The Campbeltown Shipbuilding Company

The subsequent inquiry found that Prior had failed to take account of the strong tides when he set the course abreast of Pladda and concluded that Prior was wrong to have handed the watch over to McKinnon, essentially a ‘supernumary’ and not one of the ship’s officers. Prior said that he had no option as his mate, J. Martin, was drunk and incapable of taking the watch and of course the mate denied it all.

The Campbeltown Shipbuilding Company Though ships are known to have been built in Campbeltown since around 1700, it was in 1877, when Archibald MacEachern returned to his native town after building up his fortune in Africa, that Campbeltown got its first shipyard able to build big sea-going ships.

The very first ship built by the new shipyard, the 101-ton wooden schooner “Moy”, built for C. C. Greenlees of Campbeltown and launched in March 1878, was lost in the last week of January 1884, a week described by one chronicler when “distillery chimney stalks were being levelled to the ground, slates and cans blown down in showers like a hail-storm and even the tombstones in the cemetery scattered hither and thither by the fury of the gales”.

MacEachern may well have been a friend of that other well-known Campbeltonian ship-owner William Mackinnon and, though not seemingly recorded, it may well be that Mackinnon too had a hand in this new venture. The site at Trench Point, its name following from its 17th century earthwork defences constructed by The Duke of Argyll, was ideal for a slipway, good water for easy launching of ships into Campbeltown’s generally sheltered loch. There was an abundant supply of labour which could be trained to build big ships and there was an ample supply of coal to provide fuel for the yard’s needs. On the down-side, iron and, later, steel, machinery and all small supplies would need to be brought into the yard from Glasgow and elsewhere but then the yard could employ some 300 local people and so it began, building wooden sailing ships first.

The same period of gales saw the Campbeltown-bound steamer taking four hours to reach the town from Lochranza and for one of these hours she made no visible headway whatsoever. The Campbeltown shipyard, its telephone linked to the Post Office and uniquely numbered “1” in the town - line “2” was given to the Campbeltown steamer company’s offices situated where Woolworth stands today, launched 115 ships in the course of its 45-year history.

One of its first iron ships, the “Davaar”, launched on October 30, 1878, was wrecked on her maiden voyage when she ran aground on Paterson’s Rock, east of Sanda Island on the evening of December 9, 1878, just miles from her birth-place. She was a 268-net ton cargo steamer, 165-feet long and built for Matthew Louden of Glasgow. Chartered by McPhail & Company at Glasgow’s Broomielaw for a trip to Limerick under the command of Captain George Prior, she had left Glasgow that morning with 300 tons of general cargo and picked up a further 180 tons of sugar in Greenock that afternoon and then, with twelve crew and two passengers, sailed for Ireland.

The 1,919-ton “Waipori”, a ‘standard design type’, had been laid down ‘on spec’, in 1901 and she was sold on the shipyard stocks to The Union Steamship Company of New Zealand Ltd.. In 1928, she was purchased by Kaitsu Koshi Kaisha of Darien and renamed “Waipori Maru” ! In 1934, she was sold to Zee Yu Kun, renamed “Chingsun” and, before the year was out, sold to The Tientsin Navigation Company of Shanghai who re-named her “Tung Lee”. The Chinese Government then requisitioned her during the Sino-Japanese War and she was sunk as a blockship in the Yangtze River in 1937.

It was a calm hazy evening and, having set his course from abreast Pladda Island to clear Sanda, George Prior handed over the watch to Captain McKinnon, another master mariner employed by the ship’s charterers, McPhail & Company, to look after their cargo. Prior went off watch telling McKinnon to call him when he saw Sanda light. McKinnon, fearing they were going too close to the Kintyre shore, made a slight alteration to the ship’s course and was then shaken by a shout from the lookout that there was land close to starboard. McKinnon went hard to port and landed aground on Paterson’s Rock !

