Nice old Doxford engine. As a ship builder and a maintenance engineer at Amsterdam I worked on this type of engines (1975-1980's). Also visited wavebank in Colombo round about 1970. I had a friend Sherwin who worked as engineer on board.
Did 2 trips as a Lecy on the Ivy, one on the Clyde. Look back with fond memories, must have been 83 84. area, Thanks for the video, now I can bore my family and friends, I enjoy it ! Sailed with Bank Line for 6 years, certainly changed my view on the world.
I have been on Way bank round 1971 in Port of Colombo. I had a friend Sherwin he was engineer. Great ships. Later I was working at N.D.S.M as a maintenance engineer in Amsterdam repaired some of bank Line ships round a bout 1976 onwards.
Ruston 6ap2z genys I loved em ,had them on the Fleetbank and on all the K class UASC ships for around ten years when I was third engr. Cracking video thanks for the treat. Brian
Never sailed with Bank Line, my time was with BP, but those purifiers look awfully like the Titan units we had on the "Ity" class, are they the same? For years, my preference was always Alfa-Laval, quick and easy to strip and clean. I think the quickest we ever did one was 54 minutes, from shutdown, run down, stop, change out the dirty parts for spare clean ones, run up and back on line. The weakest point was the very fine thread in the top of the distributor into which the plate compressor was screwed for removal of the bowl top, it was easily damaged by inexperienced engineers and being very thin brass, no option to repair it. Once it was goosed, the whole part was scrap and even 15 years ago, a new one was in excess of $1000. My owner of many years tried using cheaper parts from another maker, but their quality control was terrible and after a 12 month trial, we went back to genuine parts.
Hi rob,I am roly using my wife Sheila.s account. I sailed as 5th eng.in the hollybank ,feb.to aug 1971.uk to America,Panama on to Australia on to New Guinea for copra,america then to uk.3 weeks across the pacific,really bad case of the channels .lwent back trawling after my leave was over ,harder work but more money, cheers.
Hollybank has huge memories for me as a very young inexperienced 2nd Engineer aged 22/23 sailing with my wife. On what was supposed to be my last trip to sea.I think it must have been voyage after yours. Mike
Thanks for the video & memory . I was an engineer on the Marshalar which was the old Port Auckland with twin LB Doxfords. I think these are the later model Seahorses but I'm not certain. 👍👍
@@markbeale7390 it was definitely the LB not the P type on the Port Auckland as the ship was constructed during 1944 and launched in 1945 just after the war ended. Percy Jackson didn't join Doxford untill 47 or 48 and he was responsible for the P type. I don't know about her sister ships like the Port Brisbane etc as these were built later I think. This Port Auck,and was built as the replacement for the original Port Auckland that was sunk in WW2, which my son in laws grand father was on when she was sunk (he was acturally sunk 3 times) it was very funny when I first met him and we were discussing ships and I noted I was on the Port Auckland, he found this difficult to believe as he was on her when she was torpedoed. We had a great laugh about it when I showed him the photos of both the ships. We were great friend untill his passing a couple of years ago.
@@markbeale7390 sorry after I wrote the diatribe about the port Auckland I realised you were talking about bank line ship, maybee if ihad read my own comment questioning the type i may not have stuck foot in mouth sorry about the stuff up.
@@markbeale7390 LB = Large Bore, LBD = Large Bore Diaphragm (indicates a bulkhead between underside of liner and crankcase), then P, then J, then Seahorse.
People back then had a strange reaction towards video cameras, they stood still looking at the lens as if a photograph was taken! 😅😅 Anyway, nice old engine room, I first sailed as engineer in 1995!
First trip to sea on MV Willowbank, joined Liverpool 1/04/1975 Europe- Pacific Island run, paid off 14/10/1975, cant find any videos of the Doxford L type running.
