Caterino

Steamship Caterino.

LAUNCH AT MESSERS. GRAY & CO’S

(Northern) Daily Mail May 20/1909

This afternoon Messrs. William Gray and Co., Limited launched the handsome steel screw steamer Caterino, which they have built for Messrs. Furness, Withy and Co., Ltd., West Hartlepool.

She is a sister vessel to the Rossano, recently launched for the same firm, and will take the highest class in the British Corporation register, her dimensions are: Length, 358ft.; breadth, 50ft. 8in.; and depth, 25ft.6in., with long bridge, poop, and top-gallant forecastle.

The saloon, staterooms, captain’s officers, and engineers’ rooms, etc., will be fitted up with houses on the bridge deck, and the crew berthed under the topgallant forecastle.

The hull is built on the deep bulb angle frame system, with clear holds, cellular double bottom all fore and aft, and large aft peak ballast tank, seven steam winches, double derricks’, steam steering gear amidships, hand screw gear aft, patent direct steam windlass, extra large horizontal multitubular donkey boiler, shifting boards throughout, 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 25in., 40in., and 65in. Diameter, with a piston stroke of 42in., and two large steel boilers for a working pressure of 180lbs. per square inch.

The vessel has been constructed under the superintendence of Mr. A. H. Walker, Captain W. Brackenbury, and Mr T. Tose on behalf of the owners.

The ceremony of naming the steamer Caterino was gracefully performed by Miss Hilda Wakefield, Brondesbury, London.

Amongst those present at the launch were Mr Stephen W. Furness, Mr Geo. Jones, Mrs Watson (Croydon), Mr. And Mrs. Bridges, Miss Clarkson, Miss Fea, Miss Harbut, Bathampton, Mr. A. McGlashan, Mr. F. W. Purvis, Mr. D. Cooke, Capt. W. Brackenbury, Mr. J. F. Fea, etc.

TRIAL TRIP

(Northern) Daily Mail June 23/1909

Yesterday the handsome steel screw steamer Caterino, built by Messrs. William Gray and Co., West Hartlepool, for Messrs. Furness, Withy and Co., Ltd., West Hartlepool was taken on her trial trip.

Her principal dimensions are: Length, 358ft.; breadth, 50ft. 8in.; and depth, 25ft. 6in. She is a sister vessel of the Rossano, recently launched for the same firm.

Triple-expansion engines have been supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, having cylinders 25in., 40in., and 65in. Diameter, with a piston stroke of 42in., and two large steel boilers of their well known standard type of which the absence of rivets on the bottom of the boiler is a notable feature. The engine room is fitted up with modern auxiliaries, making a complete installation to give economical running.

The trial was satisfactory in all respects, a mean speed of 101/2 knots being obtained. Captain W. Brackenbury, and Mr T. Tose represented the owners, Capt. Evans being in command, the shipbuilders and engine builders were represented by Captain J. E. Murrell and Mr. Maurice S. Gibb, and the British Corporation by Mr. A. F. J. Macdonald.

After the trial the vessel proceeded to Archangel to load.

Christopher Furness was born at New Stranton, West Hartlepool, in 1852, the youngest of seven children. He became a very astute businessman, and by the age of eighteen was playing a major role in his older brother Thomas’ wholesale grocery business, being made partner in 1872.

In 1882 the two brothers decided to go their separate ways, allowing Thomas to concentrate on the grocery business, while Christopher took over the ownership and management of the four steamships their company was then operating.

This was the beginning of what would eventually become the huge Furness Withy & Co. Ltd. empire. As many books have been written detailing the history of this company, its ships and its many subsidiaries, this section will only feature those ships with direct Hartlepool connections.

Some of the ships that were not built at Hartlepool but owned by Furness are listed below as 'a general history'