by CLYDEBRAE » Tue Jan 15, 2013 5:23 pm
Discharging phos rock loaded at Dakar, in the days when ICI Billingham manufactured a wide range of chemical compound fertilisers. The rock was unloaded by the gantry onto conveyor which fed a nearby silo - now I believe a listed building. "Johanna Schulte" was typical for this trade. There was a more restrictive draught formula for veesels over 400ft loa rounding Furness Bend and I never recall a vessel over 400ft loa being fixed although there were one or two enquiries. To my knowledge, these were the largest vessels to go "naabsa" on the River Tees.