Hi Ro Connor The Fleetbank I sailed on had a J type Doxford beautiful engine ulike the older Doxfords I sailed on with Houlder Bros with the rubber hoses that occasionaly flew off the quadrant with no warning.The Laurelbank I think was a P type Doxford which was a modifcation of the older type.After the J type there was the Seahorse Doxford I believe? I left Bankline and joined KSC which became UASC when every ME was a B & W which I found ok for the next tweve years! Happy new year Brian
The Seahorse was a medium speed opposed piston design, joint venture between Doxford and Hawthorn Leslie.When I was in Hawthorns erection shop (!) in1971 we were erecting the prototype. I never saw it run, must have been awe-inspiring at 300rpm! Very high power output on a small footprint. Dont think they ever got a commercial order for any, though- anyone know different ?
A pity there is no sounf. Those Doxfords made a unique noise unlike any other marine diesel engine, and watching them was mesmerising. However I always avoided Bank boats, you were almost always guaranteed 2 years away from home. I stuck to Blue Funnel and 3 month trips
@@thirdengineer Hi Brian, I was a 5th eng on the LPG tanker Antilla Bay in 81 (and 4th in 83) were we had the Spanner Swirlyflow boiler. We had a complete set of spare tubes on stock. (Probably an idea of the superintendent overseeing the newbuilding of the ship, who was afraid that these beautifully made tubes would not be immediately available when needed) With this boiler I remember a case were we were alongside practically in our homeport so plenty relatives on board. The bar was full. I was the duty engineer when I got a flame failure alarm on the burner. Saw the sparks from the ignition but the burner would not lit. After trying for half an hour or so, cleaning nozzles, checking the position and distance of the ignition points etc., the 2nd came looking what was going on because it became a bit cold in the bar😅 After another half hour, the C/E, 3th and 5th eng as well as our lecky were at the boiler flat. I still recall the question of our Electrician: we can see the sparks of the ignition, but should we be able to see them?! Aaaaarrrggghhhh! The high voltage cables had a short circuit behínd the diffuser plate. It then became an easy fix. But the bar was empty when we were ready.
@@janvisser2223 Thanks Jan very interesting info of some of the best years of our lives which I value not possible today in the world of box boats quick turn rounds and so on.Grateful for the response cheers Brian
@@thirdengineer Hi Brian, for sure the best years of our lives! And Yes, did two contracts on box boats and did not like them for reasons you mentioned. Although one of them had the modern Stal Laval Advanced Propulsion plant, which was very interesting from a marine engineers point of view. Not to mention the 60 deg C between the main boilers in the Red Sea of course, but that was part of the job.
Have a video of the Ibn Bassam in Dec 2002 in Hull when I visited with a friend 15 years after I came ashore.You will have to trawl a way back through over A hundred train vids on my channed to find it. Cheers Brian
Like the BP "Tree" class I was on, British Hazel had no control room, but later on the Laurel and Maple, we did. I did 5 months on the Hazel as Junior, great ship, great people and great runs.Control position was on the middle plates at for'd end of the main engine with big fans directly overhead, main switchboard for'd of the platform. Like many BP ships at the time, we had Indian crew and full watchkeeping down below. Senior engineer, junior, engine rating and a donkeyman in the boiler room on each watch. Dayworkers under the ER PO sweeping and wiping the engine room plates every morning, polishing the hand rails....happy days, long gone.Then, even as Juniors, we had our own cabin steward who would sort the dhobi, bring tea and coffee at smoko, usually with a tab-nab. How things have changed for the better, or worse? Not sure, I've been retired 9 years from a small UK based tanker owner after 25+ years with them, we were well looked after.
Nice old Doxford engine. As a ship builder and a maintenance engineer at Amsterdam I worked on this type of engines (1975-1980's). Also visited wavebank in Colombo round about 1970. I had a friend Sherwin who worked as engineer on board.
Did 2 trips as a Lecy on the Ivy, one on the Clyde. Look back with fond memories, must have been 83 84. area, Thanks for the video, now I can bore my family and friends, I enjoy it ! Sailed with Bank Line for 6 years, certainly changed my view on the world.
