Irish Shipping Limited
Encyclopedia
Irish Shipping Limited was an Irish state-owned deepsea shipping company, formed during World War II
for the purpose of supplying the country's import needs. Its ships were usually named after trees. Its contribution to Irish neutrality was recognised by the government after the war. In the post-war years the company continued to operate as a commercial strategic reserve until 1984 when, as a result of taking on a series of expensive long-term time charter
s, it was forced into liquidation.
when hostilities broke out and in the early years of the war much of its food needs were carried on board allied vessels. The Irish government realised that they needed to be more independent and self-sufficient. In February 1941, Seán Lemass
, the Minister for Supplies
stated that The creation of an Irish mercantile marine was necessary, as it was as important for the national safety as the Army.
On March 21, 1941, Irish Shipping Limited was formed as a company majority owned by the state, which held 51% of the shares. 43¾% were owned by Grain Importers Ireland Ltd and the three largest shipping companies in the state, Wexford Steamship Company, Limerick Steamship Company and Palgrave Murphy Limited, held 1¾% each. Each of the shareholders also had a representative on the board. Unfortunately the new company had a major problem in that it had no ships and needed to acquire some.
, Spain
as the Greek-flagged Vassilios Destounis. It had been abandoned following an attack by a German aircraft in the Bay of Biscay
and towed into port by Spanish fishermen, where it was purchased by Irish Shipping.
A combination of the war, and the fact that Irish vessels were sailing out of convoy, led to impossibly high premiums for goods carried in Irish ships. This encouraged the company to set up its own successful marine insurance business which it sold to the Insurance Corporation of Ireland after the war.
Two sisterships were delivered in 1952 and 1954: 1952 to 1964 1954 to 1964
They were utilised on several routes and carried many varied cargoes.
Three sisterships were delivered in 1956, 1956 to 1959 1956 to 1969 1956 to 1959
These were smaller vessels, with accommodation aft and twin holds. Originally designed primarily for Baltic
trading they were utilised on the North Atlantic and even saw service in South America
and the far north of Canada
in Hudson Bay
.
The following dry cargo vessels built for Irish Shipping during the mid 1950s and were powered by Doxford opposed piston engines. 1956 to 1968 1958 to 1970 1956 to 1968 1957 to 1968
Two steam turbine vessels were also built in the 1950s the sisters Irish Poplar and Irish Spruce. Irish Poplar (2), Steam Turbine, delivered in 1956. GRT 8012, NRT 4575, ON 400072. NHP 1107. The Irish Poplar and her near sister operated on the North Atlantic Liner trade for most of their lives. The Irish Poplar was sold in 1972. Irish Spruce, Steam Turbine, delivered in 1957, was a near sister of the Irish Poplar. Both of these vessels were equipped with refrigerated cargo tweendecks for the carriage of meat. The Irish Spruce ran aground in the Caribbean in 1972 and was subsequently broken up for scrap.
The Irish Blackthorn and Irish Hawthorn were steam turbine vessels.
The Irish Holly was primarily a coastal oil tanker, triple expansion steam engine. This vessel survived in the fleet for some time after the two larger vessels.
Due to the sharp increase in the price of oil and the greater thermal efficiencies of diesel engines, these were the last two steam powered ships to be operated by Irish Shipping.
Note:-Both of these vessels were acquired in the 1950s, not the 1960s the Poplar in 1956 and the Spruce in 1957, built to order for Irish Shipping, and had refrigerated cargo spaces for the carriage of frozen meat. They both survived to the early 1970s.
Two sisters delivered in the early 1960s. Laid down in the very late 1950s.
Irish Rowan. First vessel built in the newly formed Verolme Cork Dockyard. 1961. Powered by Doxford diesel engine.
Irish Sycamore a sister of the Rowan with similar machinery, built in England.
