REGISTAN

[Dennis Maccoy]

The West Docks yard of John Readhead & Sons had a long association with Frank C Strick, some 46 vessels being built at the yard for the company (including two under Swan Hunter ownership). The ships were modern and well equipped but displayed some cautious features – such as riveting in selected areas on ships that were otherwise fully welded. This is the stern frame of Registan on the slip in 1966 showing the riveted connection of the casting to the hull. Other riveted areas were the sheerstrake and the upper seam of the turn of bilge.

As with other vessels at that time the ships also had other “dated” features – one of the first drawings I produced as an apprentice was for the gun stiffening under the poop deckhouse. A manually operated 4 inch gun might have been of limited value in an age of jet aircraft but I suspect it could quite effectively spoil a pirate’s day!

[Dennis Maccoy]

Part of Registan's six cylinder Doxford being shipped by Titan ll. Note the tidy dockside.