Displaying items by tag: Lockout 1913 cargoships

1st March 2014

Legacy of Ramsey Steamship Company Continues with Retention of ‘Ben’ Names

#Lockout1913voyage – Ben Maye (1979/548grt) the small cargoship chartered for last year's Lockout 1913 food-supply commemorative voyage as 'S.S. Hare' from Liverpool to Dublin continues to retain her Manx name despite her sale to new owners, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Bideford-built Ben Maye, and larger short-sea coaster Ben Varrey were both sold last year to Absolute Shipping Ltd, following the wound-up of Ramsey Steamship Co. after 100 years of trading because of a £1 million pensions liability.

Ben Maye's re-enactment of the steamer 'S.S. Hare' was attended by Irish and UK trade unions, among them UNITE and RMT, the UK's largest specialist transport union, which reflected on union efforts 100 years in food-supply voyages to thousands of starving striking workers during the harsh Dublin winter of 1913/1914. The last such shipment was made in February a century ago.

Also assisting the steamer S.S. Hare, were sisters S.S. Pioneer and S.S. New Fraternity which loaded the food cargo in Manchester's Salford Docks and transported along the Manchester Ship Canal to Liverpool, before bound for Dublin Port.

The Lockout 1913 centenary commemorative voyage was also reported by Ships Monthly, to mark the Manx's shipping company centenary and given the relationship of Irish and UK trade union movement, past and present.

Published in Ports & Shipping

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Shannon Foynes Port Information

Shannon Foynes Port (SFPC) are investing in an unprecedented expansion at its general cargo terminal, Foynes, adding over two-thirds the size of its existing area. In the latest phase of a €64 million investment programme, SFPC is investing over €20 million in enabling works alone to convert 83 acres on the east side of the existing port into a landbank for marine-related industry, port-centric logistics and associated infrastructure. The project, which will be developed on a phased basis over the next five years, will require the biggest infrastructure works programme ever undertaken at the port, with the entire 83 acre landbank having to be raised by 4.4 metres. The programme will also require the provision of new internal roads and multiple bridge access as well as roundabout access.