July’s unknown ship brought many replies most of whom identified her as the Romanic.

The winner of the July competition was Peter Somerville of Greenock

Peter Somerville writes:

July’s unknown ship is the Romanic (6,320grt) built for the Bolton Steam Shipping Co. Ltd. by Smith’s Dock Middlesbrough in 1954. She was chartered to Shaw Savill & Albion Co. Ltd. on completion and can only assume she was built with this mind, being given a S S & A sounding name. On completion of her charter in 1961 she was sold to Plate Shipping Co., Panama and renamed Plate Clipper and sailed under the following names thereafter – Marazul 1968, Mionis1971, Chryssostomos1973, Bosphorus1976. She arrived at Gadani Beach to be broken 13th July 1976.

She had a sister ship Ramsay built for the same company in 1953. She also was on charter to S S & S but for a shorter period 1953 to 1956.

D. Frost writes

 July’s Unknown Ship is F. Bolton’s ss Ramsay, built in 1952 by Smiths Dock, South Bank. In 1960 she was sold to United Oriental Shipping, Karachi. She was attacked by aircraft o 12.12.71 (during the India-Pakistan war), and was a Constructive Total Loss. She was broken up at Chittagong on 23.4.72.

Alan Blackwood writes:

This month’s unknown is the 6,320 grt steamer Romanic, the second of a pair of essentially identical vessels, differing only in foredeck cargo handling equipment layout and unlike her elder sister Ramsay, featuring refrigeration in certain holds. Constructed by the Smiths Dock Co. Ltd. at Middlesbrough for the London based Bolton Steam Shipping Company Ltd, she was completed during July 1954 with overall dimensions of 450’07” x 59’02x 38’03” and a maximum draft of 27′ 05.5″. Her propulsion machinery consisted of a 3,450 IHP triple expansion engine and a Bauer-Wach type exhaust turbine, double reduction geared with a hydraulic coupling to a single screw shaft, constructed by her builder, to achieve a maximum speed of 13 knots and a loaded speed of 11.5 knots. Both sisters featured longitudinal bottom and decks framing rather than the more conventional transverse system of hull construction with a view to achieve reduced structural weight and resultant increased deadweight capacity.

Whilst reportedly to have been named either Ruysdael or Romney and whilst under construction on the slipway, her prospective owners secured a contract for the 7 year charter of the vessel to Shaw, Savill & Albion & Co. Ltd. Compromise was reached with the charterer so naming the ship Romanic, thus acknowledging the nomenclature of both shipping companies. Upon completion of the charter, she was sold for further trading to the Plate Shipping Company of Panama (P.B. Pandelis of London, Managers), when renamed Plate Clipper, for Greek flag operation. During 1969 the vessel was sold on to the Buenos Aires based Cia. Argentina de Transportes Maritimos S.A. and renamed Marazul to operate under the Argentinian flag.

She was further sold during 1971 to Kyklades Cia Maritima S.A., Panama (Alex. N.Vernicos, Athens, Managers) when renamed Mionis and returned to Greek flag operation. She was subjected to further renaming during 1973 to Chryssostomos without change of ownership, managers or PoR. The following year she was sold to Bosphorus Cia Maritima S.A. of Panama and renamed Bosphorus for continued Greek flag operation.

During 11th July 1976 the vessel arrived at Gadani Beach for demolition by The Shipbreaking Corporation, with the process commencing two days later.

Laurance Ward writes:

I believe this ship to be the Romanic, built for Bolton Steam Shipping Co., of London (named Romanic for thecharter to Shaw, Savill & Albion), by Smith’s Dock Company Ltd., South Bank, Middlesborough. Launched 07/04/1954 and completed in July 1954. Dimensions: O’all length 450.70 ft., breadth 59.20 ft., gross registered tonnage 6,320.00 tons.

She had a single triple expansion steam engine plus a LP Turbine, and a designed speed of 11.5 knots. She sailed for 7 years on this charter and was sold in 1961 to Plate Shipping Co., renamed Plate Clipper and flying the Greek flag. In 1969 she was sold to Cia. Argentine de Transport Maritima, Argentina and renamed Marazul, in 1971 she was sold Kyklades Cia Maritime., of Greece, renamed Mionis and in 1973 she was renamed Chryssostomos, still with the same owners. In 1974 she was sold to Bosphorus Cia Maritime., Greek flag andrenamed Bosphorus and finally, on 11/07/1976 she arrived at Gadani Beach for breaking up.

John Cullen writes:

The ship portrayed in the July edition is the S.S. Romanic of the Bolton Steamship Co.Ltd. It’s name combined traditions from Boltons and Shaw Savill & Albion, starting with the traditional R from Boltons and ending with “ic” from Shaw Savill. On first glance I thought that it was one of the Cunard Mediterranean fleet, but quickly realised that it was a bigger ship.

Jim Simpson writes:

The unknown ship in the July edition is the Romanic built in 1954 by Smith’s Dock Co. Ltd., Middlesborough for the Bolton Steamship Co. Dimensions as follows: Length 450.6′, Beam 59.2′ and Gross tonnage 6,320. The ship was propelled by a single triple expansion steam engine with a low pressure turbine, speed 11.5kts.

This ship was taken on the stocks for a seven year time charter to Shaw Savill. She was to be used on their service from Australasia to South and East Africa. As such, she had 68,011 cu.ft. of insulated space which was very unusual for a ship in a fleet of mainly tramps and ore carriers.

On completion of her charter, the Romanic was sold to Plate Shipping, Piraeus and renamed Plate Clipper. Thereafter, she was sold in 1969 to Cia Argentina de Transportes Maritamas, Buenos Aires and remamed Marazul. Then sold in 1971 to Kyklades Cia Mar, Piraeus, remaned Mionis and then renamed Chryssostomos in 1973, The following year, sold to Bosphorus Cia Mar, Piraeus and remaned Bosphorus being finally broken up in 1976.

John Jordan writes:

This compact ship of 450ft length overall is the 1954 built steamship SS. Romanic. She was built by Smith’s Dock Co., Middlesborough with an intended name of Ruysdael for the family owned firm of Bolton Steamship Company.

However on completion she was chartered to Shaw, Savill, and Albion as Romanic. In 1961 she was sold to Greek interests and renamed Plate Clipper. In 1969 sold again and renamed Marazul. In 1971 sold renamed Mionis, 1973 sold renamed Chryssostomos. In 1974 sold and renamed Bosphorus, and finally in 1976, scrapped at Gadani Beach.

Jim Stitt writes:

The ship is MV Farcados of Elder Dempster’s F class ships – Fian, Falaba, Fourah Bay, Freetown and Fulani.