CARGO SHIPS AND COASTERS

A miscellany of working ships that called

By Derek Longly

From the 1950's through till the 1990's, although with some absences due to working overseas, I had the pleasure of watching the many and diverse freight ships that arrived and departed from Newhaven.  Some were tiny, some were large, some were battered, whilst some were smart and new.  They belonged to numerous companies originating from many parts of the world   For me all were a joy to see as they either brought their many and varied cargoes into the port, or took materials away from England to foreign lands.

I have put together a collection of photographs of a number of these workhorses of the sea, for which I have created a gallery, and hope those Newhaven residents who have the same enthusiasm as myself for shipping will not only find them of interest but perhaps the pictures will also stir a few memories of those busy days in the port. They also, to some extent, record the development of business through the port during those years.

The 'tiny, unknown coaster' is in fact the work vessel 'Amanda', based at Newhaven during the construction of the Royal Sovereign light tower. - Andy, Editor.

Photo:Albion - built in 1938 - owner Juko Wester - broken up 1962

Albion - built in 1938 - owner Juko Wester - broken up 1962

Derek Longly

Photo:Alfred Everard - built 1957 - 1,543 gross tons - An Everard ship but seen here in colours of Hays of Glasgow

Alfred Everard - built 1957 - 1,543 gross tons - An Everard ship but seen here in colours of Hays of Glasgow

Derek Longly

Photo:Briarthorn - built in 1980 by Richards of Lowestoft

Briarthorn - built in 1980 by Richards of Lowestoft

Derek Longly

Photo:Brunskoog - dating from 1964 - 4,600 gross tons and owned by W Bruns & Co, Hamburg

Brunskoog - dating from 1964 - 4,600 gross tons and owned by W Bruns & Co, Hamburg

Derek Longly

Photo:Dellstedt - built 1963 for owners Detlef Schmidt

Dellstedt - built 1963 for owners Detlef Schmidt

Derek Longly

Photo:Ebba Robbert - Seaway Rederiet - built 1957 by Van der Werf

Ebba Robbert - Seaway Rederiet - built 1957 by Van der Werf

Derek Longly

Photo:Frigo Europa - built in Seville, Spain in 1980 - 3,600 gross tons - refrigerated ship

Frigo Europa - built in Seville, Spain in 1980 - 3,600 gross tons - refrigerated ship

Derek Longly

Photo:Global Harvest - 8,520 gross tons - built 1993 by Iwagi Zosen Co Ltd for NYK Reefer Co

Global Harvest - 8,520 gross tons - built 1993 by Iwagi Zosen Co Ltd for NYK Reefer Co

Derek Longly

Photo:Kaneshima - another Japanese caller - the yacht in the foreground is a Fisher 34

Kaneshima - another Japanese caller - the yacht in the foreground is a Fisher 34

Derek Longly

Photo:Leon - built 1952 by Bremer Vulkan for Empressa Hondurena de Vapores

Leon - built 1952 by Bremer Vulkan for Empressa Hondurena de Vapores

Derek Longly

Photo:Samnor - shown approaching the old swing bridge

Samnor - shown approaching the old swing bridge

Derek Longly

Photo:Sea Humber - owned by Capt Hugh Williamson and on charter to Seacon Ltd

Sea Humber - owned by Capt Hugh Williamson and on charter to Seacon Ltd

Derek Longly

Photo:A tiny unknown coaster - did she carry cement up-river?

A tiny unknown coaster - did she carry cement up-river?

Derek Longly

Photo:Solent - typical of the Dutch coasters that used to call at North Quay

Solent - typical of the Dutch coasters that used to call at North Quay

Derek Longly

Photo:Tenorga - built 1955 - 3,607 gross tons - previously the Bergerac of Fred Olsen Line - here owned by the Cypriot Temaris Line

Tenorga - built 1955 - 3,607 gross tons - previously the Bergerac of Fred Olsen Line - here owned by the Cypriot Temaris Line

Derek Longly

Photo:Ysselborg - built 1956 by Gebr. Sander of Delfzijl for owners Wagenborg

Ysselborg - built 1956 by Gebr. Sander of Delfzijl for owners Wagenborg

Derek Longly

This page was added by Derek Longly on 22/03/2012.
Comments about this page

The small unknown coaster was a Swedish dredger that was used to dredge and dump ballast for the positioning of the Royal Sovereign Light Tower.

By Ian Wallis
On 23/03/2012

Many thanks Andy and Ian for providing the information about the 'tiny' coaster. Very helpful and interesting.

By Derek Longly
On 25/03/2012

Hello Derek, I am trying to identify a wreck that I have dived on which may well be a small coaster it is laden with cement and wonder if you are aware of any lost coasters in the Solent, please email me if you have any or know of anyone who may help.

By Glen Adams
On 04/10/2013

M\V Tenorga sunk in front of my house, 26 crew died. I saw it going down. The ship had an ingress of water and tried to reach Leixoes harbour. When she was about 2 miles the engine stop, the lights go out and start to sink in the middle of a storm. I saw the crew try to launch the lifeboats but the ship sunk fast leaving all the crew in the water. It was 02:00h of the morning. A tug leave the harbour and a search is made. The waves are about 6 to 7 meters and the tug can't find none of the men. Only two survived when they reach to the coast. Most of them die a few meters from the beach, we have a coastline of rocks.

By Arnaldo Salgado
On 22/11/2013
Add a comment about this page

If you're already a registered user of this site, please login using the form on the left-hand side of this page.