The biggest ships launched were the 4,348-ton “Lady Charlotte”, launched on July 9, 1917 for The Belcroft Steam Navigation Company of Cardiff and the 4,364-ton “Roquelle”, launched on June 7, 1918 for The Imperial Direct Line of Liverpool. While half of all ships were for British owners, the others were built for overseas buyers from New Zealand, Australia, The Philippines, South America, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and Norway. The yard built some 150,000 tons of ships in its 45-year history. The final launch was that of the 1,254ton steel cargo steamer “Akenside” for The Quayside Shipping Company of Newcastle on Monday, January 30, 1922. 1

limbo, the site was finally cleared and, demolished.

In 1968, a new company, Campbeltown Shipyard Ltd., was formed to re-establish the Trench Point site building steel fishing boats but within 18 months the Highlands and Islands Development Board felt it necessary to bring in outside expertise and the shipyard became part of Lithgows (Holdings) Ltd.. The completely covered slipway allowed two 40 metre boats to be built simultaneously and the workforce built up to some 200 employees. The first boat from the ‘new’ yard, the “Crimson Arrow (CN 30)”, a 50-foot fishing boat, for Campbeltown skipper James MacDonald, was delivered in 1970. In 1989, they built their biggest boat, the 110-foot well-boat/dry cargo vessel “Solea” for Golden Sea Produce Ltd..

in July 2002,

the last of the sheds

Though the names of Wardrop and Wylie, both builders of small wooden boats in the 1880’s and early 1900’s, are now long forgotten, that of John Shields, ‘The Liner Builder’, lingers on in the minds of many Campbeltown ‘children’ for it was he, the knacky cycle shop owner, who built a marvellous floating roundabout situated sometime inside Campbeltown’s harbour and later at Dalintober beach. Driven by a Seagull outboard motor, six little ‘ocean liners’, complete with funnels and each carrying one or two children, slowly circled round and round and round . ....

In 1972, the yard built the 58-foot long ‘corner loading’, double-ended twin screw car ferry “Balnahua” for Argyll County Council’s 200-yard wide Cuan ferry crossing from Luing to Seil. Her designer, Mr A. Boyd of Sandbank, he who had designed the unsuccessful America Cup challenger “Sceptre”, had to contend with local government ‘economy measures’, necessarily shortening her length from 68 to 58feet and restricting her carrying capacity to 12 tons - Luing’s dustbins therefore had to be emptied b e f o r e those in Seil otherwise the bin-lorry could not be taken to Luing ! The “Balnahua” was registered at Campbeltown at the plea of Campbeltown’s Customs Officer and Registrar of Ships, his leather-bound registers containing few other entries. Three years later, when Strathclyde Regional Council, successors to Argyll County Council, were asked to approve the refitting of Cuan’s reserve ferry, the “Maid of Luing”, a bemused official telephoned “Nobody on the committee knows where Cuan is, can anyone tell us ? ” The Campbeltown yard’s only other ferry order was for the Orkney Islands Council’s 35-metre car ferry “Thorsvoe”, built in 1991. In latter years the yard also undertook various steelwork contracts including, in 1996, the Ballycastle linkspan for the then proposed new Campbeltown car ferry service. Most notably, the yard, in 1993, built the 100-foot “Debra Rose”, a ‘floating’ restaurant (firmly screwed on to the bottom of The Forth & Clyde Canal) at Clydebank ! The final order for the yard’s near 180-strong workforce, which had built the car ferry “Balnahua” for Argyll County Council in 1972 and 35-metre car ferry “Thorsvoe” for Orkney Islands Council in 1991, was the supply of some steelwork for a CalMac car ferry being built at Buckie Shipyard in 1996. After some years in 2

