Dunston staithes (Circa 1968)

Tyne shipping past and present

Dunston staithes (Circa 1968)

Postby Keelman » Wed Nov 18, 2020 4:17 pm

Tonja XX .jpg
Tonja deck _edited-2.jpg
The three outer river berths each had two gravity loading spouts. This is just a hint of how filthy an environment it was to work in. Can you imagine how much worse it must have been when all six berths at the staithes were in use at the same time.
The coaster would get a good hosing down before she sailed, all that muck on the deck will end up in the river I suppose. (could that be that a patch of coal dust floating on the surface of the river?)

The distinctive chimney-like structure with the rounded top seen across the river was built in 1797, it is a shot tower which was in use until 1951, in its later days as part of the Elswick Works of Associated Lead Manufactures Ltd.
Although it became a listed structure sadly it had to be demolished in 1968/69 because of unstable ground beneath it.

TONJA was built at Haugesund in 1957 for Norwegian owners Skips A/S Einar S Haver of Stavanger. Her ownership changed about half a dozen times before her final days under the Honduran flag. Strangely she went to went to ship breakers in 2008 carrying the name TONJA
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Re: Dunston staithes (Circa 1968)

Postby creemaster » Wed Nov 18, 2020 4:58 pm

The two men on each railings and the one on number two hatch must be crew, the fellow looking into the hold probably a trimmer.
The only PPE on show are the googles worn by the aforementioned two men!
When we were supplying ships on West Blyth staithes we sometimes had to wait for a wagon to be emptied as the coal would spill over from the machinery. Then we could dash through the gap under the machinery. There was along way round, behind the back of the machinery, but that exposed you to the wind coming down the estuary. Not a nice place in winter. No hard hats, just common sense waiting for the next wagon to be shunted for discharging.
Regards
Graham
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Re: Dunston staithes (Circa 1968)

Postby Patrick Hill » Wed Nov 18, 2020 5:07 pm

27/06/1993 Berthed Alexandra Dock, Hull.

tonja.jpg
Rgds

Patrick
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Re: Dunston staithes (Circa 1968)

Postby magoonigal » Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:03 pm

In interesting picture from the Amble Facebook site showing the trimmers at work.
TRIMMERS AT WORK WARKWORTH HARBOUR..jpg
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Re: Dunston staithes (Circa 1968)

Postby teesships » Wed Nov 18, 2020 10:06 pm

Paul,
Presume Facebook photo is actually taken at Amble?
A much more extensive port than I ever thought - I think 4 coasters, a dredger and a small trawler in sight in this photo!

Ron M
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Re: Dunston staithes (Circa 1968)

Postby magoonigal » Thu Nov 19, 2020 8:32 am

Morning Ron, Yes, its Amble, correctly known as Warkworth Harbour. The town is Amble.
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