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SYGNA - 1967

PostPosted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:43 am
by northeast
1967, 30503gt, A&P yard no.845 for Ludwif Mowinckels.
Launched 25/07/1967 in two halves and joined on the Tyne.
As this photo from Harold Appleyard's collection shows, she finished in two halves on Stockton Beach, Newcastle NSW after grounding 25/05/1974.
Miramar records broken up at Kaohsiung 02/1976 presumably after salvaging the two parts.
SYGNA1967wreck.jpg

Re: SYGNA - 1967

PostPosted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 7:52 am
by Whickham
Wonder how close to the original join that break was?

Re: SYGNA - 1967

PostPosted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 8:24 am
by fitter
Thanks for that picture. I have a photo of one half being towed down river. when I find it I will post it.

Re: SYGNA - 1967

PostPosted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 4:03 pm
by fitter
sygna broken.jpg
Sygna
happy dragon.jpg
Happy Dragon

I was mistaken, the photograph I thought was the Sygna, was in fact that of the Happy Dragon.
Both ships were 45,000 dwt bulk carriers built at Austin and Pickersgills, Southwick yard. They had to be built in half because they would be too long to negotiate the bend in the River Wear at Deptford where Sir James Laings yard is on the south side of the river, and where Robert Thompsons used to be on the north side of the river. Pickersgills was upriver of Deptford. Both ships were towed to the Tyne to be joined.
Whickham asked "Wonder how close to the original join that break was?" The pictures here answer the question and his suspicion is right the ship broke exactly where it was joined, just aft of number 5 hold, though it looks as though how and on what it grounded would be the explanation for it breaking as it did.
There were a good number of these almost identical ships built on the Wear at the time:
Pickergills built Sygna and Happy Dragon
Laings built Mylla, Orotava and Roslagen.
Thompsons built Fernriver, Fernspring, August Pacific, Amber Pacific, Argonaut, Sheaf Tyne, G.M.Livanos
The aft end of Sygna must have been left for some time, I have seen one photo of it almost entirely rusted.
Tom

Re: SYGNA - 1967

PostPosted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 8:48 pm
by fitter
Sygna, said to be about 1984
Sygna.jpg
Sygna

Re: SYGNA - 1967

PostPosted: Sat Nov 16, 2013 5:04 pm
by Dennis Maccoy
Rusted remains still visible on my last visit to Newcastle NSW in November 2005.

Re: SYGNA - 1967

PostPosted: Sat Oct 27, 2018 12:30 pm
by Dennis Maccoy
Not much left now - 20 October 2018
IMG_4985_3_1.JPG
IMG_4987_1.JPG
IMG_4988_1.JPG

Re: SYGNA - 1967

PostPosted: Sun Oct 28, 2018 6:48 am
by northeast
Good one Dennis, you travel a long way for NEM, some just go as far as South Shields .... :)