Two other sister ships were operated: 1963-1976 Net T 6,044.7 IHP 8,450 ON 400358 (ca 1963) 1962-1976 NRT 6,052.98 BHP 7,250 ON 400269 (ca 1963)
The Irish Cedar operated the Cork-Casablanca-Dublin run importing phophate for Gouldings Ireland before the Irish Plane was used on the run. When the Irish Cedar was sold in the 1970s she was converted to an oil exploration vessel, a drill ship.
The Irish Plane operated on the Casablanca
- Dublin
- Cork
run, importing phosphate fertiliser for several years.
Both of these sisters were powered by MAN diesel engines, type KZ70-120D
The (3) (1968–1979) was the second vessel built for Irish Shipping in Cork. GRT 22186. NRT 14516. BHP 13800. ON 400577. This vessel was a new departure for the company being operated by a GPR (general purpose) crew. Each crew member had a cabin and the vessel had an officers and a crew bar. It also had a swimming pool. The accommodation, all aft was air conditioned. The Main Engine, a MAN, could be maneouvred from the bridge. The vessel was primarily designed as a bulk carrier but had electro-hydraulic cranes and pontoon decks fitted after her sea trials. The Elm operated for many years as a car carrier primarily transporting cars from Japan to USA and Europe. The Elm was sold in 1979.
A bulk carrier with retractable/stackable car decks was also acquired; 1968-1979 NRT 14516.91 ON 400577 BHP 18,800
The Irish Elm was built in Verolme Cork Dockyard and made her maiden voyage in 1969.
The Irish Elm was designed to run with an unmanned machinery space UMS
for night time sailing in open waters, however this was seldom, if ever achieved. There were many design problems with the UMS equipment, the principal being that the electronics were germanium
based rather than silicon
. Silicon had not come to the fore as the most suitable semicondctor material. The germanium was affected by the high ambient temperatures in the engine room.
A further mis-match of technology was the use of steam driven reciprocating feed pump for the exhaust gas boiler. Controlled by a pneumatic valve, the system required constant attention to ensure correct operation.
The Irish Elm was fitted with removable car decks to transport automobiles. With the decks removed, she could operate as a bulk carrier.
called Celtic Bulk Carriers and between them ordered 12 standard ships from Govan Shipbuilders
in Glasgow
. The ships were referred to as "Clyde"-class and the Irish ships were named: 1973- 1973- 1973- Reg T 11360.88 ON 401220 1973- GRT16703.84, NRT 11360.88 ON 401218 BHP 11600
bulk carrier
of . Its ordering and build were the subject of much controversy with many feeling that the Irish government
put undue pressure on the company to place the order in order to keep the dockyard open.
. Maurice Tempany, a senior partner at Ernst & Young
was appointed as Official Liquidator. He quickly set about laying-off the staff and making preparations for the sale of the ships. With four ships still owned by the company - Irish Maple, Irish Rowan, Irish Cedar and Irish Spruce - as each came into port it was arrest
ed and eventually sold.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
for the purpose of supplying the country's import needs. Its ships were usually named after trees. Its contribution to Irish neutrality was recognised by the government after the war. In the post-war years the company continued to operate as a commercial strategic reserve until 1984 when, as a result of taking on a series of expensive long-term time charter
Time Charter
Time Charter was an Irish-bred, British-trained thoroughbred racehorse who won several important races between 1982 and 1984.-Background:...
s, it was forced into liquidation.
Background
Ireland had declared its neutralityNeutrality (international relations)
A neutral power in a particular war is a sovereign state which declares itself to be neutral towards the belligerents. A non-belligerent state does not need to be neutral. The rights and duties of a neutral power are defined in Sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907...
when hostilities broke out and in the early years of the war much of its food needs were carried on board allied vessels. The Irish government realised that they needed to be more independent and self-sufficient. In February 1941, Seán Lemass
Seán Lemass
Seán Francis Lemass was one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century. He served as Taoiseach from 1959 until 1966....
, the Minister for Supplies
Minister for Supplies (Ireland)
The Minister for Supplies was created by the , to assist Ireland through World War II, or The Emergency, as referred to by the Government of Ireland...
stated that The creation of an Irish mercantile marine was necessary, as it was as important for the national safety as the Army.
