30N 11W on 30th December 1945.
************************************************************ 2008-002. Container ship OSPREY. I am trying to obtain any information on a US Flag Ro-Ro Container ship carrying the name OSPREY in the 1980's. She is a possible conversion and similar to WESTWARD VENTURE which is still operating. Anyinfo would be appreciated. This enquiry comes to us from Bryan Shankland in New Zealand. If you have any information, please send your response directly to bryan.shankland@xtra.co.nz
Response 1. Sep 23, 2008 - Another response from the WSS's Chatham Librarian. Are you sure your "Osprey" was around in the 1980's? I can find no trace of such a vessel in either Lloyd's Registers or the American Bureau of Shipping's Record. However the "Ponce", ex "Ponce de Leon"-77, became "Osprey" in 1996. Details when she was "Osprey":- Built by Sun SB & DD Co., Chester PA, (yard no 647) 1968. Lengthened in 1981. 31517grt, 20612nrt, 18725dwt. Turbine steamer, Ro-Ro Cargo with 3 stern door/ramp & TEU of 776. Owners Osprey Shipholding Corp, managers Osprey-Acomarit Ship Management Inc., Bethesda MD, PoR Wilmington DE. She was broken up (as "Osprey") in 2000. Your "Westward Venture" was also built by Sun SB & DD (Yard no 675), and would seem to have been a similar ship.
************************************************************ 2008-001. Clipper ship CLARISSA. I am seeking any records of a clipper ship sailed by my great grandfather. The ship was named 'Clarissa' and the only information I have was that it was lost at sea about 1872. My great grandfather, Captain Stephen Black was the ship's master. He was injured in the shipwreck and when he eventually returned to England some months later he found that his cousin had claimed the insurance money for the loss of the ship and its cargo. Stephen Black was living at Great Yarmouth at the time of the accident and I assume the 'Clarissa' sailed from there but could be wrong. This enquiry comes to us from Edna Harvey in Queensland, Australia. If you can help, please send your response directly toedna_harvey@hotmail.com
Response 1. Sep 23, 2008 - Once again, a response from the WSS's Chatham Librarian. It looks as if your "Clarissa" might have been a lot smaller than a Clipper. On checking Lloyd's Register for 1871-72 I have found the brig "Clarissa" of 256 tons owned by Cargill & Co., built at Sunderland in 1867 and was surveyed ready for a voyage from Dundee to the West Indies in November 1870. At that time her Master was J. Martin. She is not mentioned at all in the 1873-74 volume but she is back in the 1875-76 one owned by G. C. Wear, port of Newcastle, Master G. Burt, with the notation "damage repaired 1875". So if it is the correct "Clarissa" she wasn't completely "lost at sea" but met with some disaster and was eventually salved, repaired and returned to service. Unfortunately we don't have the 1872-3 Lloyd's Register at Chatham which might have had your great-grandfather's name as Master. I have no idea of her movements after leaving Dundee. I don't know the size of ships that could use Great Yarmouth in those days (local Museums, etc., may be able to tell you) but I would think 256 tons is more likely than a large Clipper, if she did in fact use that port.
If you wish to do further research I suggest the Guildhall Library (website:- www.cityoflondon.gov.uk They have Lloyd's Registers for all years, Lloyd's Lists (which contains details of casualties), and also Lloyd's Captains Registers which should show your great-grandfather. Some or all of these documents are available at other locations but the Guildhall Library is probably your best bet.
