IRON WHYALLA (1) 7843 gross tons, 3863 net, 10,777 dwt. Lbd: 498' x 62'1" x 30'. Machinery: three steam turbines (Parsons, Wallsend UK) single reduction geared to a single shaft. 6,200 shaft horsepower. Consumed 65 tons per day in making service speed of 14 knots. 51 crew. Four cargo holds. Designed by BHP's Architect and staff, incorporating the 'Isherwood' structural framing system. She was the first of a planned 'four' 10,000 dwt bulk carriers intended for BHP's coastal services, taking iron ore and fluxes from South Australia to Port Kembla and Newcastle, returning with coal and coke. Laid down at Whyalla shipyards March 1951, she was not completed and delivered until until June 1954 owing to long delay in the delivery of machinery. Sistership Iron Spencer. Maiden voyage 10 June from Whyalla jetty with a cargo of iron ore bound for Port Kembla. Mid 1967 shelter deck closed, converted to oil firing and tonnage increased as 10,305 gross, 4978 net, 12,762 dwt. 1st June 1979 sold to Selco (Hong Kong) Ltd, and later resold to Nanhor Steel Enterprise Ltd. Towed to Kaohsiung and demolition began 27 July 1979
IRON KNIGHT (11) 5547 gross tons, 2804 net, 7763 dwt. Lbd: 413'6" x 52'3" x 24'. on196742. Steamship, cargo only as built by Burrard Dry Dock Co Ltd, Vancouver as the Venissieux for the French Government. Single screw, coal fired, with Parsons type double reduction Turbine engine. 11 knots on 20 tons of fuel per day. Sold 19..... to Cie Nantaise Des Bhargeurs De L'Ouest & Others. Sold 19..... Society Nationale Chemins De Fer Francaise (French Railways). August 1955 purchased by BHP. Registered Melbourne. Accomodation reconstructed to suit Australian conditions at Newport Graving Dock on the Usk River, Wales UK. 9 February 1956 trials completed and she sailed for Swansea with Captain J Miles in command and a crew of 39. She loaded 2,070 tons of Anthracite coal and proceed to Sauda, Norway to load 3,995 tons of ferro manganese. This visit gave her the distinction of being the first ever Australian vessel to visit Norway. Departing February 15 bound for Port Kembla, she broke down in the North Sea 27 February, taking four hours to repair. Arrived Aden for coal bunkering and, had to unload the Anthracite coal from the third hold due to spontaneous combustion. Sailed out only to return the following day with electrical problems. Eventually arrived Port Kembla via Port Said, Suez, Aden (twice) and Fremantle, a voyage of 16 weeks. In her time on the Australian coast, BHP employed her very suitably in most cargo capacities. At times she carried train rails to Thevenard and Port Lincoln, South Australia. Has also transported Bentonite from Whyalla to Port Stanley, Tasmania. Also conveyed 'scrap' metal and pre-slung cargoes. By 1972 she had transported 2,500,00 tons of cargo. Sold 1972 to Great Fareastern Ltd, Hong Kong, and resold to Great China Steel Enterprise Co, Taiwan for scrapping purposes. Sailed from Newcastle in tow with Iron Whyalla bound for Kaohsiung and arrived October 14 1972. 30 October 1972 demolition began
IRON SPENCER (1) 7,837 gross tons, 3,810 net, 12,683 dwt. Lbd: 498'8" x 62'6' x 30'. Steel steamship built at BHP shipyards, Whyalla South Australia. Machinery: 3 Steam Turbine double reduction geared to screw shaft. 6,820shp. Service speed: 14.5 knots on 65 yons of coal per day. Sistership Iron Whyalla (1). Converted at State Dockyard, Newcastle, from coal to oil firing. From 1965 - 10250 gross tons, 5,042 net, 12,683 dwt. Her keel was laid 1952, many delays caused her eventually completed 1957. The second of four planned 'Whyalla' class ships. she was the second and last owing to revised Company strategies. Service the Australian coast all her career, twice circumnavigated the continent via Kwinana and Yampi Sound. Ports of call outside of her usual run were, Newcastle with the first ever cargo of 'pencil pitch' to Bell Bay and Geelong, another first being Coffin Bay Limesand from Proper Bay, South Australia. Transported ferro-silicon from Bell Bay to Newcastle and Port Kembla. 27 September 1979 decommissioned, Newcastle and sold to Jehow Tradong Co, Singapore and sold on to Taiwanese shipbreakers. Sailed from Newcastle 30 November 1979 under tow of tug - 'Progress Rover for Kaohsiung where demolition began 28 January 1980
IRON FLINDERS (1) 14039 gross tons, 7145 net, 19,100 dwt. Lbd: 580'8" x 70'7" x 30'3". Steel ore carrier as built at Whyalla to the design of BHP's Naval Architects. The first of the 'Explorer' class, she was also BHP's first vessel fitted at construction as oil fired, AC powered and Air Conditioned. Also boasted a swimming pool on the boat deck. Specificially designed for the iron ore trade from Yampi Sound's Cockatoo Island to the Ports of Newcastle and Port Kembla's steelworks. Machinery - three steam turbines (Parsons, Wallsend UK) double reduction geared to a single shaft (single screw). 14 knots on 45 tons fuel per day. Maiden voyage early August 1959 with 14,000 tons of ore for Port Kembla, arriving 20 August. Incident 8 March 1966 outside of Bradleys Head Sydney collided with the French cargo vessel 'Velay'. Both vessels sustained serious damage, a later inquiry found the Master of the 'Velay' totally at fault. November 1977 laid up at Kwinana, sold same month to Goldwills (Hong Kong) Ltd. 20 January 1978 delivered to owners at Fremantle. 23 January 1978 towed by the tug 'Sumi Maru' arriving early March 1978 at Kaohsiung. Demolition began 2 May 1978
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