- This is the "SS Danby" which was built in West Hartlepool in 1937 by William Gray for Ropner Shipping. The ship, which was 4,258 tons, was sold to a company in Spain in 1952 and renamed "Astro." She was sold again in 1971 when it was renamed "Gopegui." Five years later she was scrapped. She is photographed here at the King George Dock in London and came from my late father's collection. He was second engineer on board this ship and served on several Ropner vessels during the Second World War.