[Fairfield]

VIKING and VISCOUNT taken at Leith in 1979 and BRITISH ex- VICKERS VOYAGER also at Leith in 1980.
VICKERS VIKING was a stern trawler originally I think;VICKERS VISCOUNT again I think was the old cattle carrier MEATH and VICKERS/BRITISH VOYAGER was one of the former Salvesen FAIRTRY fish factory ships.All regulars in Leith.

[Marcus Cardew]

Hi Paul,
Makes me go all dewy eyed to see 3 of my old boats again.....

[marlinspike]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for posting the above pics. Really great stuff.

Regards: Peter (marlinspike)

[jimbrechin]

Looking at your Photo of this vessel it looks like an ex German stern trawler. She is of the type that we Brits used to call "Black and White Minsterls" owing to the big funnels aand Hulls being black and superstructure white. Most were named after German university towns eg. Hiedleberg.

A new series of larger trawlers were built using the same names after the class that the Viking was part of were sold.

Jim Brechin

[Marcus Cardew]

Originally Posted by jimbrechin

Looking at your Photo of this vessel it looks like an ex German stern trawler. She is of the type that we Brits used to call "Black and White Minsterls" owing to the big funnels aand Hulls being black and superstructure white. Most were named after German university towns eg. Hiedleberg.

A new series of larger trawlers were built using the same names after the class that the Viking was part of were sold.

Jim Brechin

Hi Jim,
I did a few trips on the Viking, and I'm sure that she was German Built, as I remember giving the chief a hand once with some hydraulics schematics translation....

[R58484956]

Marcus long time no see, spot of leave?

[Marcus Cardew]

Nope!
Still in Harness.... Building * Commissioning new sonar systems and stuff, and in a quiet lull, managed to catch up on 500 new posts.. back over to Germany tomorrow to switch on new trinkets that I've made for the Natives... Will try and not be so long off line next time.... Tcheusse!
Marcus

[nicolina]

Vickers Oceanic LTD bougth 2 German factory trawlers in 1974
1:Vickers Viking exortmund exanasbank ex:Hamburg Built Seebeck 1965
2:Vickers Vanguard ex:Frankfurt am Main ex:Fyllasbank Built Seebeck 1966

[aleddy]

Really do share your passion for these ships guys but additionally it makes me think about the Vickers Viscount Whispering T Jets which on occassions whisked me from ship to home and back, anyone got just one photo of one of them, please, just for the memories.
Cheers
Ted

[Ron Stringer]

Originally Posted by aleddy

Really do share your passion for these ships guys but additionally it makes me think about the Vickers Viscount Whispering T Jets which on occassions whisked me from ship to home and back, anyone got just one photo of one of them, please, just for the memories.
Cheers
Ted

Try this link http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...h+Images&gbv=2

[aleddy]

Thanks Ron, with 6370 images thats enough to keep me quiet for a couple of months
Cheers
Ted

[David Byrne]

Hi Marcus,

We met twice: once on a coastal trip in Brocklebanks - MAIPURA in 1970; I was going deep sea as Second mate.

Second time I was working as an assistant Naval Architect in Manchester Drydocks in the period when we converted Three of the VO vessels - DORTMUND, FRANKFURT AND MEATH. I am not sure whether MDD did the FAIRTRY vessel?

Sounds like you are doing very well.

Good luck


David Byrne

[george albert]

Originally Posted by David Byrne

Hi Marcus,

We met twice: once on a coastal trip in Brocklebanks - MAIPURA in 1970; I was going deep sea as Second mate.

Second time I was working as an assistant Naval Architect in Manchester Drydocks in the period when we converted Three of the VO vessels - DORTMUND, FRANKFURT AND MEATH. I am not sure whether MDD did the FAIRTRY vessel?

Sounds like you are doing very well.

Good luck


David Byrne

Hi David,
I worked on the Meath an ex cattle ship as well as Dortmund, Franfyrt in the Dry Docks Trafford Park, I have a photo of the Meath berthed in Dry 2 round about mid 70's. Hope this is of use to you. The MDD did the Fairtry early 70's, not sure of the rename at present. I was a welder.

Many thanks Ken

[RayJordandpo]

I once served on a ROV support vessel where apparently the leading ROV pilot was a bit of a celebrity. It appeared that he and another chap nearly died when their mini sub was stuck on the seabed and it was a race against time before they were rescued. I' sure it was on a Vickers vessel where the incident took place. I can't remember his name but he wrote a book about his experience and went on to appear on 'This is Your Life'. I do recall he went on to start his own ROV company in Cumbria, I think it's name was 'Rumic' or something similar.
Ray Jordan

[costello]

hi the vickers viking was converted from a german stern trawler
called the dortmund at the manchester dry docks

[consub]

