3
25/
8. 18.
The reference in yesterday's article to early shipbuilding activities in Hongkong and Kowloon have produced a valuable and interesting communication from a correspondent which proves that Jno. Riach
and Co., who were operating at West Point in the Sixties, were still launching ships in the early Seventies, and
putting in such excellent work that one of the vessels they constructed was still in operation sixty years afterwards! My correspondent's letter follows:
"Referring to the articles on early shipbuilding in Hongkong, it may interest readers to learn that the firm of Jno. Riach was still going strong in the year 1873. According to Lloyd's Register for 1933, the "Suilee Maru" was built by this firm in that year. It was a ship 212 feet long and had a 27 ft. beam; quite a decent-sized ship to be built in Hongkong in those days. The original name of the vessel was "Sual", She does not appear in the Register this year. Nevertheless it is noteworthy that a vessel built in Hongkong did sail the seas for 60 years.
*
The above is most interesting: on looking up Lloyd's Register, one finds that the s.s. Sual became the Cebu, and was re-named the Sual, before being given the name Suilee Maru. She was listed as a two-decker ship of 974 tons, with engines developing 94 horsepower. She flew the Chinese flag, the owners being the Tueshung Navigation Co., and the port of registry Chapu.
J
That things were certainly built to last in those days can also be inferred from the fact that Captain Sanda Fame, decorated with flags, followed the larger steamer, and the yacht Celestial (the first vessel built locally, launched in 1843) in consideration of her owner's (Mr. Lapralk's) connection with the enterprise to be inaugurated during the day, spread her wings, broke out all over with flags, and endeavoured to get herself round the island in the absence of wind; with the help of a very young steam tug which many may have seen lying at Aberdeen, and which, owing to its dimensions and general resemblance to the craft which came out of the Lowther Arcade, suggests the idea of clock-work engines, and being wound up with a key. Finally, we believe, the Fame took the yacht in tow, at any rate, she found her way round to Aberdeen, very shortly after the arrival of the Fire Dart, and this would scarcely have been probable otherwise.
"With the exception of the furthest end, still without the lining of hewn granite which covers the sides, the new dock, 425 feet long, is now quite finished. The vast space, cleared of all encumbrances, with the blocks ready laid down, the neat caisson in its place, the clean expanse of stone flooring, and symmetrical steps leading down to the bottom, presented a very imposing appearance. It was empty when the visitors arrived, and the Fire Dart came stem on, close up to the caisson, so close indeed that as she approached the engineer on shore began to think evidently that she intended to open the new Dock in a much more summary fashion than was laid down in the programme, and shouted in a very energetic manner to back the paddles. The boat, however, in spite of her alarming proportions was well in hand, and though she came within a few feet of the caisson, made no attempt to break it down, and enter the dock with a rush.
Page 110
Page 111
3
25/
8. 18.
The reference in yesterday's article to early shipbuilding activities in Hongkong and Kowloon heve produced a valuable and interesting communication from a correspondent which proves thet Jno.Riach
and Co., who were operating at West Point in the Sixties, were still launching ships in the early Seventies, and
putting in such excellent work that one of the vessels they constructed was still in operation sixty years after- wards! My correspondent's letter follows:
"Referring to the articles on early shipbuilding in Hongkong, it may interest readers to learn that the firm of Jno. Riach was still going strong in the year 1873. According to Lloyd's Register for 1933, the "Suilee Maru" was built by this firm in that year. It was a ship ́ 212 feet long and had a 27 ft. beam; quite a decent-sized ship to be built in Hongkong in those days. The original name of the vessel was "Sual", She does not appear in the Register this year. Nevertheless it is noteworthy ✨ that a vessel built in Hongkong did sail the seas for 60 years.
*
The above is most interesting: on looking up Lloyd's Register, one finds that the s.s. Sual became the Cebu, and was re-named the Sual, before being given the name Suilee Maru. She was listed as a two-decker ship of 974 tons, with engines developing 94 horsepower. She flew th
She flew the Chinese flag, the owners being the Tueshung Navigation Co., and the port of registry Chapu.
J
بارد
A
That things were certainly built to last in those days can also be inferred from the fact that Captain Sanda Fame, decorated with flege, followed the larger steamer, and the yacht Celestial (the first vessel built locally, launched in 1843) in consideration of her owner's (Mr. Lapralk's) connection with the enterprise to be inaugurated during the day, spread her wings, broke out all over with flags, and endeavoured to get herself round the island in the absence or wind; with the help of a very young steam tug which many may have seen lying at Aberdeen, and which, owing to its dimensions and generel resemblance to the craft which came out of the Lowther Arcade, suggests the idea of olook-work engines, and being wound up with a key. Finally, we believe, the Fame took the yacht in tow, at any rate, she found her way round to Aberdeen, very shortly after the arrival of the Fire Dart, and this would scarcely have been probable otherwise..
"With the exception of the furthest end, still without the lining of hewn granite which covers the sides, the new dock, 425 feet long, is now quite finished. The vast space, cleared of all'encumbrances, with the blocks ready laid down, the neat caisson in its place, the clean expanse of stone flooring, and symmetrical steps leading down to the bottom, presented a very imposing appearance. It was empty when the visitors arrived, and the Fire Dart came stem on, olose up to the osisson, 80 close indeed that as she approached the engineer on shore began to think evidently that she intended to open the new Dook in a much more summary fashion than was laid down in the programme, and shouted in a very energetic manner to back the paddles. The boat, however, in spite of her alarming proportions was well in hand, and though she came within a few feet of the caisson, made no attempt to break it down, and enter the dock with a rush.
Page 110Page 111
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.