By John Aitken In the edition of April 6th, 1923 the “Montrose Review” reported on the launch of the TST Alsatia from the Rossie Island shipyard of the Coaster Construction Co. Ltd, an event which was witnessed by a large company of spectators. She had been named by Mrs Lyon, wife of the marine superintendent of the new ship’s owners the …
By John Aitken The Coaster Construction Company Limited started off in a rather modest way on Rossie Island, Montrose in 1920. Their first commercial vessel was the small coaster appropriately named Rossie, constructed on spec to give the new workforce experience in costing, estimating, design and construction including riveting and the finishing trades. On completion, she was used to fit …
By John Aitken It was planned by the Coaster Construction Company Limited to launch the collier Southquay from their new shipyard on Rossie Island, Montrose on the penultimate Saturday of January, 1921. As it happened the weather intervened with a strong tidal surge in the River South Esk and the arrangements were put back to the following Tuesday afternoon. A …
By John Aitken On Saturday, 22nd January, 1921 an unforeseen mishap occurred in Montrose caused by a fierce gale and a subsequent tidal surge. Some estimates put the rise in the river at 20 feet, almost two feet above prediction, the result being that the initial launches from the Coaster Construction Co. Ltd.’s shipyard were aborted. Much interest had been …
By all accounts there must have been more people at the harbour than for many a day when the London “beat-the-strike” vessel Velazquez sailed for Grimsby for dry docking. Estimates of upwards of 300 bystanders were reported in the vicinity of the Wet Dock when she eased through the narrow entrance. The crew had made many friends in the town …
An article in a New Zealand daily newspaper of February 14, 1924 reported: “Inaha Arrives. Montrose to Wellington. An Interesting Vessel.” The news item continued: “An interesting arrival at Wellington this morning was the motor-ship Inaha from Montrose, Scotland via (several) ports. The vessel was inspected by the port authorities and later berthed at No. 4 Queen’s Wharf. “Her interest …
30 dogs and their owners turned out on Sunday July 21st to commemorate a very special four-legged wartime hero. St Bernard Bamse was owned by Captain Hafto of the Norwegian Navy and went to sea with him on board the minesweeper Thorodd during the Second World War. He achieved legendary status in Montrose and Dundee, where the Thorodd was stationed, …
In late September, 1867 a large number of people gathered at the East Quay to witness the first composite vessel ever to be built in Montrose from the shipyard of Joseph Birnie & Co. However, all did not go to plan straightaway. The rope holding her on the slip had been cut and the appropriate signal given but the launch …
This month, MPA archivist, John Aitken examines trends in vessel size and cargo being handled through the Port. Gross tonnage throughput at Montrose port has recorded a steady increase in recent years. In 2013 the annual figure was given as 1.7mn. Two years later it had grown to 2.08mn. The latest total for the past 12 months to the end …
The Wet Dock at Montrose port was constructed under an Act of Parliament entitled “An Act for improving the harbour of the Burgh of Montrose in the County of Forfar”, dated July 3rd, 1837. Six years and 12 days later on July 15th, 1843 the dock was completed. There certainly was a pressing requirement for a Wet Dock. The 1830s …
