Shahristan

LAUNCH AT WEST HARTLEPOOL

Northern Daily Mail June 18/12

Yesterday, Messrs. Wm Gray and Co, Ltd, launched the large steel screw steamer Shahristan, which they have built for Messrs. Frank C. Strick and Co., Limited, of Swansea and London.

The vessel will take the highest class Lloyd’s Register and is of the following dimensions vis.: Length over all, 412ft. 6in.; breadth, 53ft. 6in., and depth, 29ft. 7 ½ in.

She is a handsomely modelled vessel of the double-deck type, with poop, long bridge and topgallant forecastle, having very tasteful cabin accommodation in houses on the bridge deck for passengers, captain and officers, and is fitted throughout with electric lighting.

The vessel has a cellular double bottom and after peak tank for water ballast, and in addition there is a deep tank or hold compartment fitted for water ballast abaft the engine room, giving a total capacity for water ballast of about 2,200 tons.

The whole of the outfit which includes steam windlass, steam steering gear, two derricks to lift 30 tons each, 12 steam winches, with return exhaust to winch condenser of the Contraflo type, is of the most approved description.

The machinery has been made by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, being of the triple-expansion type with cylinders 28in., 46in., and 77in. diameter, with a piston stroke 48in. She is fitted with a Contraflo main condenser, Weir’s feed pump and heater and three large steel multitubular boilers, working by Howden’s system of forced draught at a pressure of 180lbs. per square inch.

The vessel and machinery have been constructed under the superintendence of Mr. Archibald Walker, on behalf of the owners, and the ceremony of naming the steamer Shahristan was gracefully performed by Mrs. G. H. Ducksbury, of Hull.



TRIAL TRIP

Northern Daily Mail July 30/12

Yesterday, the large steel screw steamer Shahristan was added to the large fleet of vessels
owned by Messrs. Frank C. Strick and Co., Limited, of Swansea and London. The vessel has been built by Messrs. Wm Gray and Co, Ltd, of west Hartlepool to Lloyd’s highest class, and is of the following dimensions vis.: Length over all, 412ft. 6in.; breadth, 53ft. 6in., and depth, 29ft. 7 ½ in.

Triple-expansion engines have been supplied from the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, having cylinders 28in., 46in., and 77in. diameter, with a piston stroke 48in., and three large steel multitubular boilers of the builders well known flanged shell type, adapted for working pressure of 180lbs. per square inch, worked under Howden’s system of forced draught.

The engines are fitted with Contraflo main and auxiliary condensers, and a pair of Weir’s feed pumps and heater, which, in conjunction with a special arrangement of boiler feed heating by means of the exhaust steam, insure a high feed temperature. The engine-room auxiliaries are very complete, and include a number of duplex pumps and evaporator of the builders CMEW type.

Amongst those on board to witness the trial were Mr Archibald Walker, who has superintended the building of the vessel. Mr. R. Marshall, representing the Board of Trade, and Messrs. M. P. Bolsius, of Rotterdam.

The performance of vessel and machinery was highly satisfactory, a speed of 13 knots being obtained.



Owners: 1912 Frank C Strick, Swansea: 1912 NASM, Rotterdam-renamed Zuiderdijk: 1918 USA Navy: 1919 NASM, Rotterdam: 1922 The Law Shipping Co Ltd (T Law & Co) Glasgow–renamed Misty Law: 1931 Achille Lauro, Naples–renamed Edera: 1949 Francesco Pittaluga fu Giamoco, Genoa: 1956 Cia Maritima Caribe SA, Puerto Limon–renamed Frin: 1956 Linea Adriatico Gulfo Persa Ltda, Puerto Limon–renamed Mahfuz

Masters: 1918 WF Reefer.

Zuiderdijk was in commercial operation with the Holland-America Line in 1918 when the need of the United States for ships to transport men & material to the front in Europe during World War 1 forced seizure of Dutch ships in American ports. Customs officials at San Juan, Puerto Rico, took possession of the vessel on 21 March 1918 & turned her over to the US Navy, which placed her in commission on 23 March 1918 under Lieutenant W. F. Reefer USNRF. On 21 July 1919 she was decommissioned & returned to her former owners.

June 1940 Edera was laid up La Coruna. In December 1943 she was requistioned by the Italian Government for Allied service.

The steamship Edera, originally built as the Sharistan.