| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Bridge |
| Builders: | Swan Hunter |
| Operators: | Bibby Line |
| In service: | 1970 |
| In commission: | 1970 |
| Completed: | 6 |
| Lost: | 3 |
| Retired: | 6 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | OBO carrier |
| Displacement: | 76012–91,500 tonnes |
| Length: | 264 m (866 ft) |
| Beam: | 44 m (144 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 1 propellor |
| Speed: | 15 knots (28 km/h) |
| Capacity: | 100,000 DWT+ of cargo |
| Complement: | 42 |
The Bridge-class OBO (Ore-bulk-oil carrier) was a series of six vessels, which were constructed for Bibby Line in British shipyards. Three earlier vessels, Atlantic Bridge, Pacific Bridge and Ocean Bridge, had been completed in Japan from 1967 onwards. Ocean Bridge was almost lost and the master was killed in a serious explosion in 1971. Only one vessel of the British-built class, the Furness Bridge, was built to the original design. It became a very controversial class of vessel, with two being lost in active service. (Derbyshire and Kowloon Bridge).
Contents |
First in class, built in 1971. Launched at Haverton Hill Shipyard on Teesside. The launch was featured on the local evening BBC local evening news programme "Look North". The ship was so tall the funnel had to be dismantled to allow it to pass under the famous Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough. During its sea trials and indeed maiden and second voyages to the Persian Gulf, it was reported to suffer from severe vibrations when at full speed.
Built in 1973. In November 1986, she suffered structural damage which caused the loss of steering control in heavy seas off South West Ireland. She eventually ran onto the Kedges Reef in West Cork causing localised environmental damage due releases of oil. The crew were airlifted to safety. This has been described as the largest shipwreck in the world by gross tonnage.
Built in 1975.
Built in 1976.Sunderland Shipbuilders Ltd.,Deptford Yard 71,600dwt.39427grt.228x32
The Derbyshire was the last of the class, built as the Liverpool Bridge in 1976. She was lost after four years of service in 1980. She went down with all 44 hands on board, in the Pacific Ocean off Japan. It was revealed she sunk as the result of failure in her forward hatch covers, resulting in the ship breaking up in two minutes (from failure of Number 1 hold hatches to the breaking off of the superstructure). Derbyshire was under the command of the experienced Captain Geoffrey Underhill.