Rockpool Gallery

Steamship Rockpool.

FOR LOCAL OWNERS

LAUNCH FROM THE CENTRAL SHIPYARD

Northern Daily Mail. 12th Oct ’27
    
Messrs. William Gray and Co., Ltd., yesterday launched from their Central Shipyard the handsome steel screw steamer Rockpool, which is being built to the order of the Pool Shipping Co., Ltd., West Hartlepool.
    
The vessel will take the highest class in Lloyd’s Register and is of the following dimensions: Length overall 418ft.; breadth, 53ft. 6in., depth moulded to upper deck, 29ft. 5 ½  in., with long bridge, poop, and forecastle. It is interesting to note that the deadweight carrying capacity is about the same as in a number of other steamers recently delivered by Messrs. Gray to the same owners, but the Rockpool is 15ft. longer with 18in. less beam, and has a finer model. There modifications illustrate the modern insistence on improved steaming performances.

                                            Equipment of the Vessel
    
The ship is constructed on the cellular double bottom principle, with fore and aft peaks, for water ballast, the framing being of the deep channel type, and has six watertight bulkheads, together with a steel centre line bulkheads, and wood shifting boards dividing the holds for grain carrying.
    
Spacious accommodation for the officers is arranged in a steel house amidships. The engineers being berthed in large steel houses alongside casing, and the crew in cubicles in the forecastle, with separate mess rooms.

For the quick handling of cargo, ten powerful steam winches are provided to work 12 derricks. A direct-acting steam windlass forward and steam steering gear amidships are also fitted.
    
The topmasts are telescopic, lowering to a height suitable for the Manchester Canal Bridges.
The vessel will be completed in all respects as a first-class cargo steamer, including an efficient wireless installation and electric light throughout.

                                                      The Machinery
    
Triple-expansion engines having cylinders 26in., 43in., and 71 inches diameter x 48 inches stroke, and three boilers working at a pressure of 180lbs., will be supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, and a number of auxiliaries of the “C.M.E.W.” type, will be installed including an evaporator, general service pump, ballast pump, combined drain and scum tank, winch condenser with duplex circulating pump, surface feed water heater, and singlex harbour feed pump.
    
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 Rockpool was gracefully performed by Mrs. Ropner, wife of Councillor William Guy Ropner.
    
Amongst those present at the launch were Mr. William Ropner, J.P. Coun. and Mrs. William Guy Ropner, Mr. J. R. Ropner, Mr. T. Barker, and Mrs. J. H. Farmer, Mr. J. B. Nicol, Mr. And Mrs. White, and Captain Forrest.
    
The builders were represented by Mr. F. C. Pyman (managing director), Mr. M.S. Gibb, Mr. J. H. Farmer, and Mr. A. McGlashan (directors), and Mr. T. S. Simpson (general manager).

POOL CO.’S NEW SHIP.

SUCCESSFUL TRIALS OF THE s.s. ROCKPOOL.

Northern Daily Mail. 16th Nov 1927
    
The steamer Rockpool built by Messrs. William Gray and Co., Ltd., to the order of the Pool Shipping Co., Ltd., West Hartlepool, successfully ran her official sea trials yesterday.
    
The vessel is built to the highest class in Lloyd’s Register, and is of the following dimensions: Length overall 418ft.; breadth, 53ft. 6in., depth moulded to upper deck, 29ft. 5 ½  in., with long bridge, poop, and forecastle. It is interesting to note that the deadweight carrying capacity is about the same as in a number of other steamers recently delivered by Messrs. Gray to the same owners, but the Rockpool is 15ft. longer with 18in. less beam, and has a finer model. There modifications illustrate the modern insistence on improved steaming performances.

The ship is constructed on the cellular double bottom principle, with fore and aft peaks, for water ballast, the framing being of the deep channel type, and has six watertight bulkheads, together with a steel centre line bulkheads, and wood shifting boards dividing the holds for grain carrying.
    
Spacious accommodation for the officers is arranged in a steel house amidships. The engineers being berthed in large steel houses alongside casing, and the crew in cubicles in the forecastle, with separate mess rooms.
                                                     The Equipment

For the quick handling of cargo, ten powerful steam winches are provided to work 12 derricks. A direct-acting steam windlass forward and steam steering gear amidships are also fitted.
    
The topmasts are telescopic, lowering to a height suitable for the Manchester Canal Bridges.
    
The vessel is completed in all respects as a first-class cargo steamer, including an efficient wireless installation and electric light throughout.
    

The propelling machinery, supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, consists of triple-expansion engines, having cylinders 26, 43, 71 inches diameter x 48 inches stroke, and three boilers working at a pressure of 180lbs per square inch. 

A number of auxiliaries of the “C.M.E.W.” type, also made by the Central Marine Engineering Works, are fitted , including an evaporator, general service pump, ballast pump, combined drain and scumming tank, winch condenser with duplex circulating pump, surface feed water heater, and singlex harbour feed pump.
    
The owners were represented on the trial by Mr. J. B. Nicol (superintendent engineer), Mr. T. G.  White, Mr. G. B. Chambers (assistant superintendents), Mr E. W. Whitehead, and Miss E. Hillas.
    

Owners: 1927 Pool Shipping Co (Ropner & Co) West Hartlepool: 1941 MOWT (Ropner & Co,) West Hartlepool-renamed Empire Trent: 1946 Union SS Co of South Africa, Cape Town-renamed General George Brink: 1947 A Lusi, Panama-renamed Africana

1941 on a voyage for Immingham with a cargo of steel & pit-props Rockpool ran aground on Little Cumbria Island in the Firth of Clyde & was abandoned. She was salved by the MOWT in the same year & renamed Empire Trent.

Lives lost 6 August 1943 on Empire Trent: Byrne, William, carpenter, 45; Gates, William Alexander, chief engineer, 51, South Shields; Reynolds, Stanley, fireman/trimmer (served as Stanley Smith).

Rockpool Yardbook pages

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

The Africana, originally built as the Rockpool in 1927.

The steamship General George Brink, originally built as the Rockpool.