Back in Essex, I look out of the window over a rather empty River Blackwater. For years, before and after the War, the river was full of laid up ships and provided a lot of work for West Mersea in particular. Last year we published a couple of articles in the local paper about the ships and it created a certain amount of interest. It has prompted me to build up a list of the ships. The list has about 240 vessels at the moment, and you can see it on www.merseamuseum.org.uk/mmvessels.php .
A number of NZS ships visited the river in the late 60s/early 70s. One of the interesting stories that came out was that the HURUNUI was here when Mersea Regatta was on - so she was dressed overall for the occasion, just like Anniversary Day in Auckland.
It would be great to know more about this, to get other ships to add to the list, or to get dates for the ships already on the list...
I was 3rd Engineer on the Otaki in 1971. We had a few problems with the tie rods and the exhaust valves on the RSG Sulzers - interesting engines to say the least. We were laid up in the Blackwater for many weeks - lots of engineers on board. I recall that the chippy put a deckhouse on the motor lifeboat and we used that to go ashore to the pub in West Mersea - I think it was called the Victory (I recall a large black dog named Winston). The patrons of the local yacht club viewed us disparagingly as we weaved our way through their posh boats. They dubbed our mighty vessel "the African Queen'. I have vague memories of one night when we were having a jolly good piss-up in the pub and, when it was time to walk down to the jetty to meet the 'African Queen', somebody said 'stuff it this is too much fun' so we didn't go down to the boat. It left without us and we spent the night on the floor of the pub. Good place, West Mersea!
Thank you for the infomation, Alasdair. The OTAKI was not on my list, so it is another one and I have added it. The Victory is still there, though not the dog. I expect the OTAKI took her lifeboats with her when she left - I wonder if she kept the deckhouse. Many of the ships left the river for scrapping and lifeboats were sometimes sold before they went. There are the remains of one or two quietly decaying on the saltings and at least one still afloat, though not in active use. Do you have any dates that I could add to the information I have? I have added a lot of what you said to the site, and will put your name on it if you are happy with that.
HI Tony - I was C/Eng on the Paparoa and we sailed from Leith to London Docks for a few days and then round to the Blackwater, paying off on the 28/05/69 at Maldon. Some of the coasting crowd stayed on board while she was laid up - a jolly time was had by all according to the stories told during the next voyage. I , however, left to get married and Cherry and I rejoined the Paparoa at Blackwater and signed on at Maldon on 06/08/69 and proceeded to Falmouth for a short stay and then onward to NZ and a double header on the MANZ run. We completed the voyage on 18th March 1970 and paid off in London. This should provide you with some dates for her stay in the Blackwater. I am sure you can get a photograph from the Association web site. Keep up the good work. Chris Botes- Auckland.
Chris, thanks for the info and the dates. It all helps to add to the picture. I guess the NZS ships were here for relatively short periods so they kept some of the coasting crew on board. Many others were here for much longer and had local watchmen on board - usually having to camp out with no power on board, cooking by primus or gas, paraffin lamps in the cabin and as the anchor light. I wonder if any of the crew put the ship's sailing dinghy over the side and had a sail in the river. A popular traditional local boat is the winkle brig, clinker built and around 15 ft. As there are not so many available now and they are popular, some people have taken the RNSA dinghies (as supplied by NZS, but also used by the Navy, Sea Cadets etc.) and used them. Ref photographs on the Blackwater shipping site, I am generally keeping to ships actually photographed in the river. These days it is relatively easy to find other photographs of most ships on the web. I do have others up my slieve that were taken in the river, but do not have the copyright sorted out.