On March 21, 1941, Irish Shipping Limited was formed as a company majority owned by the state, which held 51% of the shares. 43¾% were owned by Grain Importers Ireland Ltd and the three largest shipping companies in the state, Wexford Steamship Company, Limerick Steamship Company and Palgrave Murphy Limited, held 1¾% each. Each of the shareholders also had a representative on the board. Unfortunately the new company had a major problem in that it had no ships and needed to acquire some.
The wartime fleet
Ships of all forms and in all conditions were a very scarce resource during the early years of the war. The company management took control of whatever tonnage, in whatever condition, they could lay their hands on. Its first ship was the which was located in AvilésAvilés
Avilés is a city in Asturias, Spain. Avilés is with Oviedo and Gijón, one of the main towns in the Principality of Asturias.The town occupies the flattest land in the municipality, in a land that belonged to the sea, surrounded by small promontories, all of them having an altitude of less than...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
as the Greek-flagged Vassilios Destounis. It had been abandoned following an attack by a German aircraft in the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
and towed into port by Spanish fishermen, where it was purchased by Irish Shipping.
Acquired in 1941
(March 1941 - 1949) Ex Vassilios Destounis (28 July 1941 - November 1949) Ex Hiafa Trader (13 May 1941 - 1948) Ex Cetvrti (August 1941 - 1949) Ex Leda (14 October 1941 - 1949) Ex Margara (17 June 1941 - 1949) Ex Noemijulia (21 May 1941 - 15 May 1943) Ex West Neris (21 May 1941 - 16 November 1942) Ex West Hematite (26 December 1941 - 1 February 1947) Ex Arena (December 1941 - 1946) Ex OttoOther ventures
The nature of the conflict and of the state meant that Irish Shipping had some unusual influences on its commercial operations. This lead it into a number of other commercial ventures, most notably marine insurance and ship repair, where it might not necessarily have wanted to be.A combination of the war, and the fact that Irish vessels were sailing out of convoy, led to impossibly high premiums for goods carried in Irish ships. This encouraged the company to set up its own successful marine insurance business which it sold to the Insurance Corporation of Ireland after the war.
Ships acquired in 1948
As most of the original tonnage was in poor condition, in 1946 the company placed orders for 8 vessels with British yards. new build (1948–1954) new build (1948–1954) new build (1948–1965)Ships acquired in the 1950s
Several vessels of different types were delivered in the early 1950s, Irish Oak, a near sister to the 1948 Irish Pine. Both of these vessels were steamships, with triple expansion reciprocating engines, converted to motor vessels in the mid fifties and powered by Doxford diesel engines., ca 1953, steam triple expansion. 1953 to 1953, ca 1952. (1950? to 1960)Two sisterships were delivered in 1952 and 1954: 1952 to 1964 1954 to 1964
They were utilised on several routes and carried many varied cargoes.
Three sisterships were delivered in 1956, 1956 to 1959 1956 to 1969 1956 to 1959
These were smaller vessels, with accommodation aft and twin holds. Originally designed primarily for Baltic
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
trading they were utilised on the North Atlantic and even saw service in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and the far north of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
.
The following dry cargo vessels built for Irish Shipping during the mid 1950s and were powered by Doxford opposed piston engines. 1956 to 1968 1958 to 1970 1956 to 1968 1957 to 1968
Two steam turbine vessels were also built in the 1950s the sisters Irish Poplar and Irish Spruce. Irish Poplar (2), Steam Turbine, delivered in 1956. GRT 8012, NRT 4575, ON 400072. NHP 1107. The Irish Poplar and her near sister operated on the North Atlantic Liner trade for most of their lives. The Irish Poplar was sold in 1972. Irish Spruce, Steam Turbine, delivered in 1957, was a near sister of the Irish Poplar. Both of these vessels were equipped with refrigerated cargo tweendecks for the carriage of meat. The Irish Spruce ran aground in the Caribbean in 1972 and was subsequently broken up for scrap.
