a little knowledge

[James Curry]

Spotted this comment on FB page.

worked on her as Southern Cross-cruised on her under this name.Don't think she'd be allowed to sail with her lifeboats like that nowadays!

life boats comment.jpg

Very knowledgeable chap posted this he knows his stuff.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Spotted this comment on FB page.

worked on her as Southern Cross-cruised on her under this name.Don't think she'd be allowed to sail with her lifeboats like that nowadays!

life boats comment.jpg

Very knowledgeable chap posted this he knows his stuff.

Probably a passenger L/boat muster whilst on river passage to an ocean passage in an era when ships carried enough deck crew to do things properly

[James Curry]

Think in that era H&W had more or less one design fits all , an upgrade stick another funnel on it. I am sure there were a lot of different features in both ships but to the casual eye very similar.life boats comment.jpg White elephant.jpg

[john mc dermott]

I think they were the first liners with engines aft, plus the Northern Star. The superstructure was constructed of alliminium to reduce weight .Another first for H&W Belfast.

[James Curry]

AI and how often they get it wrong.
To the best of my knowledge the Norther Star was a Motor ship . Can anyone here verify that? I am convinced she was fitted with Medium speed Pielstick engines .
AI /copilot
Yes, the passenger ship Northern Star was indeed built on the Tyne! It was launched on June 27, 1961, and its construction was completed in June 1962 by Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd at the High Walker Yard1. This ocean liner was designed as a single-class ship for the emigrant trade to Australia and New Zealand. It accommodated 1412 passengers in rather “utility” facilities. The Northern Star traded outwards to Australia via Cape Town and returned via the Panama Canal. Unfortunately, the steam turbine engines became uneconomical due to rising fuel costs, and inadequate maintenance led to their unreliability. Consequently, the ship was broken up in December 19751. Quite a fascinating piece of maritime history!

So AI got there info from Tyne Built ships.

Name: NORTHERN STAR
Type: Passenger Ship
Launched: 27/06/1961
Completed: 06/1962
Builder: Vickers-Armstrongs (Shipbuilders) Ltd
Yard: High Walker
Yard Number: 175
Dimensions: 24731grt, 12883nrt, 7483dwt, 650.0 x 83.8 x 26.1ft
Engines: 4 x Steam turbines, DR geared to 2 shafts, 22000shp
Engines by: Parsons Marine Turbine Co Ltd, Wallsend
Propulsion: 2 x Screws, 19.5knots
Construction: Steel
Reg Number: 304076
History:
06/1962 Shaw Savill & Albion Co Ltd, Southampton
12/1975 Broken up
Comments: Designed as a single class ship for the emigrant trade to Australia & New Zealand
Accommodation for 1412 x passengers in rather "utility" facilities
Traded outwards to Australia via Cape Town and returned via the Panama Canal
The steam turbine engines became uneconomic with the rising costs of fuel
Poor or inadequate maintenance lead to the engines becoming unreliable
Too expensive to re-engine & upgrade the accommodation to a cruise ship standard
11/12/1975: Arrived at Kaohsiung for breaking up by Li Chong Steel & Iron Works Co

[john mc dermott]

Sorry to mislead, i should have said the Canberra's superstructure was alliminium and the other 2 were steel, and only 2 were built by H&W.