I have been on Way bank round 1971 in Port of Colombo. I had a friend Sherwin he was engineer. Great ships. Later I was working at N.D.S.M as a maintenance engineer in Amsterdam repaired some of bank Line ships round a bout 1976 onwards.
Brilliant----i was an engine cadet 77-80 , but never got on a copra boat , seatime on the cedar and birchbank
Fascinating stuff! My dad (Mike Brannock) was Chief Eng on a number of Bank Line inc. Ivybank, I think I was on it for 1 trip as a toddler with mum!!
Ruston 6ap2z genys I loved em ,had them on the Fleetbank and on all the K class UASC ships for around ten years when I was third engr. Cracking video thanks for the treat. Brian
Never sailed with Bank Line, my time was with BP, but those purifiers look awfully like the Titan units we had on the "Ity" class, are they the same? For years, my preference was always Alfa-Laval, quick and easy to strip and clean. I think the quickest we ever did one was 54 minutes, from shutdown, run down, stop, change out the dirty parts for spare clean ones, run up and back on line. The weakest point was the very fine thread in the top of the distributor into which the plate compressor was screwed for removal of the bowl top, it was easily damaged by inexperienced engineers and being very thin brass, no option to repair it. Once it was goosed, the whole part was scrap and even 15 years ago, a new one was in excess of $1000. My owner of many years tried using cheaper parts from another maker, but their quality control was terrible and after a 12 month trial, we went back to genuine parts.
Chief mechanic from 1962 to 1998 including ships like that
Hi rob,I am roly using my wife Sheila.s account. I sailed as 5th eng.in the hollybank ,feb.to aug 1971.uk to America,Panama on to Australia on to New Guinea for copra,america then to uk.3 weeks across the pacific,really bad case of the channels .lwent back trawling after my leave was over ,harder work but more money, cheers.
Hollybank has huge memories for me as a very young inexperienced 2nd Engineer aged 22/23 sailing with my wife. On what was supposed to be my last trip to sea.I think it must have been voyage after yours. Mike
I'm really confused know,rustytrawler is a Sheila.
Did you know a Roy Sagastumi, there's a real interesting connection here.
Thanks for the video & memory . I was an engineer on the Marshalar which was the old Port Auckland with twin LB Doxfords. I think these are the later model Seahorses but I'm not certain. 👍👍
P types.
@@markbeale7390 it was definitely the LB not the P type on the Port Auckland as the ship was constructed during 1944 and launched in 1945 just after the war ended. Percy Jackson didn't join Doxford untill 47 or 48 and he was responsible for the P type. I don't know about her sister ships like the Port Brisbane etc as these were built later I think. This Port Auck,and was built as the replacement for the original Port Auckland that was sunk in WW2, which my son in laws grand father was on when she was sunk (he was acturally sunk 3 times) it was very funny when I first met him and we were discussing ships and I noted I was on the Port Auckland, he found this difficult to believe as he was on her when she was torpedoed. We had a great laugh about it when I showed him the photos of both the ships. We were great friend untill his passing a couple of years ago.
@@markbeale7390 sorry after I wrote the diatribe about the port Auckland I realised you were talking about bank line ship, maybee if ihad read my own comment questioning the type i may not have stuck foot in mouth sorry about the stuff up.
OK doxford types LB, LBD, P, J,then the seahorse.
LB,for larger balance,LBD for larger balance diaphragm, I reckon.
@@markbeale7390 LB = Large Bore, LBD = Large Bore Diaphragm (indicates a bulkhead between underside of liner and crankcase),
then P, then J, then Seahorse.
People back then had a strange reaction towards video cameras, they stood still looking at the lens as if a photograph was taken! 😅😅
Anyway, nice old engine room, I first sailed as engineer in 1995!
First trip to sea on MV Willowbank, joined Liverpool 1/04/1975 Europe- Pacific Island run, paid off 14/10/1975, cant find any videos of the Doxford L type running.
Working model, science museum London. Real master piece moving model BW double acting eng by HW apprentices .
Doxford….my condolences..😅
Trusty old Doxdfords.Fantastic !
