Boeton - a general history

(Northern) Daily Mail November 9^th, 1912:
LAUNCH AT WEST HARTLEPOOL.
Messrs. Wm Gray and Company, Ltd., launched the handsome steel screw steamer Boeton, which they have built for the Netherland Steamship Co., Amsterdam.
The vessel will take the highest class Lloyd’s Register and is of the following dimensions vis.: Length over all, 412ft. 6in.; breadth, 53ft. 6in., and depth, 29ft. 7 ½ in.
 
She is a handsomely modelled vessel of the double-deck type, with complete shelter deck. The saloon, staterooms, captain’s and officers’, and engineers’ rooms, etc., will be fitted up in houses on the shelter deck, and the crew are berthed in houses abreast the engine casing.
The vessel has a cellular double bottom and after peak tank for water ballast, and in addition there is a deep tank or hold compartment fitted for water ballast abaft the engine room, giving a total capacity for water ballast of about 2,100 tons.

The whole of the outfit, including steam windlass, steam steering gear, 22 derricks, and one  heavy derrick to lift 30 tons, 12 steam winches, with return exhaust to winch condenser of the C.M.E.W. type, are  of the most approved description.

The engines are of the triple-expansion type being supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, having cylinders 28in., 46in., and 77in.  diameter, with a piston stroke 48in, and four large steel boilers adapted for 180lbs. working pressure per square inch, and fitted with Howden’s system of forced draught.

A special feature in the boiler installation is the superheater, designed and made by the engine builders with a view of utilising to the utmost the heat from the gasses on their way to the funnel. Another feature of interest is the C.M.E.W. type of main condenser, which is designed to give a high vacuum in tropical waters. A special system of C.M.E.W. auxiliaries, including a winch condenser, will be fitted in the engine room.

The vessel and machinery have been constructed under the superintendence of Mr. S. G. Visker and Mr. W. J. Feykes, on behalf of the owners, and the ceremony of naming the steamer Boeton was gracefully performed by Mrs. W. J. Feykes, who pronounced in the Dutch fashion Uw Naam zij Boeton Moogt gij voorspoedig varon over den ocean on een getrouwe sehake! zijn uusschen ons Vaderland on zijne kalonieen, or in English “ Your name be Boeton; may you sail successfully on the ocean, and be a faithful link between our Fatherland and colonies”.

Amongst a large number present at the launch were: Mr. J. B. Jonckheer, Director of the Netherlands Steamship Co., Mr. S. G. Visker and Mr. W. J. Feykes and Mrs. W. J. Feykes, Capt. N. Guthrie, of the Rotterdamache Lloyd Steamship Co., and Mr. J.  Bolsius, Superintendent of the Holland-America Line.

(Northern) Daily Mail January 16^th, 1913:
STEAMER ON ROCKS AT HARTLEPOOL. MISHAP WHILST ON TRIAL TRIP.
The trial trip of the s.s. Boeton, recently launched by Messrs. William Gray and Co., Ltd., and owned by the Stoombaart Maatschappy (Nederland), has been attended by some exciting incidents, and the vessel is, at the time of writing (3 o’clock) on the rocks at Hartlepool, in almost the same position as the Braemount was lying.

The vessel left about 9 o’clock with a pleasure party on board, including the managing director for the Nederland firm (Mr. *onkeer) and several ladies. A dense fog came on, and to this is assigned the accident. Fortunately the vessel was not at full speed ahead, and, therefore, little damage was done, though she will no doubt have to go into dry dock for inspection and repairs.

Both the rocket apparatus and lifeboatmen have been in readiness, but it was not considered that their services would be necessary, as it was quite expected that the Boeton will float with the next tide. In the meantime the prevailing fog is still very dense, and little can be seen from the shore.

The Hartlepool lifeboat will proceed to the scene again at 6 o’clock, when the tide will be rising. Meanwhile a tug is standing by, and the rocket brigade are still in attendance on shore. The position of the trial trip party and of the crew, who are still on board, is not considered to be one of immediate danger.

(Northern) Daily Mail January 17^th, 1913:
THE STRANDING OF A NEW STEAMER. EFFORTS TO RE-FLOAT THE s.s. BOETON.
Dense fog still enshrouds the stranded steamer Boeton, and she can only be discerned at infrequent intervals by those onshore. Last night the members of the trial trip party, including several ladies, were safely landed by the lifeboat, and at high tide an unsuccessful attempt was made by tugs to get the vessel off. Old inhabitants of Hartlepool declare that they have never experienced such a thick fog as that which prevailed last night. The firing of rockets created a rumour that yet another steamer had grounded. This, however, proved untrue. The Rocket Brigade were quite without information as to the position of those on board the vessel, and accordingly a rocket was fired. An answering blue flare revealed that the lifeboat was in attendance , and that there was no danger. This morning there seemed little improvement in the vessels position, with the exception that she has turned completely round, her bow now facing the sea. Early in the morning the steam tugs William Gray, Stranton, Steel, and Iron proceeded to the scene, accompanied by two lifeboats. At the time of writing another attempt was made to get the vessel off and the thudding of the screw was quite audible to those on shore. The vessel must have been badly strained.

It was intended that the life boat and tug should have gone round to the vessel at 6 o’clock last night, but owing to the dense fog it was deemed inadvisable to make the venture. The lifeboats and tugs accordingly stayed at the dockhead until about 8-45p.m., when a gun signifying that the assistance of the lifeboat was required, was fired from the Boeton. A consultation was held and finally it was decided that two lifeboats, Horatio Brand and Charles Ingleby, should pick their way to the scene in tow of a tug. Another tug stayed in the bay for signalling purposes, and a man with a fog horn directed the course of the other tug and lifeboats from the promenade.

In this way the lifeboats made two visits to the stranded vessel, and on both occasions they brought back 16 people, finally arriving in port at midnight.
About 4-30 this morning the boats again went out and returned with the crew of lascars, transporting in all some 90 persons. 
All attempts to get the vessel off have as yet proved ineffective, the heavy fog being a great hindrance to the work.

(Northern) Daily Mail January 18^th, 1913:
THE s.s. BOETON RE-FLOATED. Hauled off rocks by Tugs.
The s.s. Boeton was re-floated at 9-55 last night. At 8-15 p.m. The paddle tug Steel took out a party of workmen for the purpose, it is understood, of fixing a kedge anchor at sea. It was noticed, however that the ship was lifting slightly, and a rope was attached to the tug, which succeeded in pulling her off the rocks. At 10-45 this morning the ship was brought in by the tugs William Gray and Seaton, and was safely anchored at the buoys in the Victoria Dock. A diver will go down to ascertain the extent of the damage to the hull. When the vessel left the port on her trial trip she was drawing 14ft. Of water, but on her return it was noticed that she was drawing 15ft. 9in. The propeller of the vessel is also slightly damaged.

According to the news received at Lloyd’s the deck of the vessel had buckled over the boiler room and the vessel was leaking. Only 10 percent was quoted for insurance. The vessel is of 6,880 tons, and belongs to the Nederland Steamship Company, of Amsterdam. The ordinary policy is for £85,000. Ti came into effect on December 18 and was to include the trial trips.

Related items :