WEAR-BUILT BULKER

[Dennis Maccoy]

These should really be in "Shipbuilding on the Wear" but I'm not sure of the vessel or the appropriate yard - can one of our Wearside members enlighten me please?

Alongside at Brigham & Cowan on 24 February 1985.

In dock at Brigham & Cowan on 17 March 1985 - 1

In dock at Brigham & Cowan on 17 March 1985 - 2

[northeast]

An odd one as I can't recall any of the later ones being built in 2 parts, but the profile and date might match the B35 class bulker POMORAC or sister?
http://sunderlandships.com/view.php?yea ... el=POMORAC

[Dennis Maccoy]

Hi George.
The launch date quoted in Sunderlandships, 21 February 1985, would certainly suggest that your deduction is correct and that the ship is Pomorac - my first picture was taken on 24 February - but like you I don't recall the B35s being built in two parts. Perhaps one of our Sunderland-based members might be able to tell us.

[fitter]

Pomorac was built in two halves. A two ship contract from Hong Kong, the contract was cancelled while the ship was under construction. This disruption to the building programme made A&P launch the aft end. Later, the fore end was launched and the two halves joined at Brigham and Cowan.

In the 1960s two 45,000 Dwt bulk carriers were built in two halves.
"Sygna" and "Happy Dragon" were both built at Austin and Pickersgills, Southwick yard and joined together on the Tyne. Sygna grounded off Australia and broke in two.
I THINK that the reason for two halves was the acute bend in the River Wear at Deptford (Laings yard), was such that ships of that length couldn't get around it, though the narrowness of the river at Southwick would also be a consideration for launching.