1926 Palmers, Hebburn built Africstar.

Nice to see a merchant name being perpetuated, rare these days.

This Africstar was renamed Afric Star 7 May 1929 when she was extensively modernised. Out of Palmers, y no 958, ON 149755.

The name Afric Star was then used for another refrigerated cargo / reefer from Smiths Dock, y no 1328, ON 363591, l 3 Sept 1974 and bu Alang 18 Sept 2001.

Currently the 3rd Afric Star is also a reefer, IMO 8713562, built 1990.

Back to the image though. Are all the barges with the white Maltese cross owned by the Port of London Authority or a private Company.

I'm sure they are privately owned but am no expert on Thames Lighterage companies!

Very early in the morning of Sunday 9th October 1932 the Afric Star having left London for Buenos Aires was heading WSW down Channel when with clear visibility but a light swell she collided with the Norwegian MV Charente of 1327 tons constructed in 1925 on passage from Spain to Oslo.

The bows of Afric Star sliced into the smaller vessel which immediately started to settle. Fortunately there were no casualties and all in the doomed Charente were rescued by Afric Star, attempts were made to tow Charente to shallower waters but she shortly sank 7 miles North East of Dungeness at 0130, those rescued being transferred to Lady Brassey and taken to Dover.

Afric Star then returned to berth at Queens Wharf on the Thames still with a lifeboat from the Charente adorning her bow.