Campbeltown Shipyard Launches 1900 - 1922

Campbeltown Shipyard Launches 1878 - 1899 Campbeltown Built MOY MARIE DAVAAR POLLY LIZZIE WILLIAM OF RIGA ALLAN MACDONALD REDLAND MARIE TYNE DUNBEATH CASTLE CARRON PARK IMERINA TALDORA JOHN BURBERY BOTHNIA ORPHEUS SHAP FELL ELSA KINGSWEAR BATLEY GYMPIE DARTMOUTH SNIPE CURLEW WOODCOCK BRAMBLE MERQUEDER CRAIGLEE TORGORM DIEPPOIS DESPINA BRIO H. WICANDER VANLAND CORSO GUILLEMOT EIRA REFUGIO PROSPER GALEB HEATHER BELL LUIGI PREMUDA DUNERIC MARZO ABRIL SIGYN CASTOR ABRIL (Almirante Colon ) POLLUX ENERO CATO GORBEA SILVIO INO SARDINERO MAMBARE

Type Wood Sch. Wood Sch. Iron Cargo Steam Cutter Iron Cargo Iron Cargo Iron Cargo ??? Iron Cargo Iron Cargo Iron Cargo Iron Cargo Iron Cargo Iron Cargo Iron Cargo Iron Cargo Iron Cargo Iron Cargo Steel Iron Cargo St Steel Iron Cargo Iron Cargo Ir Steel Iron Cargo Steel Steel Ir/St Cargo Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel

Ton 101 ??? 435 194 50 605 260 180 ??? 647 170 406 241 232 283 899 346 351 850 374 865 220 367 306 312 251 1508 867 1986 1631 1770 1223 1107 1255 1285 1253 1771 1252 1286 1361 1824 1253 1253 1878 1296 1252 2019 1250

Launch March, / 1878 Oct 30, July 1, Dec 19, Sep 16, Apr 9, May 1, / 1880 October, Aug 23, Feb 21, Apr 1, May 4, Aug 6, Nov 12, Jun 23, Sep 27, Dec 13, Jan 30, Apr 21, May 5, Aug 3, Apr 30, Nov 28, Jun 19, Sep 19, May 20, Aug 1, Oct 5, May 31, Sep 5, Apr 23, Mar 11, Mar 2, 1893 Oct 17, Mar 20, May 7, Nov 9, May 15, Sep 21, Apr 16, Jun 26, Nov 9, / 1897 Jun 6, Oct 4, Feb 18,

Owner(s) C. C. Greenlees 'Irvine' Matthew Louden of Glasgow McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co. not recorded Suybush & Co. (?) Salt Works Co., Newry Great Western S. S. Co.. not recorded ( ? ) Fisher, Renwick & Co., J. Henderson & Co., Wick Carron S. S. Co. Ltd.. James Porter, London McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co., Capt. Harley, Cardiff Baltic S. S. Co., London E. Johnston, Liverpool Hume, Smith & Co., Liverpool R. Monteith & Co., Glasgow The Hayter Mining Co., Glasgow J.T. & S. Taylor, London Queensland Steam Sg. Co., The Haytor (?) Mining Co., Jersey S. S. Co., Glasgow Jersey S. S. Co., Glasgow Jersey S. S. Co., Glasgow P. H. Dixon & Co., Glasgow Mercador & Hijos, San Biggart & Fulton, Glasgow Whimster & Watson, Glasgow R. de la Rue, Dieppe P. A. Vagliano, Argostol R. B. Fenwick & J. Reay, R/A A. Wicander, Stockholm A/B Svithiod, Gothenburg G. H. Wills, Cardiff General S. N. Co., London Lewis & Co., Liverpool Orders & Handford, Newport Kiar & Larssen, Denmark Nav. a Vap. Caleb, Austria J. Davidson, London E. D. Premuda, Lussinpicolo, A. Weir & Co., Glasgow Cia. Bilbaina de Nav., Bilbao Cia. Bilbaina de Nav., Bilbao R/A A. Wicander, Stockholm Finska Angf. A/B., Helsingfors

Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel

1898 1281 2047 1269 2023 1229 1240 2035 1218

Mar 22, Apr 20, Jun 23, Jan 26, Feb 24, May 20, Sep 8, Sep 27, Dec 18,

Cia. Bilbaina de Nav., Bilbao Finska Angf. A/B., Helsingfors Cia. Bilbaina de Nav., Bilbao Bristol S. N. Co. Ltd., Bristol Cia. Bilbaina de Nav., Bilbao Bristol S. N. Co. Ltd., Bristol Bristol S. N. Co. Ltd., Bristol Aznar y Cia., Bilbao Burns Philp & Co., Sydney

Campbeltown Built VLIELAND EIDER MAUBAN RITA WAIPORI YIK SANG TAURUS HERO SCHELDESTAD MILO BJORN BAKIO TASSO LOKE URANIA MISTOR GENESTA CAMBRO APOLLO AMSTELDAM DRIVA no ships launched ASTARTE DUVA PLUTUS ANNA BORE AMPHION LAUDERDALE DUNKERQUOIS MARGARET CAMPANIA PROGRESS III GARM SAINT PAUL NEUQUEN KAMO GIACOMO CATO LADY PLYMOUTH PRIMO OXSHOTT BASSE INDRE RAVENSBOURNE REDRIFF NEWGLYN ( LADY CHARLOTTE ROQUELLE ARDGARTAN ARDGIRVAN WAR ROTHER DRYBURGH ( WAR FRITHJOF EIDE OCEANIA ODYSSEUS HILLGLEN AKENSIDE

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Type Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel during Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel

Ton 2028 1236 1210 1238 1919 1967 1238 1812 1219 1475 1241 1906 1859 1201 1222 2989 50 1918 1869 1233 1274 year 1201 1203 1189 1201 1216 2931 1214 2087 1342 1201 3514 1231 1633 3583 1236 1215 710 3521 1250 1241 1329 1226 1256 1550 4348 4364 1345 1342 1368 1352 1266 3458 3527 1262 1254

Launch Jun 18, Sep 8, Sep 22, Feb 1, Mar 5, Apr 8, Jun 5, May 2, Jun 12, Aug 15, Dec 16, Feb 12, Sep 12, Apr 22, Nov 15, Dec 14, / Apr 20, Sep 18, Jan 19, Dec 21, 1908 Feb 5, Mar 5, Jan 22, Jun 7, Oct 30, Jan 31, Feb 17, May 30, Dec 19, Feb 8, Apr 1, Aug 2, Dec 22, Feb 20, May 7, Mar 25, May 9, Jan 5, Jan 29, Mar 3, Jun 15, Jun 2, Dec 7, Apr 9, 1917 Jul 9, Mar 26, Jun 7, Sep 24, Jan 21, Jun 4, 1919 Oct 10, Apr 6, Nov 21, ? 1922 Jan 30,

Owner(s) W. Ruys & Zonen, Rotterdam Royal Mail S. P. Co., Glasgow Cia Gen. de Tabacos de Serra S. S. Co., Bilbao Union S. S. Co. of New Zealand, Indo China S. N. Co. Ltd., Det Bergenska D/S, Bergen Bristol S. N. Co., Bristol Soc. Gen. Maritime Belge, Bristol S. N. Co., Bristol Angf. A/B Thule, Gothenburg Cia de Vap. Bakio, Montevideo Bristol S. N. Co., Bristol Wicanders Reder A/B, D/S Urania, Copenhagen R. H. Holman, London not recorded G. H. Wills, Cardiff Bristol S. N. Co., Bristol S. M. Amstel, Amsterdam J. T. Salvesen & Co., J. & P. Hutchison, Glasgow J. T. Salvesen, Grangemouth J. & P. Hutchison, Glasgow J. Weiss, Memel Stockholms Red. A/B Svea, J. Gaff & Co., Newcastle Maoriland S. S. Co. Ltd., Cie des Bateaux a Vap du Nore, R/A Nordstjernen, Stockholm Sverska Lloyd, Gothenburg Hans Kaeus & Co., Drammen Stockholms Red. A/S Svea, Cie. Navale de L'Oceanie, Great Southern Rly. Co., London Union S. S. Co. of New Zealand, Tpt. Mar. Feltrinelli, Venice Bristol S. N. Co., Bristol Redcroft S. N. Co., Cardiff Pelton S. S. Co., Newcastle J. Hudson & Co., London S. A. Chargeuis de L'Ouest, South Metropolitan Gas Co., South Metropolitan Gas Co., Harry D. Evans, Llanelly The Belcroft S. N. Co., Cardiff Imperial Direct Line Ltd., Lang & Fulton, Greenock Lang & Fulton, Greenock Shipping Controller B. R. Geo. Gibson & Co., Glasgow A/S D/S Frithjof Eide, Ditta Luigi Pittaluga, Genoa Geo. C. Dracoulis, Ithaca Portsmouth S. S. Co. Ltd., Quayside Sg. Co. Ltd.,

