Mersea Island Museum - Blackwater Ships


Ship:      BENGUELA
Arrived:29 January 1931
Departed:17 June 1933
Career:Broken up Bari September 1933.
Arrival date January 1931 from Essex Record Office document DF 106/1/10/12 T&MNOFC Record of Ships Moored on Fishery 1930-33.
From Oyster Company ledger:
- 29 January 1931 tug used. [Vessel may have been in river since the ledger started 1 January 1931]
-16 June 1933 Putting crew aboard. Owner/agent Italian General Shipping.
-17 June 1933 Attendance. [Last entry in ledger for BENGUELA].

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

It is mentioned in law reports that BENGUELA and LONDON CORPORATION were in collision when they dragged anchors in the Blackwater, but there is no date. The damage to BENGUELA was never repaired, which is the substance of the law reports.
The Times report of the Court of Apeal judgement gives the date December 1932.

Voyage Record Cards at Guildhall Library record her arrival at Tollesbury 29 Jan 1931 from Hamburg after a voyage to South and West Africa. Departure from Tollesbury is not recorded. She was sold to breakers 31 May 1933 and was resold 10 October 1933.
George Swieszkowski does not record the departure cApril 1931 and arrival before Aug 1932.

The Scotsman of 31 Dec 1930 reported BENGUELA sailed Sierra Leone 28-12-30 for The Continent Western Morning News of 28 Jan 1931 reported BENGUELA to be laid-up
Shields Daily News 20 Jun 1933 BENGUELA arrived River Tyne (Tyne Dock) 20 Jun 1933 from River Blackwater
[Note 1] The Scotsman of 8 Apr 1931 reported BENGUELA arrived Rosario 28-03-31 from Hamburg
[Note 1] Western Mail of 16 Sep 1931 reported BENGUELA sailed Lobito 12-09-31
[Note 1]Western Mail of 18 Jan 1932 reported BENGUELA arrived Newport 15-01-32 from Port Talbot
[Note 1]Western Mail of 28 Jan 1932 reported BENGUELA sailed from Newport 27-01-32 for Lisbon
Chelmsford Chronicle of 12 Aug 1932 reported tributes from those aboard BENGUELA at a funeral held in Tollesbury of captain of BALLENA
Chelmsford Chronicle of 30 Sep 1932 reported a crew-member or officer of BENGUELA at Tollesbury was fined for a motoring offence that occurred on 08-09-32
Shields Daily News of 1 Jun 1933 reported BENGUELA sold for demolition
Sunderland Daily Echo & Shipping Gazette reported BENGUELA arrived River Tyne (Tyne Dock) 20-06-33 from River Blackwater
Shields Daily News of 23 Jun 1933 reported BENGUELA sailed River Tyne 22-06-33 for Porto Vecchia (?).

From Liverpool Journal of Commerce:
[Note 1] 11-02-31 Benguela sailed Rotterdam 7 February 1931 for Opporto via Antwerp
29 Jan 1931 arrived Tollesbury from Hamburg [31 Jan 1931]
11-02-31 Benguela at Tollesbury (since) 29 January 1931
27-02-31 Benguela at Tollesbury (since) 29 January 1931
15-12-31 Benguela at Tollesbury (since) 29 January 1931
[Note 1] 07-01-32 Benguela passed Lands End 5 January 1932 for Port Talbot
16-05-33 Benguela at Tollesbury (since) 29 January 1931

Note 1 it is thought that these entries refer to the Portuguese BENGUELA built 1905 as BARDISTAN and renamed BENGUELA in 1924.

Tonnage:5520 gross
Built:1910
Type:Cargo ship
Owner:Elder Dempster
Official No:131366
ID1131366

River Blackwater Tollesbury. Postcard not mailed.

L to R ?, ?, CITY OF GUILDFORD, BENGUELA, HIGHLAND ROVER. Date: 1930s.

Above:  River Blackwater Tollesbury. Postcard not mailed. L to R ?, ?, CITY OF GUILDFORD, BENGUELA, HIGHLAND ROVER. Date: 1930s.
Source: Mersea Museum / Cedric Gurton Tollesbury

Ships in the River Blackwater, taken from Bradwell.
The vessel on the right is BENGUELA, broken up September 1933. 
There are two Houlder Bros vessels in the picture - they look identical. One is possibly the ORANGE RIVER, which was laid up in the Blackwater December 1932 [T&M Oyster Company records] Date: Before September 1933.

Above:  Ships in the River Blackwater, taken from Bradwell. The vessel on the right is BENGUELA, broken up September 1933. There are two Houlder Bros vessels in the picture - they look identical. One is possibly the ORANGE RIVER, which was laid up in the Blackwater December 1932 [T&M Oyster Company records] Date: Before September 1933.
Source: Mersea Museum / Ian Clarke Collection


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