The winner of the August competition was Ray Purdy of Bridlington

Ray Purdy writes:

I think the ship of the month (August) is the Irish Pine of Irish Shipping Ltd., Dublin.

Launched: 09/08/1948.

Builder: John Readhead & Sons ltd. South Shields.

History: 1965 Cia Acarnania de Navigation SA ( Fafallios Ltd),

Chios. Renamed Amazon.

1976 Pro-Unit Shipping SA (Chaldeos Freighters Ltd)

Piraeus. Renamed Aramon.

1979 Broken up at Kaohsiung.

Bob Blowers writes:

I believe the unknown ship is Irish Shipping’s Irish Pine (2) of 5,048 gross tons built at South Shield by John Redhead & Sons Ltd and handed over on 18th December 1948.

She was 436 feet in length and 56 feet in beam and fitted with steam reciprocating/ exhaust turbine machinery giving her a service speed of 12 knots.

She was designed for and remained on the company’s North Atlantic service to the USA and had accommodation for 12 passengers.

Originally she had a black hull which was later changed to grey. A radar and mast was also fitted subsequently.

In 1960, a modernisation program, saw her steam engine exchanged for a Hawthorn- Doxford oil engine.

In 1965 she was sold to Compania Agormania de Navigacion of Panama and renamed Amazon. And then in 1976 she was sold on to Greek owners and renamed Aramon.

Finally in 1979 she came to an unusual end in that her cargo of bitumen solidified in the holds, resulting with her being scrapped at Kaosiung, Taiwan with the cargo still in the holds.

Peter Somerville writes:

I believe this ship to be the Irish Pine which is sporting an uncharacteristic black hull which may be a legacy of a recent charter. She was built in 1948 for Irish Shipping Ltd by Readhead West Yard South Shields and was one of seven similar ships built in the late 40’s early 50’s and one of two that were fitted with combined steam reciprocating engines and turbines – I think she was re-engined by Doxford later in her career. In 1965 she was sold and carried the names Amazon and Aramon before being sold for breaking up at Kaohsiung on May 22nd 1979.

Eric McIntyre writes:

The unknown could be the Irish Pine of Irish Shipping Ltd., built in 1948 by J. Readhead & Sons South Shields yard no. 560 on.174592. She was 5.048 gross tons and measured 436’x56’1×24’4″. She had a 3 cylinder expansion engine with a low pressure turbine by shipbuilders which was replaced in April 1960 with a 4 cylinder Doxford oil engine by Hawthorn Leslie engineers, Newcastle upon Tyne and gave her a speed of 12 knots. Sold in 1965 to Cia. Acanania de Nav. S.A., Greece and renamed Amazon then in 1976 she became the Aramon of Pro Unit Shipping S.A., Greece. In 1979 whilst on voyage from Piraeus to Port Sudan her cargo of bitumen solidified in the holds and on the 22.5.1979 she arrived at Kaosiung to be broken up by Taiwan Ship Scrap Co. Ltd. still with her cargo on board. Sadly Irish Shipping went into liquidation in 1984.

Niels Storinggaard writes:

This month’s unknown ship is Irish Pine.

The ship was owned by Irish Shipping Ltd. and was a sistership to Irish Oak. Irish Oak had a grey hull. So did Irish Pine on delivery, but later painted black. She was was built for the company’s trade to U.S. East Coast.

Irish Pine (7,575 d/5,048 grt) was built 1948 by J. Readhead and Sons Ltd., South Shields with a low pressure turbine engine.

In 1960 the engine was replaced by a Doxford Oil engine by Hawthorn Leslie, Newcastle.

In 1965 she was sold to Cia. Acamania de Nav. S.A., Greece and named Amazon and later renamed for new Greek Owners as Aramon.

In 1979 on a voyage from Piraeus to port Sudan, her cargo of bitumen solidified in the holds, and in May the same year she arrived in Taiwan to be broken up still with the solid bitumen onboard.

Laurance Ward writes:

I believe this ship to be the Irish Pine, built for Irish Shipping Ltd., of Dublin, by John Redheads & Sons Ltd., of South Shields. Launched 09/08/1948 and completed in December 1948.

Dimensions: O’all length 436.00 ft., breadth 56.10 ft., draught 24.30 ft., gross registered tonnage 5,048 tons, 2,740 nett registered tonnage. Engines fitted by John Redhead & Sons Ltd., T3cyl (27, 45 & 76 x 48 ins) & LP turbine [1960: re-engined Hawthorn Leslie (Engineers) Ltd., Newcastle]. Designed speed of 12 knots.

She sailed for 17 years with these owners, and was sold to Cia Acamania de Navegacion SA., (Fafalios Ltd.), and renamed Amazon. In 1976 she was sold Pro-Unit Shipping SA (Chaldeos Freighters Ltd)., Piraeus and renamed Aramom. She was sold for scrap, arriving Kaohsiung 22/05/79.

