Somersby Gallery

Founded in 1874 by Robert Ropner, the company owned, managed & built ships.

NEW STEAMER

DETAILS OF ROPNER FLEET ADDITION

Northern Daily Mail 11/09/1930
      
On Wednesday, September 10, 1930, Messrs. William Gray and Co., Ltd., launched from their dockyard, West Hartlepool, the steel screw steamer Somersby which is being built to the order of The Ropner Shipping Co., Ltd., Sir R. Ropner and Co., Ltd., managers West Hartlepool.
    
The vessel, will take the highest class in British Corporation Register of Shipping, and is of the following dimensions :-  Length over all, 434ft. 4in.,  breadth, 54ft 3in.,  depth moulded to the upper  deck, 30ft 1in, with long bridge, poop, and forecastle.
      
Constructed on the cellular double bottom principle with fore and after peaks for water ballast, the framing being of the deep channel type, she has eight watertight bulkheads together with a steel centre line bulkhead and wood shifting boards dividing the holds for grain carrying.
    
Spacious accommodation for the officers is arranged in a steel house amidships. The engineers will be berthed in large steel houses alongside casing, and the crew in cubicles in the poop with separate messrooms.
    
For the quick handling of cargo ten powerful steam winches are provided which work 12 derricks. A direct acting steam windlass forward and steam steering gear amidships are also fitted.
      
The masts are telescopic, lowering to a height suitable for the Manchester Ship Canal bridges.
    
The Somersby will be completed in all respects as a first-class cargo steamer, her equipment including an efficient wireless installation, and electric light throughout.

                                           THE ENGINES
    
Triple-expansion engines are being supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, having cylinders 26 – 43 ½ - 73 inches diameter, by 48 inches stroke and three large natural draught boilers working at a pressure of 200lbs. per square inch, will be supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders.
       
A number of auxiliaries of the “C.M.E.W.” type will be installed.
    
The ship and machinery are being built under the supervision of Mr. J. B. Nicol on behalf of the owners, and the ceremony of naming the steamer Somersby was performed by Mrs. Ronald Stroyan, of St. Georges Hill, Weybridge.
    
The owners were represented at the launch by Sir John Ropner, Bt., Mr. J.R. Ropner, and Mr T. Barker (directors), and the builders by Mr. F.C. Pyman (managing director) and Mr. J. Nelson (yard manager)    
      
Amongst those also present were Mrs. J.R. Ropner and Mrs. Waddy, Miss H. Taylor Smith, Mrs. W.G. Ropner, Mrs. F.C. Pyman, Miss Dobson, Miss Margaret Barker, Miss Moorhouse (Huddersfield) and Mr. W.H. Stephenson (of British Corporation Register of Shipping).

New Vessel for Ropner Fleet: Trial Trip of the S.S. Somersby.

Northern Daily Mail 25/10/1930
      
The steamer Somersby, built by Messrs. William Gray and Co., Ltd., West Hartlepool, to the order of Messrs The Ropner Shipping Co. Ltd., (Sir R. Ropner and Co., Ltd., managers) West Hartlepool, successfully ran her official sea trials on Friday.
    
The vessel, will take the highest class in British Corporation  Registry of Shipping, and is of the following dimensions :-  Length over all, 434ft. 4in.,  breadth, 54ft 3in.,  depth moulded to the upper  deck, 30ft 1in, with long bridge, poop, and forecastle.
      
Constructed on the cellular double bottom principle with fore and after peaks are for water ballast, the framing being of the deep channel type, she has eight watertight bulkheads together with a steel centre line bulkhead and wood shifting boards dividing the holds for grain carrying.
    
Spacious accommodation for the officers is arranged in a steel house amidships. The engineers will be berthed in steel houses alongside casing, and the crew in cubicles in the poop with separate messrooms.
    
For the quick handling of cargo ten powerful steam winches are provided which work 12 derricks, a direct acting steam windlass forward and steam steering gear amidships are also fitted.
      
The masts are telescopic, lowering to a height suitable for the Manchester Ship Canal bridges.
    
The Somersby is complete in all respects as a first-class cargo steamer, her equipment including an efficient wireless installation, and electric light throughout.
      
                                          THE MACHINERY
    
The propelling machinery, supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, consists of  triple-expansion engines, having cylinders 26, 43 ½ , and 73inches diameter by 48 inches stroke, and three boilers working at a pressure of 200lbs. per square inch.
       
A number of auxiliaries of the “C.M.E.W.” type are also fitted including centrifugal circulating pump, pair of independent feed pumps, winch condenser with duplex circulating pump, duplex general service and two ballast pumps, evaporator, and drain and scumming tank.
      
A “CMEW” thermocouple installation is also fitted, by means of which the temperatures of the gasses in the combustion chambers of the boilers, the smokeboxes the base of the funnel and other points may be easily and conveniently read at one place in the engine room.
    
The owners were represented by Mr. J. B. Nicol under whose superintendence the ship and machinery have been constructed, and Mr. G. B. Chambers, assistant superintendent.
    
Mr. J.D. Stephenson of the British Corporation Register of Shipping, was also present.

The steamship Somersby lying alongside with the iconic CMEW crane behind.

The steamship Somersby at slow speed.