by Hornbeam » Thu Mar 17, 2022 6:03 pm
Up to and including the 75,000tns vessels which where the last designed and built at the Furness Yard under Sears Holdings(Charlie Clore) sailed into the Tyne Drydocks after their Builders Trials for removal of their Launching fixtures, Hull Painting and "Snagging" as there was no Drydock on the Tees for the larger vessels, These vessels designed and built by Swans with some Bussed down Labour I believe went to H&W. Drydock at Belfast, it may be that the Champagne was not swung at Haverton Hill when she first hit the water but when she came out of the Dock at Belfast which could be interpreted as a second launching.
This type of vessel were known as "Coffin Ships" in the M.N. and should never have been built but in fairness to Swans this type of vessel built in other Countries had the same problems with Cracking and some just disappeared off the RADAR.
Hull Cracking still happens today on the larger vessels despite all the sophisticated equipment available to try and prevent it.