wd 53

[graham]

I asked for a photo of the hopper wd53 westminster dredging about a year ago try agian with the increase in membership regards graham

[archway]

Graham, I'm sure I could dig out a photo of th WD 53 or at least a photo copy of her from the front of one of the issues of the Cohesion being a new member of SN and not very computer literate I don't know how to get a picture to you. The WD 53 was the first ship I was master of and was there again when she was converted to a Trailer Dredger. Archway

[graham]

Hi if you scan the photo to your computer and then send it by e mail to me or put in the gallery and i will download it hope you are able to do it my email address is in my profile regards graham

[tell]

may I ask was she an original WD or was she something else previously?

[graham]

she was an original wd when i was in her she was quite new regards graham

[JimC]

Would WD53 be an improvement on WD40? talking loosely ofcourse!

Jim C

[tell]

she was an original wd when i was in her she was quite new regards graham
I was on a hopper belonging to Liverpool corporation called SHB Delta and she was sold to the wd in the 50s I wonder what happened to her ?

[KEITH SEVILLE]

The hopper SHB Delta was sold to the Westminster Dredging Company during the fifties as you say.
She was renamed Wirral and served on the Mersey as a hopper barge before being sold for scrap in 1967.

Regards
Keith

[tell]

The hopper SHB Delta was sold to the Westminster Dredging Company during the fifties as you say.
She was renamed Wirral and served on the Mersey as a hopper barge before being sold for scrap in 1967.

Regards
Keith
thanks for that Keith, gives me some closure on that i'm grateful

[tugtere]

I was on WD53 when she worked in New Zealand app. 1965.On delivery from Australia she nearly foundered off North Cape in bad weather, plating in her for'd pump room failed and she was well down by the head. A Whangarei harbour board deepsea tug was able to get alongside and dry her out a bit then escort her to Whangarei to the new slipway. A lot of work was done including a complete new bridge structure. After Whangarei deepening finished I went with her to Tauranga on the channel re-alignment there. I don't know where in the world she went from there.I would like to see some pics of her too. regards ray

[graham]

if i can dig the photo i have out i will e mail it to you regards graham

[tugtere]

Graham,thanks for that if you can find a pic. As I remember she was originally a bottom dump, possibly steam before conversion to a trailer suction. Fore end was stretched and pump/engine room installed. The new bridge fitted in NZ was quite stylish and full span with extended dredge operators console out front, looked a bit like the Mersey but smaller. Only had run accomodation not like Endeavour which carried a double crew.And nothing at all like the Foremost Prince.

[liverbob]

my old man and brother worked on the wd 53 and others in the fifties, you mite no them, tapper and mike edwards. the old man ended up in the riggers loft doing all the wire spicing and such.i worked for a short while on the anchor handling tug of wds and in the yard at bromboror dock,