Originally Posted by RayJordandpo

I once served on a ROV support vessel where apparently the leading ROV pilot was a bit of a celebrity. It appeared that he and another chap nearly died when their mini sub was stuck on the seabed and it was a race against time before they were rescued. I' sure it was on a Vickers vessel where the incident took place. I can't remember his name but he wrote a book about his experience and went on to appear on 'This is Your Life'. I do recall he went on to start his own ROV company in Cumbria, I think it's name was 'Rumic' or something similar.
Ray Jordan

Hi, this may be a little bit late, but I have only just seen this post.
The ROV was a Vickers Pisces and the cause was flooding of the machinery chamber. A line from the mothership fouled the hatch locking nut, causing it to rotate and unlock, allowing the hatch to be dislodged. The divers were Roger Mallinson and Roger Chapman.
Roger Chapman then formed Sub Sea Surveys based in Barrow, and they bought an unmanned ROV from BAe Filton - Consub 2. I worked with them using a hired Consub1, doing survey work for the installation of Thistle "A" platform in the North Sea. Roger Chapman promised me a signed copy of his book, but I never received it, but it was at a party at his house, and we had a lot to drink.
Another member of SSS was Marcus Cardew, who I believe is a member of this site, he was an ex-P&O bridge officer.
Harry C.

[david freeman]

Originally Posted by Fairfield

VIKING and VISCOUNT taken at Leith in 1979 and BRITISH ex- VICKERS VOYAGER also at Leith in 1980.
VICKERS VIKING was a stern trawler originally I think;VICKERS VISCOUNT again I think was the old cattle carrier MEATH and VICKERS/BRITISH VOYAGER was one of the former Salvesen FAIRTRY fish factory ships.All regulars in Leith.

I remember her being converted in Palmers Hebburn Dry Dock Interesting equipment and my first introduction to a dive support vessel with two Dive chambers and a dive chamber lifeboat. Sometime 1976/78? I maybe wrong. Later I say the NEDDRILL III dive support semisubmersible- made more sense and space to move around in!

[Wallyh]

Sailed on The Vickers Viscount as second mate and mate from April - October 1976 she was the Meath, Old men were Mike ..... ex Commons Brothers, Alan Mellor and Lennie Edwards, the Mate was ex Mannie Liners Trevor ......, was a bit of eye opener as I had come from a company which used Indian crew and when the old man came on the bridge all was quiet until he spoke. Enjopyed every minute of it but decided after the autumn being thrown about like a cork in a bottle was not for me, and then promptly ended up on two phosphorus tankers also managed by Fishers which went backwards and forwards across the North Atlantic for the next ten years.

Wally H

[Marcus Cardew]

Originally Posted by consub

Hi, this may be a little bit late, but I have only just seen this post.
The ROV was a Vickers Pisces and the cause was flooding of the machinery chamber. A line from the mothership fouled the hatch locking nut, causing it to rotate and unlock, allowing the hatch to be dislodged. The divers were Roger Mallinson and Roger Chapman.
Roger Chapman then formed Sub Sea Surveys based in Barrow, and they bought an unmanned ROV from BAe Filton - Consub 2. I worked with them using a hired Consub1, doing survey work for the installation of Thistle "A" platform in the North Sea. Roger Chapman promised me a signed copy of his book, but I never received it, but it was at a party at his house, and we had a lot to drink.
Another member of SSS was Marcus Cardew, who I believe is a member of this site, he was an ex-P&O bridge officer.
Harry C.

Hi Harry, Some Minor Corrections... Pisces 3 was a Manned submersible ( No String attached ). Roger and I founded SSS in 1977, after we had left VOL, I remember looking over all the ROV's at a trade show in Birmingham in 1976, Consub2 was the only one that looked like it would last more than 5 minutes of underwater operational life.. After setting her up, C2 went on to do about 60% of the available North Sea Pipeline Survey work for the next 8 years, and fed a lot of people... A very tough machine, and standfast a couple of years working her up into shape, a great credit to the BAe Filton engineering team.

I remember us chartering Consub1 for the Thistle SALM installation job in '77. Pat Chilton, who was with me on that job, is still up and very active in the underwater business.. I had an invite from him the just other day to trundle down to the Skeleton Coast to 'assist' in a world sailing speed record attempt.. I had coffee with Roger Chapman just yesterday, and occasionaly meet up with Roger Mallinson on Lake Windermere, where he still runs his restored 115 year old Steam Yacht 'Shamrock'..

I sort of retired about 3 years ago, but Richard Marsh ( BAe Sales ) with Dick Wright, who you may remember, and I had a joint venture for about 20 years, With my Gang ( System Technologies ) Designing and Manufacturing Sonars and underwater survey systems, and His Gang ( Tritech International ) doing the selling..

