Eretza-Mendi

LAUNCH AT WEST HARTLEPOOL

Daily Mail January /20/ 1909

Yesterday, Messrs. William Gray and Co., Limited launched the handsome steel screw steamer “Eretza Mendi”, which they have built for Messrs. Sota and Azner, of Bilbao.

She will take the highest class in Lloyd’s Register, and is of the following dimensions viz.: Length over all, 377ft.; breadth, 50ft 3in.; and dept, 37ft. 10in.; with bridge, poop and topgallant forecastle.

The hull is built with deep frames, cellular double bottom, and large aft peak ballast tank, six steam winches, steam steering gear amidships, hand screw gear aft, patent direct steam windlass, large horizontal multi-tubular donkey boiler, shifting boards through out, stockless anchors, telescopic masts fore and aft rig, and all requirements for a first class cargo steamer.

Triple-expansion engines are being supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, having cylinders 37in., 43in., and 72in. Diameter, with a piston stroke of 45in., and two large steel boilers for a working pressure of 180lbs. per square inch.

The vessel has been constructed under the superintendence of Mr. Goicochea and Mr. Undabarrena, on behalf of the owners, and the ceremony of naming the steamer Eretza Mendi was gracefully performed by Mrs. A.G. Rickinson, of West Hartlepool.

TRIAL TRIP OF THE s.s. ERETZA MENDI.

(Northern) Daily Mail March 1909.

Yesterday, the handsome steel screw steamer, Eretza Mendi built by Messrs. William Gray and Co., Ltd. West Hartlepool, for Messrs. Sota and Aznar, of Bilbao, was taken to sea for her trial trip. The vessel is of the following dimensions,: Length over all, 377ft.; breadth, 50ft. 3in.; and depth, 31ft. 10in.; with bridge, poop, and top-gallant forecastle.

The saloon, staterooms, captain, officers and engineers’ rooms, etc., are fitted up in houses on the bridge deck, and the crew’s berths in the forecastle, while in the poop accommodation is provided for a large number of cadets and a professor of navigation.

Triple-expansion engines have been supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, having cylinders 27in., 43in., and 72in. Diameter, with a piston stroke of 45in., and two large steel boilers for a working pressure of 190lbs. per square inch.

The ship and machinery have been constructed under the superintendence of Mr. Goicochea and Mr. Undabarrena, and these gentlemen witnessed the trial on behalf of the owners; Captain J. E. Murrell represented the shipbuilders, and Mr Wm. Reynard the engine builders.

The vessel was in light ship trim, and averaged a speed of over 12 knots.  Everything worked with the utmost satisfaction on the run to the Tyne, where the vessel takes in her first cargo.