
Panama Canal transit
A Mystery Voyage with the Bank Line:
Introduction
Having spent three years at the London Nautical School and after taking the General Certificate of Education in six subjects, including Navigation and Seamanship, the next step was to go to sea. It was first necessary to pass a full medical examination and eyesight test. To avoid oil tankers and experience worldwide trading, I signed indentures in 1955 at the age of 16 with Andrew Weir’s Bank Line and joined, as the junior of three apprentices, a brand-new ship M.V. Foylebankat Harland & Wolf’s shipyard in Belfast for a five-month trip to U.S. Gulf ports, Australia, South Sea Islands and home. When we were in Houston, Texas, we were berthed next to an old Bank Line Liberty ship (generally referred to as Sam boats) the Ivybank, loading a similar assortment of cargo for Australia. We exchanged visits and their junior apprentice went back along the quay crying after seeing our new and much nicer accommodation and facilities. I wrote to my parents that “the ship (Ivybank) was the worst I had ever seen. It was absolutely filthy and the quarters were just shocking. I hope I never see her again in my lifetime.”
So, you can imagine my thoughts, when after three weeks leave over the New Year period 1955/56, I received orders to take the train to Hull and join the S.S. Ivybank,that had followed us back from Australia with a bulk cargo of ore of some kind. On the train I met two of the other apprentices joining, the 18-year-old senior apprentice, Terry, was an old London Nautical School boy, as also was the first trip junior apprentice, Tony, an old form-mate who had stayed on at school for an extra 6 months. The second apprentice, John from Dover, joined later and was a year senior to me. The overnight (non-sleeper) train arrived in Hull at about 5am and we had to kick our heels in the cold until 7am when the nearby seamen’s club opened so that we could get a hot drink and some breakfast As soon as they opened for the day we made the required visit to the company’s agent in the fabulously named “Land of Green Ginger” where we were given the location of our ship and found her high out of the water with a perilously steep gangway to lug up all our gear. The joining date was 18th January 1956.
Built in 1977 in Tonsberg and given a 7 cylinder B & W Diesel engine – single screw. Built for the French line Chargeurs Reuins S.A. as NARA.
The birthday card above was drawn by the second Mate, Gareth Armstrong, to mark the birthday of Robbie MacKenzie, the Master’s wife, who has kindly agreed to share it with readers.
The Teakbank was my home for a series of voyages World Wide that over a period over Two years of my life during which time I served as 2nd and 1st Mate on this fine vessel.
Posted by Mike Lindsell
Here is an interesting original article complete with photos written by an ex Bank Line man. To read the whole article please click on the orange download button. Happy reading!
See https://oceanjoss for more material…..
The interesting history of the BALTRAFFIC, built in Sunderland at the end of WW1. She was the WAR COPPICE ordered by the government and unwanted as the war ended, so sold to the French government who named her NORD. A year later they sold her to a Lorient based company who fitted her out as a reefer vessel and named her ( imaginatively?) REFRIGERANT. Much later in April 1933 she was sold to UBC and named BALTRAFFIC. During WW2 she went down to New Zealand for the duration of the war and returned to Europe in 1946 resuming her trade on the Baltic run. In 1952 at the age of 34 she was sold to a Pakistani company who named her SAFINA-E-TARIQ and who traded her for 4 more years. Broken up in Karachi in 1956 after 38 years afloat.
Charlie Stitt19 hours agoUser InfoINVERBANK
I did a fantastic 20 month trip as 2nd Mate on this fine vessels maiden voyage. A very happy ship with a great bunch of lads. Master Capt John Kemp MBE. Mate Carl Jacobs. C/E Joe Hanover. 2/E Jim Cairns. She was one of the first Bankline ships with the new P type engine so had a few teething problems which kept the Engineers busy. but as professionals, they took it in their stride. Happy Days.
Photo courtesy of Charlie Stitt ( c/o on board) and his website https://banklinenostalgia.com
Picture courtesy of Peter Howells and https://banklinenostalgia.com