STEAMSHIP SHIELDHALL
31st July 2022
I went to Southampton for
the weekend at the end of July. The
first event was CANBERRA DAY, on 30th July, a Celebration organised by the
Ocean Liner Society with speakers who were very knowledgeable about the ship
for many reasons. One thing I particularly remember hearing in a talk by a
Naval Architect was about the Admiralty Equation. I understood the explanation at the time,
thank goodness. I didn't ever sail on CANBERRA
but really enjoyed hearing so much about
her history, design, building, and of course her service in the Falklands
Conflict in 1982. She was certainly
popular as a cruise ship, from her maiden voyage on 2nd June 1961 until her
last cruise ended on 30th September 1997.
On Sunday 31st July 2022 I
had arranged to sail on the STEAMSHIP SHIELDHALL, for a Cowes Week 'Liners Day'
Steam Cruise, leaving Berth 110 in the Western Docks at 2.00 p.m. There were many OLS friends on board, as well
as other members of the public, when I climbed the gangway in the warm
sunshine, so I knew it was going to be a good afternoon at sea.
SHIELDHALL is the largest
working steamship in Britain, according to my Boarding Pass leaflet. As a member of the National Historic Fleet
she serves as a sea-going tribute to Britain's maritime heritage.
Commissioned in 1955 by
Glasgow Corporation to dump treated sewage sludge at sea, she had a surprising
secondary role as a passenger ship, taking groups out to sea with her on day
trips. In 1977 she was sold to Southern
Water and operated out of Southampton before being withdrawn from service in
1985. As the last of her kind she was
rescued from being scrapped and, in 1988,
bought by The Solent Steam Packet Limited, the charity that continues to
operate her today.
I sat and watched the sea
as we steamed along, or walked around the decks to see other vessels; I also chatted with a couple of older
cheerful ladies. One of them was dressed
in lavender-coloured summer clothes so she caught my eye. I told her about my days at sea with
Union-Castle Line and she remembered seeing them occasionally. She also told me that her late brother-in-law
had worked on this ship back in the days when sewage sludge was loaded and then
disposed of at sea so we all had a giggle
at that. I don't think I will forget
this cheerful lady and her friend for a long time.
There is a tea and
refreshments bar on board as well as a licensed bar, and it was possible to
visit the Engine Room too, plus a lot of inboard or outboard seating. There were occasional commentaries about the
history and sights on our route, including mention of various shipping lines
(including Union-Castle Line I'm happy to say) that used the seaways over many
years.
Passengers on board were
able to visit the Bridge in small numbers so I was happy to do that during the
afternoon. I understand that the
Captain and a few other senior staff are paid by the charity but everyone else
on board is there as a volunteer and seem very happy about it. I was on the Bridge when the Captain pointed
out that the ship PATRICIA was about to sail near us in the opposite direction
so she received a steam whistle salute from SHIELDHALL. That was fun to see and hear.
We were due back in the
Western Docks at 6 p.m. after a wonderful
afternoon at sea on a little treasure of a ship. Long may the STEAMSHIP SHIELDHALL sail.
These are some of the photographs I took that afternoon.
Canberra - a celebration
Nearly there
Welcome on board
.JPG)
Nearly the end of the little voyage, back to Berth 110.
