Bridge-class OBO carrier
Encyclopedia
The Bridge-class OBO (Ore-bulk-oil carrier
) was a series of six vessels, which were constructed for Bibby Line
in British shipyards. Three earlier vessels, Atlantic Bridge, Pacific Bridge and Ocean Bridge, had been completed in Japan from 1967 onwards. Ocean Bridge was almost lost and the master was killed in a serious explosion in 1971. Only one vessel of the British-built class, the Furness Bridge, was built to the original design. It became a very controversial class of vessel, with two being lost in active service. (Derbyshire and Kowloon Bridge).
. The launch was featured on the local evening BBC
local evening news programme "Look North". The ship was so tall the funnel had to be dismantled to allow it to pass under the famous Transporter Bridge
in Middlesbrough
. During its sea trials and indeed maiden and second voyages to the Persian Gulf
, it was reported to suffer from severe vibrations when at full speed.
. She eventually ran onto the Kedges Reef in West Cork
causing localised environmental
damage due releases of oil
. The crew were airlifted to safety. This has been described as the largest shipwreck in the world by gross tonnage.
Built in 1976.Sunderland Shipbuilders Ltd.,Deptford Yard
71,600dwt.39427grt.228x32
was the last of the class, built as the Liverpool Bridge in 1976. She was lost after four years of service in 1980. She went down with all 44 hands on board, in the Pacific Ocean off Japan. It was revealed she sunk as the result of failure in her forward hatch covers, resulting in the ship breaking up in two minutes (from failure of Number 1 hold hatches to the breaking off of the superstructure). Derbyshire was under the command of the experienced Captain Geoffrey Underhill.
Ore-bulk-oil carrier
An Ore-bulk-oil carrier, also known as combination carrier or OBO, is a ship designed to be capable of carrying wet or dry cargoes. The idea is to reduce the number of empty voyages, in which large ships only carry a cargo one way and return empty for another. These are a feature of the larger...
) was a series of six vessels, which were constructed for Bibby Line
Bibby Line
The Bibby Line is a British company concerned with shipping and marine operations.Its parent company, Bibby Line Group Limited, can be traced back to the shipbroking partnership of Bibby & Hall, which was founded in 1801. It is and always has been based in Liverpool...
in British shipyards. Three earlier vessels, Atlantic Bridge, Pacific Bridge and Ocean Bridge, had been completed in Japan from 1967 onwards. Ocean Bridge was almost lost and the master was killed in a serious explosion in 1971. Only one vessel of the British-built class, the Furness Bridge, was built to the original design. It became a very controversial class of vessel, with two being lost in active service. (Derbyshire and Kowloon Bridge).
MV Furness Bridge
First in class, built in 1971. Launched at Haverton Hill Shipyard on TeessideTeesside
Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...
. The launch was featured on the local evening BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
local evening news programme "Look North". The ship was so tall the funnel had to be dismantled to allow it to pass under the famous Transporter Bridge
Transporter bridge
A transporter bridge is a type of movable bridge that carries a segment of roadway across a river. The gondola is slung from a tall span by wires or a metal frame. The design has been used to cross navigable rivers or other bodies of water, where there is a requirement for ship traffic to be...
in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
. During its sea trials and indeed maiden and second voyages to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
, it was reported to suffer from severe vibrations when at full speed.
MV English Bridge/Kowloon Bridge
Built in 1973. In November 1986, she suffered structural damage which caused the loss of steering control in heavy seas off South West IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. She eventually ran onto the Kedges Reef in West Cork
West Cork
West Cork refers to a geographical area in south-west Ireland, lying within Ireland's largest county, County Cork. Traditionally a popular tourist destination, the area is seen as being distinct from the more populated northern or eastern parts of the county, as well as the more urban area of...
causing localised environmental
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
damage due releases of oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
. The crew were airlifted to safety. This has been described as the largest shipwreck in the world by gross tonnage.
MV Mersey Bridge/Cambridgeshire
(Panamax Bulk Carrier)Built in 1976.Sunderland Shipbuilders Ltd.,Deptford Yard
71,600dwt.39427grt.228x32
MV Liverpool Bridge/Derbyshire
The DerbyshireMV Derbyshire
The MV Derbyshire was an ore-bulk-oil combination carrier built in 1976 by Swan Hunter, as the last in the series of the Bridge-class sextet. She was registered at Liverpool and owned by Bibby Line....
was the last of the class, built as the Liverpool Bridge in 1976. She was lost after four years of service in 1980. She went down with all 44 hands on board, in the Pacific Ocean off Japan. It was revealed she sunk as the result of failure in her forward hatch covers, resulting in the ship breaking up in two minutes (from failure of Number 1 hold hatches to the breaking off of the superstructure). Derbyshire was under the command of the experienced Captain Geoffrey Underhill.