MACPAK – CHURRUCA
Monthly Archives: March 2020
CARRONBANK 1957
The third vessel off the stocks in a 17 ship order from Harlands in Belfast. 1957 built.
The INCOMATI sinking…
The Incomati was torpedoed by U-508 200 miles south of Lagos with the loss of one person. She stayed afloat and was then shelled and set on fire. The 213 survivors were rescued from the boats by 2 RN ships. The date was the 18th July 1943.
BALTIC TERN 357 TEU Blt in Korea 1989
WEIRBANK
A painting from the junglecat.de site
The Weirbank was the 12th vessel of a 21 ship order. Built in 1961 by Wm Doxford, Sunderland. Her first Master was a friend, J.B. (Barry) Mitchell – a real gentleman, who also loved painting…
IRISBANK of 1930
The above from an early magazine
The BALTIC VENTURE.
Built IN 1965 by Wm Doxford, Sunderland. for the Finland service. Sold after 15 years to Gulf Maritime. From 85 to 98 ran for the Maldive National Line as Progress Liberty. 33 years afloat!
LARCHBANK of 1925
12th in an order for 18 vessels of the ‘INVERBANK’ class. She was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine when full of military equipment near the Maldive Islands in Sept. 1943. A total of 46 persons were lost with her.
1958 BIRCHBANK
Sold to Greek interests in 1970
ROMNEY ex RUDDBANK
Fish Class vessel RUDDBANK, was named after a stout-bodied freshwater sport fish of the carp family. She had many guises after her life as the RUDDBANK 1979 to 1983, She was successively: ROMNEY;LAIRG;NAPIER STAR;TAMAPATCHAREE;LADY REBECCA;GLOBAL MARINER and she sank IN THE YEAR 2000 after a collision in the Orinoco river.
As the original RUDDBANK
NORTHBANK
1957 Built and sold in 73. Stranded under the new owners near Punta Arenas…
FOYLEBANK
A great view of a loaded Foylebank, built in 1955 at Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast. One of the 6 successful and long serving ‘Copra’ vessels popular with crew. She had 10 years as the Greek registered ‘ Patroclos’ from 1973 to 1983 before going to scrap.
BALTIC ARROW
1956 built BALTIC ARROW, one of 4 built in Bremen, designed to suit both the Baltic trade and the Meditteranean trade of Messrs MacAndrews & Co. Served 22 years before being sold on.
The TINHOW of 1913 built in Rostock.
She was built as the VALENCIA for the Hamburg/America Line. Became a war reparation in 1919, when she became the HUGHLI for James Nourse. Bank Line then purchased her in 1927. Sunk by a U boat in 1943 with a total of 75 deaths including passengers. She was the second vessel to bear this name after the 1906 TINHOW. She was owned by the Hong Kong Navigation Co. with Andrew Weir as managers.
Ferries of the Fragrant Harbour
Many thanks to Geoffrey Walker, a regular contributor. His website: oceanjoss.com has many more interesting articles. He started his sea career in Bank Line…
2018 Bank Line Article
CORABANK a beautiful model
The lead ship of 6 built in 1973. Lasted 11 years before changing name to the Peruvian owned UNICOSTA, and in 1987 the KOTA BERANI under Singapore owners. Scrapped after 20 years service in 1993.
NORTHBANK model
The NORTHBANK, built by W Doxford in 1957 was the third ship in a 21 ship order. She was the ‘odd’ one out of the so called ‘Compass Class’ as the East,West,and Southbank were earlier ships built in 1947 and 48 by the same builder and slightly smaller.
The Kelvinbank shortly after stranding at Ocean Island in 1954 She broke up shortly after this….
1978 CRESTBANK model- The lovely lines of a loaded vessel…
A typical deck scene 1950’s
An interesting article written by an experienced Master and ex Bank Line apprentice…
Click on the download button for the full article
1953 FLEETBANK among the big boys!
WILLOWBANK model
Built by Smith’s Dock, Middlesborough 1980 for the ‘Bank and Savill’ service. Running mates were DUNEDIN and NEW ZEALAND CARIBBEAN. Lasted 4 years in this service which was then amended to CALIFORNIA /AUSTRALASIA service for a further 4 years.
CLOVERBANK painting by Robert Lloyd
Teviotbank -quick sketch
Memories are made of this……..
EASTBANK Ship Models (2 shown)
The EASTBANK was built in 1947 and spent nearly 20 years in the company’s service before becoming the BORDAZURI. She spent a lot of this time on the Copra run around the Pacific Islands and was a highly successful design, and a much loved ship by most who sailed on her, including the author.
M.V.STREAMBANK
1977 Doxford built vessel, one of a dozen ordered and called the ‘FLEETBANK’ class. She was the 7th launched out of the total. Later sold in 1983 to Greek owners who named her ARGONIFTIS. Other names: HOPE BAY, AMER PRABHA before scrapping at Alang in 1998.
A ‘Sea Breezes’ article due out in May
to be continued….
Some ‘ERIC’ steamers….from the early 1900’s
TAYBANK class sisters…
Tweedbank, built 1964, and the Gowanbank, built 1968. Smart ships…
CARRONBANK
BUILT IN 1957 AND ONE OF THE 17 SHIP ORDER FROM HARLANDS IN BELFAST. IT WAS THE ONLY VESSEL TO CARRY THIS NAME IN THE FLEET HISTORY. SOLD IN 1974.
NESSBANK with the Capetown – 'table cloth' background.
Macandrews PALACIO (1985)
Built in Holland, this vessel was chartered out and over a period had 7 names, i.e. Palacio;Global Express;Oyster Bay;Vira Bhum;Ville de Kuwait;Alina;Eagle Magnolia;Baltimar Okeanos!
OLIVEBANK again…
Not Bank Line, but an interesting article about H.K. shipping and John Manners written by an ex Bank Line apprentice…please click on the link below for the full article with images..
OLIVEBANK – number 4. The ex French NARA.
1990 to 1999 when scrapped at Alang, India.
Corabank Video
Here is the link to a Dutch video re Rotterdam pilots. The centre portion features the arrival of the CORABANK in the 80’s. (Click on the gobbledegook below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2aeeLiY3is#t=1.877578
The 1957 RIVERBANK
1974 / 85 became the GOLDEN SEASON for Guan Guan shipping of Singapore.
"Hong Kong Typhoons" a fascinating article by an ex Bank Line man.
Front page of a new article due out in the May issue of " Shipping Today and Yesterday"
to be continued………..
Lord Inverforth ( Andrew Weir)
FIRBANK – the lead ship of a stunning 21 ship order placed with William Doxford in 1957
Became the Greek AEGIS BEAUTY in 1973 and then the Maldive registered MALDIVE SEAFARER for 3 more years of trading.
BALTIC EAGLE New in Oct 1979
TWEEDBANK 1964 to 1979 – later named GOOD LION
CEDARBANK in the Falklands….
From House Magazine number 11
WILLOWBANK
Ship Plaques at Harmony St Wharf – 1970's
Plaques were on the timbers of the quay in the 50’s. Seems they were continued on the sheds…
Barrier Reef Pilots – This excellent account from the Oct 1980 house magazine.
Sailing Ship BEECHBANK maiden voyage…
TRENTBANK SINKING IN 1964