Campbeltown Shipyard Launches 1982 - 1996

Campbeltown Shipyard Launches 1970 - 1982 Campbeltown Crimson Arrow St Adrian Surveyor No. 1 Steadfast Strathyre II Aquarian Halcyon Jaquelyn Stuart Terra Nova Balnahua Argosy Ajax Opportune Cavalier Fidelia Xmas Rose Falcon Kestrel Alert Mary Croan Surmount Andromeda Aquarius Adonis Defiance Ajax Renown Emma Marden Crimson Dawn Argonaut IV Fear Not Sea Spray Sheilwood Von Challenger II Merlewood Fidelis II Kestrel Fram Vesturbugvin Research Boy Andrew Arktos II Resplendent Spes Melior Draiocht-NaSharona Mairead Polonia II Sunbeam Crystal River Benaiah II Heatherbelle II White Heather Auriga II Valhalla Voyager

Reg. No. Built CN 30 1970 KY 245 1970 1970 LH 90 1970 LH 200 1971 CN 42 1971 1971 LH 159 1971 A 219 1971 338424 1972 INS 79 1972 INS 82 1972 BCK 1973 INS 109 1973 PD 94 1973 FR 125 1973 INS 117 1974 INS 121 1974 FR 147 1974 INS 231 1974 BCK 98 1974 INS 167 1975 INS 222 1975 LK 371 1975 INS 19 1975 INS 168 1975 KY 257 1975 INS 100 1975 D 372 1976 W 119 1976 KY 157 1976 INS 197 1976 S 89 1977 A 155 1977 TN 381 1977 PD 212 1977 A 270 1977 FR 319 1977 INS 253 1977 VN 449 1977 VN 459 1977 TN 449 1978 WK 171 1978 KY 129 1978 PD 298 1978 PD 397 1978 D 501 1980 LH 263 1980 KY 150 1980 B 339 1980 LK 335 1981 B 346 1981 B 350 1981 LH 272 1981 LH 1 1981 LH 449 1981 LH 67 1982 KY 336 1982

Lengt 50' 50' 36' 50' 53' 50' 50' 53' 50' 80' 80' 80' 80' 80' 80' 75' 80' 80' 75' 80' 80' 80' 75' 75' 85' 75' 80' 80' 80' 80' 80' 85' 75' 87' 85' 75' 80' 85' 87' 87' 87' 85' 80' 85' 85' 90' 75' 75' 60' 75' 70' 70' 60' 60' 80' 80' 70'

Type Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Survey Launch Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Research Launch Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Vehicle Ferry Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Trawler Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Trawler Trawler Trawler Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Trawler