D. Frost writes:

August’s Unknown Ship is Irish Shipping’s ss Irish Pine, built 1948 by J.

Readhead. In 1960 she was re-engined with a 4cyl. Doxford. Renamed Amazon in 1965 (Cia Acarnania de Nav. S.A.),Aramon in 1975 (Pro-UnitShg.S.A.). Scrapped 1980 Kaohsiung with a cargo of solidifed Bitumen. Her sister ship was Irish Oak.

Alan Blackwood writes:

At first glance Stephens, Sutton’s Reaveley (1956), perhaps under charter to Irish Shipping Ltd. sprang to mind. Closer inspection however illustrated a rather more substantial bridge housing than that normally associated with a tramp vessel. Reference to Irish Shipping’s fleet then revealed this month’s unknown to be Irish Pine, the Dublin based Company’s first post WWII newbuild and the first of two almost identical vessels constructed for their North Atlantic liner operation by John Readhead & Sons Ltd. at South Shields. Both vessels were equipped with accommodation for 12 passengers.

Delivered to her owners on 18th January 1948 and shown in the photograph as completed with black hull and white sheer line, the single screw 5,048 grt Irish Pine had overall dimensions of 436′ x 56’01” x 35’05” with a summer draft of 24’04”. Her propulsion machinery consisted of a triple expansion steam engine supplemented with a double reduction geared hydraulically coupled Waugh type exhaust turbine, to produce a total of 4,000 IHP for a speed of 12 knots. During 1959 the vessel returned to the Tyne to be re-engined with a 4,400 BHP 4 cylinder two stroke single acting Doxford type oil engine constructed by Hawthorn, Leslie Engineering Ltd., Newcastle upon Tyne thereafter achieving an improved service speed of 14 knots.

She remained on the Company’s North Atlantic liner trade until August 1965 when sold out of the fleet to Cia. Acarnania de Nav. S.A., renamed Amazon and registered at Chios, for Greek flag operations by Fafalios Shipping . She was however soon after chartered to Irish Shipping for a period in order to fulfil certain forward business commitments on the North Atlantic.

The vessel was sold on to the Piraeus based Pro-Unit Shipping S.A. for continued trading by Chaldeos Freighters during 1976 when renamed Aramon. Her long career was drawn to an abrupt end when three years later, whilst on a voyage from Piraeus to Port Sudan, her cargo of bitumen solidified, rendering prospective discharge effectively impossible. Finally sailing from Jeddah on 9th April, she had been sold for demolition at Kaohsiung by the Taiwan Ship Scrap Co. Ltd., arriving there with bitumen cargo intact on 22nd May 1979.

Terry Conlan writes:

The ship is the steamer Irish Pine built by Readhead, South Shields, in 1949 for Irish Shipping Limited ,Dublin. She was 5,077 grt and 436 feet long with a modest deadweight of 7,575 for the Ireland to North America liner trade. The Irish Shipping Limited colour scheme for hulls was grey with green boot topping. However , for a while in the early fifties the Irish Pine with her sister Irish Oak and the larger Irish Cedar had black hulls but reverted soon to grey. There has never been a satisfactory explanation for this though one deck officer gave me the rather facetious response of “a shortage of grey paint”. Another point was the use of steam propulsion for the early deep sea ships until 1956 due to lack of suitably qualified engineers with motor endorsements.

Later in 1959 the decision was made to convert the Irish Pine and Irish Oak to Doxford oil engines built by Hawthorn Leslie. Three other steamers ,unsuitable for conversion were sold off and replaced by new motor ships. As converted the Irish Pine and her sister had a much cleaner look around the funnel and housing area with the elimination of large ventilators. Both sisters were sold to Greek owners in the mid sixties and both were taken back on time charter for a round trip in the North Atlantic by ISL.

John Jordan writes:

This ship is from my old Alma Mater of Irish Shipping Ltd., and with the unusual black hull is the, at first SS Irish Pine. A small tidy ship of 5,048 tons and a deadweight of around 7,500 tons. She was 436ft X 56ft X 24.33 ft and had 4000 IHP with a service speed of 12 knots. She had accommodation for 12 passengers and was built by Redheads and Sons Ltd. In 1959 she returned to Redheads and was fitted with a Hawthorne Doxford diesel engine, thereby becoming MV Irish Pine.

In 1965 she was sold to Greek interests and was renamed Amazon. In 1976 she was sold to another Greek owner and was renamed Aramon. About three years later she was carrying a cargo of bitumen from Piraeus to Port Said when her cargo solidified in the holds. She was considered to be only fit for scrapping which was carried out at Kaohsiung, with the bitumen still in her holds. A solid end to a little beauty.

