Blue Star Logbook

I just seen the new painting of the Adelaide Star at New Plymouth in the mid 60's on the home page.

As she has only the port and starboard derricks up at No 1 hatch it left me wondering if the centre derrick was still down or had been removed.

Does anyone know if the centre derricks on this class were removed at any time?

I have a few ideas on why they were there in the first place but has anyone the definitive reason?

Nigel Ianson

Hello Nigel,
I can not answer your question, only to advise I based my painting on a photo I was sent sometime ago of her in Hobart supposedly around that time period my client requested the scene shown at New Plymouth. It was produced at break neck speed of just 18 days , normally they take months to produce and dry etc. It was painted for the son of Chief Officer Mosquera who sadly died in an accident on board at Dunedin in 1965 whilst working cargo.Tinged with sadness his young sons were brought up in the UK by their Mother who never got to attend his funeral held in the same port. When she passed away in 2011 her ashes were flown to Dunedin and interned with her late husbands grave. The eldest son commissioned the work as it was intended for his brother now very ill in New Plymouth to link his brothers home with the last ship their father worked on. Sadly his brother passed away just four days before the presentation , so the original as shown, is now on its way back to the UK this week and will hang in Chester . .
Cheers,
..Walley

I feel you are mixing up the class of vessel with ss ARGENTINA STAR class which were the only ships to have twin posts at No.1 hatch.mv ADELAIDE STAR class had only centre line post at No.1 hatch as per painting (no point in replacing one post for two as a mod.)Check 'Ship List' for photo.

Nigel,

I think we can give Wally Artist's Licence with his paintings,working from 30+ year old non digital photos of varying quality he does a very good job.
Wally painted the Afric Star (from a photo of mine) for me which I am very pleased with in which he used a bit of artist's licence that improved the photo.

There is one B&W photo c 1956 of the Adelaide Star showing what appears to be a 3rd centre derrick over No1 hatch, but it wasn't evident in later photos, so perhaps it was removed at some time or just an illusion on the photo.
Would the lightness of the cargo from that hold only require one derrick plumbed over the hatch and one over the quay? A heavy cargo in No.1 hatch would tend to force the bow down. Is No.1 hatch used for trimming the ship as it will not be very wide as compared to the midship section of holds but would have leverage effect. But then I was only an Engineer and not involved in the black arts of GM, TPC's and 'tomming off' (what ever that was, sounds a bit lewd to me).
David Fox

I'm pretty sure that Tom Mosquera died from an accident on the 'English Star', not the Adelaide.
I was on bord on her following voyage, in 1967.

Regarding my previous post, sorry, memory failed me. It was the Adelaide, of course.

Hi Des,

No problems, it was after all almost 50 years ago. Toms eldest surviving son, Anthony called in and thanked me for the work before they returned back to the UK. Kind regards, Walley.