War Raven

The steamship Bereby, originally built as the War Raven.

The following appeared in the Northern Daily Mail on June 28^th, 1919:

"Yesterday Messrs. Irvine's Shipbuilding and Dry Docks Co. Ltd., launched from their Middleton shipyard, West Hartlepool, the S.S. Bereby  built for the British and African Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., Liverpool (Messrs. Elder, Dempster and Co. Ltd., Managers).

The vessel is of the Standard "B" type, 400ft length between perpendiculars by 52ft 3ins beam extreme, by 31ft depth moulded, with a deadweight carrying capacity of 8,200 tons.

Accommodation is provided amidships for the captain, officers, engineers and Marconi operators, and the vessel is fitted throughout with electric light. Specially large hatches are provided, and for the handling of the cargo ten steam winches are fitted and a number of derricks of the steel tubular type.

The machinery is being supplied and fitted by Messrs. Richardsons, Westgarth and Co. Ltd., Hartlepool, having cylinders 27ins, 44ins, and 73ins, by 48ins stroke, with three boilers 15ft 6ins by 11ft 6ins, working at 180lbs per square inch and fitted with Howden's forced draught.

The following appeared in the Northern Daily Mail on October 10th, 1919:

"The S.S. Bereby yesterday proceeded on her official trial trip in the Hartlepool Bay. The vessel has been built by Messrs. Irvine's Shipbuilding and Dry Docks Co. Ltd., for the British and African Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., Liverpool (Messrs. Elder, Dempster and Co. Lyd., Managers). She is of the Standard "B" type, 400ft length between perpendiculars by 52ft 3ins beam extreme, by 31ft depth moulded, with a deadweight carrying capacity of 8,200 tons.

Accommodation is provided amidships for the captain, officers, engineers and Marconi operators, and the vessel is fitted throughout with electric light. Specially large hatches are provided, and for the handling of the cargo ten steam winches are fitted and a number of derricks of the steel tubular type.

Triple-expansion engines have been supplied and fitted by Messrs. Richardsons, Westgarth and Co. Ltd., Hartlepool, having cylinders 27ins, 44ins, and 73ins, by 48ins stroke, with three boilers 15ft 6ins by 11ft 6ins, working at 180lbs per square inch and fitted with Howden's forced draught.

Throughout the trial the engines and all auxiliaries worked splendidly, a speed of 13 knots being obtained, and the vessel afterwards proceeded on her voyage to New York.
The owners were represented by capt. Minto and Mr. Lumsden, the builders by Mr. James Young and the engineers by Mr. Kennett."