Doug Burn writes:

The mystery ship in August magazine is the Irish Pine. To start with it is unusual to see her with a black hull,as most of the Irish Shipping fleet had grey hulls. Her tonnage was 5,048g 2740n 7,575d, dimensions 436.00″ x 56.1″ x 24.4″. She was completed by John Readheads, South Shields in December 1948 for Irish Shipping Ltd. In August 1965 he was sold to Acarnania De Nav AS Greece and renamed Amazon. In 1976 she was sold on to Pro-Unit Shipping As Greece and renamed Aramon. On a voyage from Piraeus to Port Sudan her cargo of bitumen solidified in the hold. In May 1979 she arrived in Kaohsiung to be broken up with her cargo still on board.

Geoff Holmes writes:

The unknown ship in the August edition is the Irish Pine. Completed December 1948 by J. Redhead & Sons, South Shields (Yard No. 560). Gross Tonnage was 5,048 and her official number was 174592. As built she had a Triple expansion main engine exhausting to a low pressure turbine. In 1960 she was converted to a Doxford Diesel Engine. Owners were Irish Shipping Ltd. Port of Registry, Dublin.

In August 1965 she was sold to Cia. Acamania di Nav. S.A. Greece & renamed Amazon. In 1976 she was sold to Pro-Unit Shipping S.A. Greece and renamed Aramon.

In 1979 whilst on passage from Piraeus to Port Sudan with a cargo of bitumen it solidified in her holds. Declared a Constructive Total Loss she was sold to Taiwan Ship Scrap Co. Ltd. and arrived at Kaohsiung on 27/05/1979 with the bitumen still on board.

Michael Green writes:

The ship this month is the Irish Oak Built 1949/5,077grt at J. Readhead and Sons, South Shields, Yard No 562. Sold in 1967 to Greek owners and renamed Alkyon. In 1976 she became the Vegas also under Greek ownership. It was under this name I saw her in Port Said 28.11.77. 13.8.79 ran aground near Jeddah whilst on voyage from Piraeus to Vietnam, and sold to breakers, arrived Gadani Beach 29.01.80.

Mike Goadby writes:

This month’s unknown ship is the 5,048 grt steamship Irish Pine, built in 1948 by John Readhead at South Shields for Irish Shipping Ltd., Dublin. She was re-engined in 1960 and fitted with a 4 cyl type Doxford opposed piston oil engine. In 1965 she was sold to Cia Acarnania de Navegacion sa Fafalios Ltd., Chios and renamed Amazon. In 1976 she was sold to Pro Unit Shipping SA (Chaldios Freighters Ltd) Piraeus and renamed Aramon. 1979 arrived at Kaohsiung for breaking up.

Peter Harris writes:

The unknown ship in the August Issue she is one of a series of cargo ships built for Irish Shipping in British yards in the late 1940s. However this one can be narrowed down to three, Irish Cedar, Irish Pine and Irish Oak. Two built by Readheads and one by Wm Gray, 5,000 gross tons. I think she is the Irish Pine Built 1948 and sold in 1965.

John Cullen writes:

I believe that the photograph is of the SS Irish Oak built at Readheads South Shields in 1949 and re-engined in 1959 to become the MV Irish Oak, one of three near sister ships. The original engines were triple expansion reciprocating with LP exhaust turbine, and the turbine proved unreliable and costly to maintain, and were replaced in all three ships. The ships were frequently chartered to Manchester Liners during the summer seasons, but went on the world wide charter market during the winter months.

Richard Deasey writes:

August’s Unknown Ship is the Irish Pine of Irish Shipping, built in December 1948 by J. Readhead and Sons of South Shields. At 7,573dwt, 5,048grt, she had an overlall length of 436ft and a speed of 12 knots. Built for North Atlantic service, she could accommodate 12 passengers.

Vincent Hetherington writes:

This month’s unknown ship is the S.S. Irish Pine (2) of Irish Shipping Ltd., of Dublin. Built by John Readhead & Sons at South Shields (Yard No. 560), launched on 04/08/1948 by Mrs Stafford, wife of Mr J. J. Stafford, Director of Irish Shipping Ltd. and delivered on the 18/12/1948 for the company’s North Atlantic Trade.

The ships dimensions were: Length 436′ x Beam 56′ on a draught of 24’4″, Official Number 174592, Gross tonnage 5,048. The ship was powered by a 3 cylinder engine with low pressure turbine by the Shipbuilders.

This was replaced in April 1960 with a 4 cylinder 2S C.S.A. Doxford oil engine by Hawthorn Leslie(Engineers)Ltd., Newcastle upon Tyne. Service speed was 12 kts. The ship had accommodation for 12 passengers.

The vessel was delivered in December 1948 and sailed on her maiden voyage from Cork to Baltimore, Maryland and New York. The Irish Pine (2) was sold in August 1965 to Cia. Acarnania de Nav. S.A., Greece and renamed Amazon. Sold again in 1976 to Pro-Unit Shipping S.A., Greece and renamed Aramon. In 1979 while on a voyage from Piraeus to Port Sudan her cargo of bitumen solidified in the holds. On the 22nd of May 1979 the vessel arrived at Kaohsiung to be broken up by Taiwan Ship Scrap Co. Ltd. still with her cargo on board.