The tankers
The 1958-1965, 1959-1965 and 1954-1967 were the only tankers ever operated by ISL. Both the Irish Hawthorn and Irish Blackthorn were sold in 1965.The Irish Blackthorn and Irish Hawthorn were steam turbine vessels.
The Irish Holly was primarily a coastal oil tanker, triple expansion steam engine. This vessel survived in the fleet for some time after the two larger vessels.
Ships acquired in the 1960s
Two steam turbine ships were owned and operated:, 1957–1972, 1956–1972Due to the sharp increase in the price of oil and the greater thermal efficiencies of diesel engines, these were the last two steam powered ships to be operated by Irish Shipping.
Note:-Both of these vessels were acquired in the 1950s, not the 1960s the Poplar in 1956 and the Spruce in 1957, built to order for Irish Shipping, and had refrigerated cargo spaces for the carriage of frozen meat. They both survived to the early 1970s.
Two sisters delivered in the early 1960s. Laid down in the very late 1950s.
Irish Rowan. First vessel built in the newly formed Verolme Cork Dockyard. 1961. Powered by Doxford diesel engine.
Irish Sycamore a sister of the Rowan with similar machinery, built in England.
Two other sister ships were operated: 1963-1976 Net T 6,044.7 IHP 8,450 ON 400358 (ca 1963) 1962-1976 NRT 6,052.98 BHP 7,250 ON 400269 (ca 1963)
The Irish Cedar operated the Cork-Casablanca-Dublin run importing phophate for Gouldings Ireland before the Irish Plane was used on the run. When the Irish Cedar was sold in the 1970s she was converted to an oil exploration vessel, a drill ship.
The Irish Plane operated on the Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
- Dublin
Dublin Port
Dublin Port is Ireland's biggest sea port. It has both historical and contemporary economic importance. Approximatively two-thirds of the Republic of Ireland's port traffic goes via Dublin Port...
- Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
run, importing phosphate fertiliser for several years.
Both of these sisters were powered by MAN diesel engines, type KZ70-120D
The (3) (1968–1979) was the second vessel built for Irish Shipping in Cork. GRT 22186. NRT 14516. BHP 13800. ON 400577. This vessel was a new departure for the company being operated by a GPR (general purpose) crew. Each crew member had a cabin and the vessel had an officers and a crew bar. It also had a swimming pool. The accommodation, all aft was air conditioned. The Main Engine, a MAN, could be maneouvred from the bridge. The vessel was primarily designed as a bulk carrier but had electro-hydraulic cranes and pontoon decks fitted after her sea trials. The Elm operated for many years as a car carrier primarily transporting cars from Japan to USA and Europe. The Elm was sold in 1979.
The Star ships and the Elm
Irish Shipping entered a joint venture with the Norwegian Star shipping company and operated two ships; 1970 -1978 1970-1976A bulk carrier with retractable/stackable car decks was also acquired; 1968-1979 NRT 14516.91 ON 400577 BHP 18,800
The Irish Elm was built in Verolme Cork Dockyard and made her maiden voyage in 1969.
The Irish Elm was designed to run with an unmanned machinery space UMS
UMS
UMS may refer to:* Universal Motion Simulator, at the Centre for Intelligent Systems Research* Underwriting Management System, for automated Insurance Underwriting* Unified Messaging * Uniform Mark Scheme...
for night time sailing in open waters, however this was seldom, if ever achieved. There were many design problems with the UMS equipment, the principal being that the electronics were germanium
Germanium
Germanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ge and atomic number 32. It is a lustrous, hard, grayish-white metalloid in the carbon group, chemically similar to its group neighbors tin and silicon. The isolated element is a semiconductor, with an appearance most similar to elemental silicon....
based rather than silicon
Silicon
Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. A tetravalent metalloid, it is less reactive than its chemical analog carbon, the nonmetal directly above it in the periodic table, but more reactive than germanium, the metalloid directly below it in the table...
. Silicon had not come to the fore as the most suitable semicondctor material. The germanium was affected by the high ambient temperatures in the engine room.
