SS Robin
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SS Robin is the oldest complete steam coaster (a class of steamship that is only licensed for passage in coastal waters) in the world. Moored on the River Thames in England, it has recently opened as a photographic gallery (June 2004).
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Introduction
Robin was built in 1890 in Orchard House Yard, Bow Creek which is about a mile (2 km) from where it is currently moored. She is a steam vessel built for coastal trade and was built in a style that had been used since the 1840s. Ships similar to this were in constant use up to the 1940s.
The Robin is 143 feet (44 m) long, her beam is 23 feet (7.0 m), her depth is 12.2 feet (3.7 m) and she weighs 366 gross registered tons. She carried 400 tons of cargo (hold door) or 450 tons (plaque).
The engine is a steam triple expansion reciprocating (three-cylinder), developing 60 horsepower (45 kW). Today's cars are 120 hp (90 kW). Her maximum speed was 10 knots (19 km/h).
She was built by Mackenzie Macalpine and Robert Thomson for Ponsonby and Co. of Newport, Monmouthshire. The Robin was towed to Scotland to have the engine, the boiler and the auxiliary machinery fitted by Gourlay Bros. of Dundee. The Robin would have mainly relied on using her sails and using the steam would have been the second choice of power.
Her official number is 98185 and the port of registry is Glasgow. On the Lloyds register she is registered as TMS Robin – Tri Masted Schooner. She still has three masts today.
It appears that this classification is incorrect: Robin is a steam vessel and was never a sailing auxiliary. This came about because the Board of Trade registration document classed her as a schooner (they simply counted the number of masts!).
The launch: 1890 to 1900
Image:Ssrobin1.jpg The Robin was launched on 16 September 1890 and after being fitted out in East India Dock was towed to Dundee to have the engine and auxiliary machinery fitted.
A sister ship named Rook who was built at the same time foundered in a gale off Anglesey in 1925. Her maiden voyage started from Liverpool on December 20 1890.
As a coaster her range was limited to the coastal waters which basically means that if the crew cannot see land they are out too far into deep waters. However, on her first voyage she went 400 miles (600 km) outside the Home Trade limits to Bayonne and the owners had to replace Master mate with another who held the correct certificate, until she returned to Swansea on January 10th.
Her second voyage began at Swansea on 14 January 1891 and went to the following places:
- Rouen
- Northfleet on the River Thames
- Eastham and Garston on the River Mersey
- Plymouth
- Deauville
- Guernsey
- London
- Rochester
- Newport
- Swansea
- Cherbourg
- Northfleet by April 5th 1891
In 1892 the Robin was sold to Andrew Forrester Blackwater of Glasgow. Until 1900 her trading took place mainly between the seaports of Britain, Ireland and the continental ports and was reported to carry bulk cargoes of grain, iron ore, scrap steel, pits props, china clay, railway steel, general cargoes of casked and baled goods and even granite blocks for the Caledonian Canal.
1900 to 1974
In 1900 the Robin was sold to Spanish owners.
For the next 75 years or so she had three different Spanish owners and was renamed the Maria.
- 1900–1913 Blanco Hermanos y Cia of Bilbao
- 1913–1965 Hijos de Angel Perez y Cia of Santander
- 1965–1974 Eduardo de la Sota Poveda of Bilbao
She operated around Bilbao and the north coast of Spain and worked until 1974. She was used for the carriage of coal for the bunkering of the liners.
During World War I she carried iron slabs for the French government from the foundry at Santiago to Bayonne and Burdeos, escorted by two destroyers to protect her from German U-boats. During the Spanish Civil War the ship was laid up at San Esteban de Pravia from 1935 to 1939.
Until 1965 the structure of the Robin stayed mainly unchanged, until in 1966 she had a major refit at which point the Whaleback (at the stern), and the mizzen mast were taken out, the foremast and the funnel were shortened and the forecastle were extended. As coal was expensive, the coal fired furnaces were modified for oil fuel. After this she resumed trading.
The 1970s to date
Robin was discovered by the Maritime Trust in 1972. Following an inspection, it was decided that she was worth preserving and in May 1974 she was purchased, on the brink of being sold to Spanish breakers. In June 1974 she came home to St Katherine's Dock under her own steam and was renamed the SS Robin.
She was restored at a cost of £250,000 with most work taking place in 1974 and 1975 and was subsequently moored in St Katherine's Dock. A new mooring was offered in 1991 at West India Quay where SS Robin is moored today. The Robin is now listed on the core collection of the National Historic Ships register alongside Cutty Sark, HMS Belfast and Discovery.
The future
The restoration
Image:SS Robin Nov05.jpg David and Nishani Kampfner bought the Robin and have set it up as a charitable trust. HRH Prince Philip is an honorary member, and Jim Fitzpatrick MP is the patron.
A gallery space
The restoration of the SS Robin began in March 2002. The original beams, structures, fittings and engine will be preserved and restored.
The aim was to develop a photo-journalism gallery which will run an extensive programme of talks, seminars and workshops designed to build bridges between communities. The gallery is a 100 by 23 ft (30 by 7 m) flexible classroom and exhibition space within the steel hull.
The main objective of the gallery is to promote photography as an effective means of communication and education, with the aim of integrating communities, building skills and knowledge through a diverse programme of international photography exhibitions, workshops and talks. The gallery works with local and national government, local schools and businesses to deliver an interactive education programme which will extend internationally.