Hi Ro Connor The Fleetbank I sailed on had a J type Doxford beautiful engine ulike the older Doxfords I sailed on with Houlder Bros with the rubber hoses that occasionaly flew off the quadrant with no warning.The Laurelbank I think was a P type Doxford which was a modifcation of the older type.After the J type there was the Seahorse Doxford I believe?
I left Bankline and joined KSC which became UASC when every ME was a B & W which I found ok for the next tweve years! Happy new year Brian
The Seahorse was a medium speed opposed piston design, joint venture between Doxford and Hawthorn Leslie.When I was in Hawthorns erection shop (!) in1971 we were erecting the prototype. I never saw it run, must have been awe-inspiring at 300rpm! Very high power output on a small footprint. Dont think they ever got a commercial order for any, though- anyone know different ?
A pity there is no sounf. Those Doxfords made a unique noise unlike any other marine diesel engine, and watching them was mesmerising. However I always avoided Bank boats, you were almost always guaranteed 2 years away from home. I stuck to Blue Funnel and 3 month trips
Pity no sound .
Was that a Spanner steam boiler at 09.58?
Yas they were Spanner boilers, as a Lecky did the control systems, not the steam side. Hot as hell boiler flat.
Hi Jan I was 5th eng on the Fleetbank in 1973 and we had a Spanner Swirlyflow boil fitted. Brian
@@thirdengineer Hi Brian, I was a 5th eng on the LPG tanker Antilla Bay in 81 (and 4th in 83) were we had the Spanner Swirlyflow boiler. We had a complete set of spare tubes on stock. (Probably an idea of the superintendent overseeing the newbuilding of the ship, who was afraid that these beautifully made tubes would not be immediately available when needed)
With this boiler I remember a case were we were alongside practically in our homeport so plenty relatives on board. The bar was full.
I was the duty engineer when I got a flame failure alarm on the burner.
Saw the sparks from the ignition but the burner would not lit.
After trying for half an hour or so, cleaning nozzles, checking the position and distance of the ignition points etc., the 2nd came looking what was going on because it became a bit cold in the bar😅
After another half hour, the C/E, 3th and 5th eng as well as our lecky were at the boiler flat.
I still recall the question of our Electrician: we can see the sparks of the ignition, but should we be able to see them?!
Aaaaarrrggghhhh! The high voltage cables had a short circuit behínd the diffuser plate.
It then became an easy fix. But the bar was empty when we were ready.
@@janvisser2223 Thanks Jan very interesting info of some of the best years of our lives which I value not possible today in the world of box boats quick turn rounds and so on.Grateful for the response cheers Brian
@@thirdengineer Hi Brian, for sure the best years of our lives! And Yes, did two contracts on box boats and did not like them for reasons you mentioned. Although one of them had the modern Stal Laval Advanced Propulsion plant, which was very interesting from a marine engineers point of view. Not to mention the 60 deg C between the main boilers in the Red Sea of course, but that was part of the job.
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Have a video of the Ibn Bassam in Dec 2002 in Hull when I visited with a friend 15 years after I came ashore.You will have to trawl a way back through over A hundred train vids on my channed to find it. Cheers Brian
Doxford engine, no control room.
Like the BP "Tree" class I was on, British Hazel had no control room, but later on the Laurel and Maple, we did. I did 5 months on the Hazel as Junior, great ship, great people and great runs.Control position was on the middle plates at for'd end of the main engine with big fans directly overhead, main switchboard for'd of the platform.
Like many BP ships at the time, we had Indian crew and full watchkeeping down below. Senior engineer, junior, engine rating and a donkeyman in the boiler room on each watch. Dayworkers under the ER PO sweeping and wiping the engine room plates every morning, polishing the hand rails....happy days, long gone.Then, even as Juniors, we had our own cabin steward who would sort the dhobi, bring tea and coffee at smoko, usually with a tab-nab. How things have changed for the better, or worse? Not sure, I've been retired 9 years from a small UK based tanker owner after 25+ years with them, we were well looked after.