CARDIGANSHIRE

[teesships]

CARDIGANSHIRE (5063318), Glen Line Ltd, 7724/50, ex Bellerophon-57.
1972 BELLEROPHON, 1976 OBHOR (Saudi Arabia),
BU Gadani Beach 23.9.78 [Modern Commercial Corp]
A somewhat ethereal scan of Albert Weller's photo of the CARDIGANSHIRE sailing from Middlesbrough Dock.

In my early days I saw locally most of the then Glen line vessels of late 1930s to circa 1950 vintage, and later many of their Blue Funnel compatriots in other locations. In my humble opinion, the ships of these classes rank among the most impressive and best-looking ships I have been fortunate to see during my 50+ years of interest.
Ron

[northeast]

Very true Ron, hard to beat a classic Blue Flue.
Is she leaving M'bro Dock, if so must be the exception to normal berth on Dent's.

[teesships]

Looks like it to me. The angle of view seems to be from the left hand side of the Dock Cut. Hard to envisage elsewhere on the river to get that angle (unless she was actually approaching berth at Tyne-Tees/Dent's, with photo taken from alongside the Transporter!) However, yes, I saw as many Glens in M'bro Dock as at T-T/Dent's - they seemed to use each quite regularly.
In fact i am reminded that I did see the CARDIGANSHIRE myself in Middlesbrough Dock in October 1961, as also was the GLENROY on that same day. However, my first sighting of her back in May 1961 had, indeed, been at Dent's!
Ron

[cromptony]

Puzzling picture!! Do not think the Dock Cut as the stern tug should not be in that position.

A, not wide enough. B, the stern tug always"Knocked out" when you entered the cut
and went ahead on the engines. The tug then followed the ship out.

If the pic was taken from the North Island or Dock Point the bit of wharf showing astern of the ship would be OME
or the tug wharf. Recent thread shows it is not OME!!.

If the ship had sailed from Dents that is where the tug would be (Head down on the Port quarter).
The pic could have been taken from Transporter North Side and show the ship passing
about where the Tuxedo Royale is now. Only thing , there does not appear to be a
wire to the tug so it could already have let go.

And of course I could be totally wrong (often am) !!

Tony

PS An old amusing Piloting story.After the war Glen line wanted "Choice Pilots" on the Tees but
the service were very against this. They kept pressing for it so much that a Pilot was sent
down to Glen Line offices in London to tell them that "No way would a choice Pilot be appointed on the
Tees" and surprise surprise he came back as their choice Pilot.!! F.S.

[teesships]

Tony,

Looking at the Weller photo of the WELSH PRINCE (viewtopic.php?f=174&t=1378) and other similar views I have yet to post I agree that part of the OME Wharf shows astern of the subject vessel when about to turn out of Middlesbrough Dock Cut.
For the CARDIGANSHIRE the only other suggestion I have is that Albert took the photo from the tug base and it is Clarence Wharf in the background. As an alternative he might just have been on Dock Point and avoided the normal foreground clutter in that location .... and without the SAMMY (FRANCIS SAMUELSON) being in her usual berth. In either case it seems she was heading further upriver to Dent's ... so is the tug position right for that movement? (If from tug base, she would already be turning to port to enter Middlesbrough Dock, and that does not look to be the case?)

One further question. Larger ships going to Dent's - presumably they swung off the Furness basin (I never ever saw a large ship arriving or sailing from Tyne-Tees/Dent's, very surprisingly!)

Ron

[cromptony]

Big ships like Glens and Bens usually docked "Head to Sea" at Dents (in my time).
No doubt a pic will be found to prove me wrong!

They would usually swing at Ichaboe Buoys and "Tow up" to Dents stern first.

Still puzzling about the pic!! Arguing against myself, if she were between the Transporter and
Dock Point possibly the tops of cranes on N0 10 quay should be visible over her after derricks.

Tony

[teesships]

.... and there's no sign she's about to swing if she is off Clarence Wharf, more or less at Ichaboe Buoys!

Keep puzzling, Tony, you've got me intrigued!

Ron

[magoonigal]

I love the name "Ichaboe Buoys"

But who on earth thought of it??

[teesships]

I knew it! I just knew somebody would ask!!! As far as I know, nobody actually knows where the name Ichaboe came from!

The name was already well established by 1857 (see: http://www.freewebs.com/portclarence/18511881.htm) at a time when Middlesbrough on the opposite bank was still a new town (started expanding from a small farming village from 1830 onwards).

The best guess is that it somehow relates to guano as in Ichaboe Island
(see: http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/ichaboe.htm)

But I stand to be corrected!

Ron

[northeast]

It sounds more exotic than Bird Poo Buoys, I suppose.
You did have an article or mention of this in 'Tees Packet' some years back.
Something to do with vessels bringing the guano from Ichaboe lying there, either to discharge or to take on ballast afterwards?