Ruysdael

This section will, in time, contain the stories of more than 450 merchant ships built or owned in the Hartlepools, and which were lost during the First World War. As an illustration of the truly global nature of shipbuilding, these ships were owned by companies from 22 different countries, including more than 30 sailing under the German flag at the outbreak of war.

LAUNCH AT WEST HARTLEPOOL

Northern Daily Mail, Nov 22/11
    
Yesterday, Messrs. William Gray and Company. Limited launched the handsome steel screw steamer, Ruysdael, for Messrs. the Bolton Steam Shipping Company, Ltd., London.

She will take the highest class in Lloyd’s Register, and is of the following dimensions, viz. : Length over all, 345ft.6in, breadth, 49ft., and depth, 25ft. 5in., with long bridge, poop, and top-gallant forecastle. The saloon, staterooms, captain’s, officers, and engineers’ rooms, etc., will be fitted up in houses on the bridge deck, and the crew’s berths in the forecastle.
    
The hull is built with deep bulb-angle frames dispensing with hold beams, and leaving large clear holds, cellular double bottom, and large fore peak and after peak ballast tanks, eight steam winches, steam steering gear amidships, hand screw gear aft, patent direct steam windlass, large horizontal multitubular donkey boiler, shifting boards throughout, boats on deck overhead, stockless anchors, telescopic masts, with 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 24 ½ in., 40in., and 65in., with a piston stroke of 42in., and two large steel boilers for a working pressure of 180lbs. per square inch.
    
The ship and machinery have been constructed under the superintendence of Mr. J. S. Bounyman, on behalf of the owners, and the ceremony of naming the steamer Ruysdael was gracefully performed by Miss Bolton, daughter of Sir Frederic and Lady Bolton, the latter being present with her daughter.

Masters: 1915-17 R Hirlford: 1918 W Steel.

Lives lost September 1918: Baskett, George Charles, 2^nd engineer, 51, b. Madras, resided Cardiff; Bates, Alfred George, wireless operator, 19, b. St Pancras, London; Boulton, Joseph Henry, fireman/trimmer, 57, b. Portsmouth, resided Barry Island, Glamorgan; Boulton, John Stevens, fireman/trimmer, 30, b. St. Ives; Dalton, Martin, 2^nd steward, 22, Barry, Glamorgan; Jones, James David, fireman/trimmer, 23, b. Cardiff, resided Barry Dock, Glamorgan; Jones, William, 2^nd mate, 66, Borth Cardiganshire; Morgan, Thomas John, carpenter, 23, b. Trehafod, Glamorgan; Sinclair, W, able seaman, 62, b. Shetland; Stack, William, able seaman, 43, Castletown Bere, Co. Cork; Steel, W, master, 36, Scarborough; Watson, George, fireman/trimmer, 45, b. County Cork.

TRIAL TRIP OF THE s.s. RUYSDAEL

Northern Daily Mail, Jan 4/12
    
This handsome steel screw steamer built by Messrs. William Gray and Co. for Messrs. The Bolton Steam Shipping Company, Ltd., London, was taken for her trial trip.

The vessel has been built to the highest class in Lloyd’s Register, and is of the following dimensions, viz.: Length over all, 345ft.6in, breadth, 49ft., and depth, 25ft. 5in.
    
Triple-expansion engines have been supplied from the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, having cylinders 24 ½ in., 40in., and 65in., with a piston stroke of 42in., and two large steel boilers for a working pressure of 180lbs. per square inch. An evaporator, duplex pumps and other auxiliaries of the “C.M.E.W” make have also been supplied.
    
The owners were represented by Mr. E. Glover, Mr F. W. Bolton and Mr. J. S. Bounyman, the latter gentleman having superintended the construction of ship and machinery. Mr. James Innes was present on behalf of Lloyd’s Registry.

After a few preliminary manoeuvres, the vessel was taken to the Tyne to load, her performance on the passage being quite satisfactory to all concerned.