Hi everyone,
I have become interested in a couple of vessels that a relative once worked aboard and have begun wondering about the best method to go about obtaining information and details of both vessels. Unfortunately the relative has passed away so I cannot ask him directly however I am hoping I might be able to acquire some photographs if they exist from his children.
The vessels in question are the Rona and Silverhawks and both were operated by CSR when my relative worked aboard them.
Here is what I know so far:
The RONA was a steel single screw cargo vessel built by Hall Russell at Aberdeen, Scotland weighing 4469 gross tons. In 1956 she was sold to unknown owners and renamed Panoriente. Then in 1975 sold once again to unknown owners and renamed Eastern Venus. Before finally being scrapped by Kaohsiung March 1980.
The SILVERHAWK was approximately 6771 gross tons, 10563 dwt. Lb: 130.2 x 20.1 metres. She was an oil tanker built by Cammell Laird & Co. Ltd., Birkenhead for the Nile Steamship Co Ltd (Silver Line UK). Managed by Silver Chemical Tankers Ltd. Single screw, diesel engine with a speed of 14.5 knots. As a chemical tanker, towards the end of the 1970's and into the early 1980's, was bareboat chartered by CSR and placed into service on the Australian coast. My relative worked on her during this period, I believe he was the chief engineer on board. Silver Line's operations were seized in 1985. Later during that year (1985) was sold to Sea Cheer Investment Panama and renamed Philchem. 1988 renamed Stainless Duke. Broken up at Aliaga November 1997.
This information has mainly been obtained from
http://www.flotilla-australia.com and my father.
I am also interested in what hulls are available that could be converted to make a decent model of either ship as I would love to build a model of her once my model of the steam tug Cervia is completed.
I have looked on shipspotting but haven’t been able to find any images of either ship, possibly because of how long ago they were broken up.
Thankyou for any help and advice it is greatly appreciated.
Tim