Anyway, If you would send your coordinates to my SN private message site, next time I see Roger Chapman, I'll mug him about the book. .... and for the record, I was a navigating officer with the Cunard Steamship Company ( Not the Pee and Owe ! )

[consub]

Originally Posted by Marcus Cardew

Hi Harry, Some Minor Corrections... Pisces 3 was a Manned submersible ( No String attached ). Roger and I founded SSS in 1977, after we had left VOL, I remember looking over all the ROV's at a trade show in Birmingham in 1976, Consub2 was the only one that looked like it would last more than 5 minutes of underwater operational life.. After setting her up, C2 went on to do about 60% of the available North Sea Pipeline Survey work for the next 8 years, and fed a lot of people... A very tough machine, and standfast a couple of years working her up into shape, a great credit to the BAe Filton engineering team.

I remember us chartering Consub1 for the Thistle SALM installation job in '77. Pat Chilton, who was with me on that job, is still up and very active in the underwater business.. I had an invite from him the just other day to trundle down to the Skeleton Coast to 'assist' in a world sailing speed record attempt.. I had coffee with Roger Chapman just yesterday, and occasionaly meet up with Roger Mallinson on Lake Windermere, where he still runs his restored 115 year old Steam Yacht 'Shamrock'..

I sort of retired about 3 years ago, but Richard Marsh ( BAe Sales ) with Dick Wright, who you may remember, and I had a joint venture for about 20 years, With my Gang ( System Technologies ) Designing and Manufacturing Sonars and underwater survey systems, and His Gang ( Tritech International ) doing the selling..

Anyway, If you would send your coordinates to my SN private message site, next time I see Roger Chapman, I'll mug him about the book. .... and for the record, I was a navigating officer with the Cunard Steamship Company ( Not the Pee and Owe ! )

Hi Marcus,
whoops it was a slip of the tongue, after the mention of the celebrity on the ROV vessel, and updating who the celebrities were.
Sorry about the pee and owe, Cunard and P&O are now owned by Carnival!!
The main thing I remember about C2 is working my B***s off to get her delivered over the christmas break. I also remember you taking the pee over our "space standards", evidently they did the job, although I think you were really commenting on the price.
I will send a PM.
Harry Crick

[mikehoward]

Hi Guys,

I know I'm coming late to the table,but I also was involved with the ship conversions. Firstly Meath/Vickers Viscount and then both the Franfurt/Vickers Viking and Dortmund/Vickers Vanguard. Later I was on the Project Team who managed the re-conversion of the Vickers Voyager with her Saturation Dive System and 100 Tonne A Frame.

I was also responsible for the Battery Changing System and the Skirt Handling System for LR5. When BUE went down the pan my company, Drawing Office Services in Barrow, was working on a new build but that sadly never happened.

I was then headhunted by Sandy Hook and went to work for him at Aqualogistics. When they were sold I worked for Acecape Offshore Services building containerised dive systems with Divex in Great Yarmouth.

When I was in Barrow we also worked with Roger Chapman and SSS doing their Survey Reports by hand with ink and pen!

I hope some of you remember me "behind the scenes" as it were. I certainly remember a lot of the names in this blog.

I'm now retired and writing my memoirs so if you have any stories you wish to pass on - e-mail me.

[Jimmy Scougall]

Hi Paul
Thanks for the photos of the Viking + Viscount brought back a lot of memories.One was the time when me + a big guy called Andy Cunningham were on a punt painting the Viscount Andy was so engrossed in his work he walked of the punt into the dock,he managed to grab the pilot ladder and hold on but as he was hanging one of the scuppers flushed all over him,i could not help him as i was rolling about in the punt with laughter.Another one was when the galley boy was giving big Andy some lip,Andy picked him up + sat him on the stove,he did not upset Andy again.I also sailed on the Vanguard they were good ships to sail on as the work was different+interesting.Thanks again for the photos.
All the best Jimmy Scougall

[toby-dan]

Hi Mike
Yes - I remember the days of pen and ink and a jolly good winter occupation it was too - so much more varied than the current system of working vessels and ROV systems in the N Sea all year round.
Good luck with the memoirs.
Cheers
Steve

Originally Posted by mikehoward

Hi Guys,

I know I'm coming late to the table,but I also was involved with the ship conversions. Firstly Meath/Vickers Viscount and then both the Franfurt/Vickers Viking and Dortmund/Vickers Vanguard. Later I was on the Project Team who managed the re-conversion of the Vickers Voyager with her Saturation Dive System and 100 Tonne A Frame.

I was also responsible for the Battery Changing System and the Skirt Handling System for LR5. When BUE went down the pan my company, Drawing Office Services in Barrow, was working on a new build but that sadly never happened.

I was then headhunted by Sandy Hook and went to work for him at Aqualogistics. When they were sold I worked for Acecape Offshore Services building containerised dive systems with Divex in Great Yarmouth.

When I was in Barrow we also worked with Roger Chapman and SSS doing their Survey Reports by hand with ink and pen!

I hope some of you remember me "behind the scenes" as it were. I certainly remember a lot of the names in this blog.

I'm now retired and writing my memoirs so if you have any stories you wish to pass on - e-mail me.