Mersea Island Museum - Blackwater Ships


Ship:      BERNINI
Arrived:1 December 1930
Departed:29 April 1933
Career:From www.merchantnavyofficers.com/LH3.html [No longer available]
Capt. B. S. Haikney had been serving as chief officer for eight years when he arrived at Liverpool aboard the Balfe in May 1932, and after discharging her cargo she was taken round to the River Blackwater, where the Bernini and Boswell had been laid-up for some considerable time.
Built as WAR PENGUIN. Renamed BERNINI-1919, MOUNT DIRFYS-1933. Wrecked Frying Pan Shoals 26 Dec 1936
Arrival date December 1930 from Essex Record Office document DF 106/1/10/12 T&MNOFC Record of Ships Moored on Fishery 1930-33.
From Oyster Company ledger.
- 2 January 1933 compensation [vessel already in the river at the start of this ledger]
- 2 February 1933 owner listed as Lamport & Holt
- 2 March 1933 owner is now Rethymnis & Kulukundis
Voyage Record Card: BERNINI Arrived 6 December 1930 from Hamburg.
Left the river as MOUNT DIRFYS having been purchased during lay-up.

1 Dec 1930 arrived River Blackwater from Hamburg [Liverpool Journal of Commerce 6 Dec 1930]
Shields Daily News 29 May 1931, 30 Oct 1931, vessel in River.
Shields Daily News 17 Mar 1932 Lamport & Holt BERNINI (is) laid up in River Blackwater

Essex Newsman 4 Mar 1933 While engaged with other members of the crew in cleaning the decks of SS BERNINI, a Greek vessel lying up in the river Blackwater off Bradwell-on-Sea, Demitrios Strincos, aged 52 years, a Greek, fell head first down a hold and received fatal injuries...

Shields Daily News 01 May 1933 MOUNT DIRFIS ( DIRFYS ) ( Ex BERNINI ) arrived River Tyne (Middle Dock) on 01-05-33 from River Blackwater

"Haven of Rest" by Douglas Gurton lists the vessel but has no further info. See DJG_SHP

Tonnage:5,242 gross
Built:1918
Type:Cargo ship
Owner:Lamport & Holt
Official No:142665
ID1142665

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