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Current & Past

The C.1. survived two World Wars, although due to the then wider use of coal as a fuel, was infinitely more busy during the 1914 to 1918 conflict.. After the Second World War she was moved to the Dockyard for a refit — her last. She spent the Last quarter of 1946 in Dry Dock before being returned to her moorings off Hardway,

Inevitably, with the phasing out of coal as a marine fuel, she drifted into redundancy. The profile of the moored C.1. or Coal Hulk, largest coaling vessel in the world, was seen to change in the late '50s when most of her superstructure and two of her cranes were dismantled. Her fate was sealed when her owners, the Admiralty, sold her to a Dutch firm of breakers.

Sixty years of service ended when the giant black hulk left Portsmouth harbour. But for records at The National Maritime Museum I would not have been able to date her departure, noted by them as, January 16, 1964, I find it incredible that a 'shipping movement of this magnitude did not justify a photograph or mention in the local newspaper of the day. On the other hand — the old girl really was quite ugly.

Information supplied by: Swan Hunter Ltd

DESIGN - The Cl was unique. The first of its type in the world,

CONTRACT Number 290.

PROFIT ON CONTRACT - £5.864 4s. 8d,

DIMENSIONS - L. 424' x B. 67'8 3/8’’ D.M. 40'

CREW ACCOMMODATION - Designed for SO crew.

LOADING ARRANGEMENTS - 11,000 tons of coaI in hoppers. 1.080 tons in bags.

HULL - Large barn type construction subdivided into seven holds.

HOPPERS - Fitted wih 80 coal chutes for filling bags without the use of shovels.

TRANSPORTERS - Equipped with 12 Temperly electric transporters.

LAUNCHED - February 27, 1902.

SAILED - Left the Tyne June 23, 1904

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

Swan Hunter Ltd. located an old notebook and provided extracts that included 'thumbnail’ sketches of the Cl"s hull.

THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE Cl

Information supplied by: Notional Maritime Museum, Greenwich BUILT By - Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson,

Date Built 1903-04

Dimensions - 424’ x 67.6’ x +25’; 12,000 dwt

Alteration - Reduced from four cranes to two in the late ‘50s and remained in this condition until sold.

Sold To - Fran Rijsdijk - Holland NV.

Departed Portsmouth January 15, 1964

Destination - Towed to Hendrik Ido Ambacht, Netherlands and broken up

C1 Coal Barge from Hardway Gosport 1948