Campbeltown Reg. No. Alkaid UL 257 Kiloran INS 10 Cowrie INS 67 Orkney Reiver K 49 Wanderer III BA 66 Sunrise FR 359 Karen Anne INS 61 Be Ready LK 377 LK 172 Adonis Donvale II LK 137 Andromeda II INS 177 Ardent II INS 127 Boy Andrew WK 170 Connaught II FR 131 Sunbeam LK 335 Sunbeam INS 68 Brereton INS 97 LK 371 Defiant Wavesheaf LK 134 Maggie M SH 170 Alison Kay LK 57 Endeavour LK 173 Maranatha II UL 33 Solea Marigold INS 241 Fishnish Budding Rose PD 418 Arkh Angell K 616 Fyne Lass Fyne Lass Thorsvoe Inga-Ness K 44 Guardian K 535 Heather Bloom INS 110 Debra Rose Cruive I Cruive II Cruive III Shemarah II LH 65 un-named un-named Steadfast IV FR 443 un-named un-named un-named link-span Steelwork

Owner(s) J. McDonald D. Tod Manchester Ship Canal Co. J. Horne A. Murdoch A. Galbraith Lake Rudolph Fisheries J. Jarron D. Wilson Argyll County Council A. Campbell W. Campbell G. Murray J. McPherson J. Mair W. Tait G. Sutherland I. Sutherland I. Smith T. Sutherland G. Slater J. Campbell C. Scott M. Stewart W. More W. Campbell A. Smith A. Thompson D. O'Connor S. O'Connor D. Smith J. McKenzie F. Downey Don Fishing Co. Ltd. P. Nolsoe & Partners A. Strachan Don Fishing Co. Ltd. S. Buchan I. Sutherland H. Christopherson & D. Jacobsen & Partners B. Petersen & Partners N. Bremner J. C. Murray D. J. Foreman P. Buchan K. O'Driscoll G. Moodie R. Hughes F. Zych J. Garriock R. Jones D. Jones W. Aitchison J. Aitchison J. Vanko R. Veitch J. McBain

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Built Lengt 1982 60' 1983 85' 1983 85' 1983 80' 1984 70' 1984 85' 1984 80' 1985 80' 1985 85' 1985 80' 1985 87' 1986 87' 1986 87' 1986 87' 1986 87' 1987 87' 1987 87' 1987 87' 1987 87' 1988 87' 1988 87' 1988 87' 1988 87' 1989 110' 1989 80' 1989 46' 1990 80' 1990 87' 1990 46' 1990 46' 1991 35m 1991 87' 1992 87' 1992 80' 1993 100' 1993 40 sq. 1994 40 sq. 1994 40 sq. 1995 85' 1995 14 m 1995 14 m 1996 25.3 m 1996 35 m 1996 14 m 1996 14 m 1996 1996

Type Trawler Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Trawler Trawler Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Fishing Boat Trawler Trawler Trawler Fishing Boat Trawler Trawler Fishing Boat Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Trawler Wellboat/Dry Trawler Ramped Workboat Trawler Trawler Ramped Workboat Ramped Workboat Car Ferry Trawler Trawler Trawler Floating Fish Cage Fish Cage Fish Cage Trawler Feed Barge Feed Barge Trawler Wellboat/Dry Feed Barge Feed Barge Ballycastle/Cn Cal Mac car ferry

Owner(s) G. S. Main L. Andrews S. Edwards T. Harcus D. Gibson J. Tait R. Main T. Fullerton D. Cummings J. Fullerton A. Davidson H. McPherson A. Bremner S. Green J. Garriock W. Smith T. Martin M. Stewart T. Goodlad R. Mainprize J. D. Anderson B. Morrison Pitcairn Fishing Co. Golden Sea Produce Wyvis Fishing Co. Golden Sea Produce P. & S. Bruce K. Bain Landcatch Landcatch Orkney Islands Council W. Sandison B. Bain J. McLeman Forth & Clyde Canal Landcatch Landcatch Landcatch G. Moodie & Son Fanad Fisheries Fanad Fisheries Steadfast Fishing Knapdale Shipping Co. not recorded not recorded Edmund Nuttall Ltd.. supplied to Buckie Shipyard