A further mis-match of technology was the use of steam driven reciprocating feed pump for the exhaust gas boiler. Controlled by a pneumatic valve, the system required constant attention to ensure correct operation.
The Irish Elm was fitted with removable car decks to transport automobiles. With the decks removed, she could operate as a bulk carrier.
Celtic Bulk Carriers
In the early 1970s ISL set up a joint venture with Reardon SmithsWilliam Reardon Smith
Sir William Reardon Smith, 1st Baronet was a British shipowner.Reardon Smith was born in Appledore, Devon, and educated at the Wesleyan School there. He went to sea and obtained his master mariner's ticket before going into the shipping business...
called Celtic Bulk Carriers and between them ordered 12 standard ships from Govan Shipbuilders
Govan Shipbuilders
Govan Shipbuilders Ltd was a British shipbuilding company based on the River Clyde at Glasgow in Scotland. It operated the former Fairfield Shipyard and took its name from the Govan area in which it was located.-History:...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. The ships were referred to as "Clyde"-class and the Irish ships were named: 1973- 1973- 1973- Reg T 11360.88 ON 401220 1973- GRT16703.84, NRT 11360.88 ON 401218 BHP 11600
The Japanese Ships
The and were built in Japan and delivered in 1976.The Spruce
The company took delivery of their final vessel, the in 1983. Built in Verolme Cork Dockyards, it was a PanamaxPanamax
Panamax and New Panamax are popular terms for the size limits for ships traveling through the Panama Canal. Formally, the limits and requirements are published by the Panama Canal Authority titled "Vessel Requirements"...
bulk carrier
Bulk carrier
A bulk carrier, bulk freighter, or bulker is a merchant ship specially designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo, such as grains, coal, ore, and cement in its cargo holds. Since the first specialized bulk carrier was built in 1852, economic forces have fueled the development of these ships,...
of . Its ordering and build were the subject of much controversy with many feeling that the Irish government
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
put undue pressure on the company to place the order in order to keep the dockyard open.
Liquidation and aftermath
0n 14 November 1984, the Irish government surprised most observers by placing Irish Shipping Ltd into liquidationLiquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
. Maurice Tempany, a senior partner at Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
was appointed as Official Liquidator. He quickly set about laying-off the staff and making preparations for the sale of the ships. With four ships still owned by the company - Irish Maple, Irish Rowan, Irish Cedar and Irish Spruce - as each came into port it was arrest
Arrest
An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
ed and eventually sold.
See also
- Irish neutralityIrish neutralityIreland has a "traditional policy of military neutrality". In particular, Ireland remained neutral during World War II, and has never been a member of NATO or the Non-Aligned Movement. The formulation and justification of the neutrality policy has varied over time...
(external issues) - The Emergency (internal issues)
- Irish Mercantile Marine during World War IIIrish Mercantile Marine during World War IIThe Irish Mercantile Marine during World War II continued essential overseas trade during the conflict, a period referred to as The Long Watch by Irish mariners....
- Maritime Institute of IrelandMaritime Institute of IrelandThe Maritime Institute of Ireland was founded in 1941, at a time when World War II was raging and many seamen were in great peril of either being severely injured or losing their lives. Ireland, being an island nation, was dependent on the sea for all forms of movement external to the island as...
(website)
Legislation Relating to Irish Shipping Ltd
- Acts of the Oireachtas - The Parliament of Ireland
- No. 10/1994: IRISH SHIPPING LIMITED (PAYMENTS TO FORMER EMPLOYEES) ACT, 1994
- No. 8/1984: IRISH SHIPPING LIMITED (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1984
- No. 8/1982: IRISH SHIPPING LIMITED ACT, 1982
- No. 39/1980: IRISH SHIPPING LIMITED (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1980
- No. 3/1959: IRISH SHIPPING LIMITED (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1959
- No. 37/1947: IRISH SHIPPING LIMITED ACT, 1947
External links
- Irishships
- Irish Pine Crew Irish Seamen's Relatives Association