Merchant Seamen NI

[sonofshanks]

 
Blue Funnel Lines, M.V. `Deucalion` 9,513 grt, completed by H&W Glasgow, on 19th August 1920. Launched as `Glenogle` for the Glen Line she was transferred to Blue Funnel in 1949. In 1956 she arrived at Britton Ferry for demolition.

[sonofshanks]

 
Blue Funnel Lines M.V.`Dolius` 9,460 grt, completed by H&W, Glasgow on 23 February 1922. Launched as `Glengarry` for the Glen Line she was renamed `Glenstrae` in 1939. She was  transferred to Blue Funnel in 1949 and arrived at Britton Ferry in 1952 for demolition.
 
 

[sonofshanks]

 
Blue Funnel Lines, M.V.`Dymas` 9,464 grt, completed by H&W, Glasgow on 20th April 1922. Launched as `Glenbeg` for the Glen Line she was transferred to Blue Funnel in 1949. She arrived at Dalmuir for breaking up on 8th April 1954.

[sonofshanks]

 
Blue Funnel Lines M.V.`Calchas` 8,298 grt, completed by H &W, Belfast on 17th January 1947. Launched by Mrs. Lawerence Holt she was the lead vessel of a class of 21 vessels spread over seven years, which constituted Holt`s post war re-building programme. In 1957 she was renamed `Glenfinlas` for the Glen Line and in 1962 reverted to `Calchas`. She operated for Elder Dempster Lines in 1971/72. In July 1973 she suffered a five day fire at Port Kelang, Malaysia and as she was beyond economic repair, was scrapped at Kaohsiung in October that year.

[sonofshanks]

 
Blue Funnel Lines, M.V. `Antilochus` 8,238 grt, completed by H&W Belfast on 3rd May 1949. In 1975 she was transferred to Elder Dempster Lines and in 1977 sold to Gulf Shipowners, London who renamed her `Gulf Orient` and sold her for breaking at Gadani Beach on 9th May 1978.

[sonofshanks]

 
Blue Funnel Lines M.V. `Helenus` 10,215 grt completed by H&W Belfast on 29th October 1949. She had capacity for 31 passengers. She was sold for breaking at Kaohsiung on 11th July 1978.

[sonofshanks]

 
Blue Funnel Lines M.V. `Hector` 10,215 grt launched in July 1949 by Mr. Clement Atlee and completed by H&W Belfast on 31st March 1950. She was sold to Kaohsiung for scrapping on 5th July 1972.

[sonofshanks]

 
Blue Funnel Lines M.V. `Ascanius` 7,692 grt, completed by H&W Belfast, on 21st November 1950. In 1972 she was transferred to Elder Dempster Lines and renamed `Akosombo` but reverted to `Ascanius` in 1973. She was sold to the Saudi-Europe Line in 1976 and renamed `Mastura`. On 4th April 1978 she arrived at Blyth to be broken up.

[sonofshanks]

 
Blue Funnel Lines M.V. `Ixion` 10,125 grt, completed by H&W Belfast on 5th January 1951. She was sold in 1971 to Spannish Shipbreakers.

[sonofshanks]

 
Blue Funnel Lines M.V. `Elpenor` 7,757 grt completed by H&W Belfast on 22nd April 1954. She was sold in 1978 to the Liberian flag and renamed `United Concord` and was broken up in Taiwan in 1979. She is seen here at Avonmouth Docks in the mid 1960s.

[sonofshanks]

 
Blue Funnel Lines M.V. `Dolius` 7,964 grt completed by H&W Belfast on 5th January 1956. She was the last vessel built by H&W for the Blue Funnel Line. In 1970 she was transferred to the Glen Line and renamed `Glenfruin` and in 1972 reverted to `Dolius` and later that year sold to the Somali flag as `Hungmien`.
Sold again to the Chinese flag in 1977 and renamed `Hong Qi 119`, she was renamed `Zhan Dou 51` in 1985 and scrapped in China a few years later.

[sonofshanks]

 
Blue Funnel Lines M.V. `Medon` 7,335 grt, completed by H&W Belfast on 1st September 1942. Launched as `Empire Splendour` for the Ministry of Shipping (G.Heyn & Sons) managers, she was acquired by Blue Funnel in 1946 and renamed `Medon`. In 1962 she was laid up in the River Fal and in 1963 sold to Liberian owners who renamed her `Tina`. In 1968 she was sold to Cyprus owners who scrapped her in 1970.

[johnmc]

  Hell SOS    I notice lots of the vessels you post are scrapped the year after  they change owner.
                           Are they bought for scrap value?
                                        johnmc

[sonofshanks]

Hell SOS    I notice lots of the vessels you post are scrapped the year after  they change owner.
                           Are they bought for scrap value?
                                        johnmc

Most British companies would dispose of vessels after 20 / 25 years service. Some are sold for further trading to non British flag countries, others are sold directly for scrap, it really depends on a few things at the time. The going rate for scrap at a particular time, does have a bearing. For example, in one of my previous posts the 3 Royal Mail ships, Amazon, Aragon and Arlanza (which were converted to car carriers) were sold en bloc for 700,000 US Dollars, which was just above their combined scrap value. Had they not have been bought for conversion, they would have been scrapped. For a passenger vessel more stringent 'surveys' take place the older the ship is and it may not be economical to continue running them. During the oil crisis of 1973 when the price of crude oil tripled overnight, several large passenger 'steam ships' went straight to the scrapyard, due to the high cost of fuel. Diesel ships faired a little better as they were more economical to run, but generally slower than steamers. At the end of the day it is really just a question of economics.

[LaraHigginson]

My husbands Granda is a Navy Man, I have a great picture of him with his medals on but I don't know how to post it. I am told he is the most decorated veteran in North Antrim, he has a suite named after him in the Ballyclare British Legion, he's 95 now and is fond of telling war stories after a wee dark rum.

Is name is Isaac Higginson.