Harpeake

TRIAL TRIP OF THE s. s. HARPEAKE

(Northern) Daily Mail August 13/09

Yesterday, the handsome steel screw steamer Harpeake,  built by Messrs. William Gray and Co., Ltd.,  to the order of Messrs. J. and C. Harrison, Ltd., London. Had her trial trip.

The vessel has been built to Lloyd’s highest class, and is of the following dimensions; Length over all, 396ft. 6 in.; breadth, 51ft.; and depth, 29ft., with two decks laid, long bridge, poop, and top-gallant forecastle. The saloon, with teak panelling, staterooms, captain’s, officers, and engineers’ rooms, etc., are fitted up with houses on the bridge deck, and the crew’s berths in the forecastle.

The hull is built with deep frames, clear holds, cellular double bottom, and large aft and fore peak ballast tanks, nine steam winches, return exhaust and winch condenser, steam steering gear amidships, hand screw gear aft, patent direct steam windlass, large horizontal multitubular donkey boiler, shifting boards, stockless anchors, telescopic masts fore and aft rig, boats on deck overhead, ventilation sufficient or the Eastern trade, electric light throughout, and all requirements for a first class cargo steamer have been fitted.

Triple-expansion engines have been supplied by the Central Marine Engineering Works of the builders, having cylinders 26in., 42in., and 70in. Diameter, with a piston stroke of 48in., and two large steel boilers for a working pressure of 180lbs. per square inch.

The trial was witnessed by Mr. Wm. Crandell, of Messers, C. M. Burls and Partners, consulting engineers, London, representing the shipbuilders, Mr Maurice S. Gibb, the engine builders, and Mr. Hudson, Lloyd’s Registry. Captain Davie was in command.

After adjusting the compasses the vessel was headed for the Tyne, her average speed on the run to the Tyne and back to Hartlepool being 11 knots, the engines running smoothly and to the satisfaction of all concerned. On the conclusion of the trial the vessel proceeded on her voyage.

 
THE TRIAL TRIP OF THE s. s. HARPEAKE

Daily mail *** 1*/09

 In the report of the official trial of the s.s. Harpeake, it was stated that Mr. Crandell represented the shipbuilders. Mr. Crandell was representing the owners, Messrs. J. and C. Harrison.

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.