There I was down at the South Gare, a little before 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, all set to record the ship inward bound for Redcar Ore Terminal. She was already well into the approach channel, the pilot had just boarded, and a tug was on its way, and all seemed well. Then came the devastating news over the radio of a failure of hydraulics, so no winches. Would take several hours to fix, so entry was immediately cancelled.
She did come in at 2213 hours last night, and is now expected to sail at 2300 hours tomorrow night. Even on the longest day of the year I will not be there! My devastation was that I was so much looking forward to seeing my third different MALAKAND in just over 50 years. I will now have to await some further future opportunity.
For the record, her details:
MALAKAND (9304198), Pakistan, 40040gt, completed Sasebo 10-2004
2004 NORD SUN - 2008 ANASTASIA C - 2010 MALAKAND
I was then expecting to reminisce about those two former MALAKANDs.
A poor substitute, but I can now introduce you to the Pakistan National predecessor of the current incumbant.
MALAKAND (7822005), Pakistan, 12479gt, completed Tokyo 6-1980
BU Gadani Beach 4.3.09
Tees Dock - 13 December 1983:
There are, of course, those among us, who can even remember a previous - Brocklebank - MALAKAND!
See: viewtopic.php?f=43&t=8118
You will find other references using the search facility!
I doubt, however, that we have anyone who can clearly remember the earlier Brocklebank MALAKAND of 1919 which exploded and destroyed Huskisson Dock in Liverpool during an air raid on 3 May 1941!
Ron