Launched by Swan's in 1969

Broken up at Kaohsing 1982

02.05.1969.

Wow, makes you realise how fast she approached the south bank!

Also just realised that they didn't have the big cranes on the berth then either. Wonder when they came into use?

The 180 ton cranes were part of the redevelopment that included a new plate stockyard & treatment line behind the outfit quay, a new plate prep shop, a panel production line and a paint hall in Wallsend yard and a new section stockyard & treatment line at the head of the dry docks. Most of the buildings just visible behind No.5 berth (the down-river berth) were demolished to make room for the development. There was a plaque recording the official opening of the "Tyne Steelworking Facility" (TSF) on the wall in the panel line with a date of September 1971 (if my memory is still accurate!). I think that the 180 ton cranes were of a similar age.

Thanks Dennis, that would be about a year before I started at Wallsend.

Two undated slides from Albert Weller showing her leaving the Tyne for trials or delivery: Ron

Hi, this was the first of the 8 super tankers built at Swans Wallsend yard, and she had some problems with her LP turbine whilst on sea trials, and in Lisbon the LP rotor had to be renewed which was quite a task but it proved it could be done and a lot of the cargo pump turbine exhaust pipe work had to be dismantled to retrieve LP turbine blades. The astern turbine blade became detached and it proved rather expensive foe AEI the turbine maker. Micky.

ESSO NORTHUMBRIA (6917530), Esso Petroleum Co. Ltd., 126543gt, completed by Swan, Hunter - Wallsend-on-Tyne, 5-1970. 1982 broken up.

On the stocks and dwarfing the nearby housing.

I saw her while building on 20.7.1969.

Photo from TEESSHIPS archives, origin unknown, but contributed by Dave Martin: Ron

50 YEARS AGO

I photographed her River Tyne - 20 July 1969, but the negative has subsequently been "posted missing"!

Details of fate now clarified: BU Kaohsiung 7.5.82, work began 25.5.82 [Tai Yuan Steel Corp]

Ron