Metadata
WORK ID: NEFA 14482 (Master Record)
| Title | Year | Date |
| LAUNCH OF THE ATHELFOAM | 1951 | 1951-01-01 |
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Details
Original Format: 16mm Colour: Black & White Sound: Silent Duration: 5 mins 47 secs Genre: Sponsored Subject: Ships Industry |
| Summary This film records the launch of the “Athelfoam” tanker from Smiths Docks Company Ltd, Southbank in Middlesbrough on the 22 May, 1951. The ship was built on the Tyne for the Athel Line and was involved in the transport of molasses. The film shows the arrival of guests, a reception and the launch ceremony attended by a huge crowd of locals including many school children. [Please note some opening sequences run too fast.] |
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Description
This film records the launch of the “Athelfoam” tanker from Smiths Docks Company Ltd, Southbank in Middlesbrough on the 22 May, 1951. The ship was built on the Tyne for the Athel Line and was involved in the transport of molasses. The film shows the arrival of guests, a reception and the launch ceremony attended by a huge crowd of locals including many school children. [Please note some opening sequences run too fast.]
The film opens to show various dignitaries getting out of their cars at...
This film records the launch of the “Athelfoam” tanker from Smiths Docks Company Ltd, Southbank in Middlesbrough on the 22 May, 1951. The ship was built on the Tyne for the Athel Line and was involved in the transport of molasses. The film shows the arrival of guests, a reception and the launch ceremony attended by a huge crowd of locals including many school children. [Please note some opening sequences run too fast.]
The film opens to show various dignitaries getting out of their cars at Smiths Dock.
The guests chat and enjoy refreshments at a reception in a large function room at the shipyard.[Some sequences run too fast - production fault.]
General view of the bow of the "Athelfoam" showing it's name. Shots of the launch platform and a bottle of champagne, and of the gathered crowds including many children. Some Asian workers are seated right at the back of the crowd.
The officials walk up to the launch platform.
Shipyard workers knock out the wooden blocks holding the ship in place.
A woman in a hat and pearl necklace launches the ship with a champagne bottle, and the ship moves down the slipway into the River Tees.
The ship is towed away by tug boats. People watch from the slipway.
The film ends with the various officials and launch party guests descending the launch platform.
Context
The Athelfoam tanker shown was launched from Middlesbrough in 1951, and operated on the Sugar Line routes, a company created in 1951 by giants of the sugar business, Tate & Lyle and United Molasses (formed back in January 1926), of which the wealthy Athel Line was a subsidiary. Tate & Lyle Ltd held 50% of the shares, with United Molasses and the West Indies Sugar Company of Jamaica 25% each; and the objective was to build a fleet of bulk sugar carriers. The Athelfoam tanker,...
The Athelfoam tanker shown was launched from Middlesbrough in 1951, and operated on the Sugar Line routes, a company created in 1951 by giants of the sugar business, Tate & Lyle and United Molasses (formed back in January 1926), of which the wealthy Athel Line was a subsidiary. Tate & Lyle Ltd held 50% of the shares, with United Molasses and the West Indies Sugar Company of Jamaica 25% each; and the objective was to build a fleet of bulk sugar carriers. The Athelfoam tanker, constructed by Smith’s Dock Co. Ltd., was in service for 12 years transporting molasses, up until it was scrapped in 1963 in Kure.
Smith’s Dock Co. Ltd. opened their “family oriented” shipyard at South Bank in 1909 and formed a strong association with the whaling trade, amongst other clients, building whale-catchers for Christian Salvesen from 1912 until the 1950s. In the 50s and 60s sons still followed fathers onto the docks, and workers lived in communities close to the shipyard. During the 1950’s, there was an expansion of what could be produced on site at Smith’s Dock. This time frame allowed them to expand into the construction of tankers (such as the Athelfoam) bulk carriers, and other large vessels. Notably, in 1966, the company constructed and successfully launched the first semi-submersible drilling rig in the UK into the River Tees. Later down the line, the company created refinery maintenance equipment, namely because of the growth of oil related industries. No surprise that there was an emotional launch for the last ships, North/East/West/South Islands, and British Argyll, in May 1986, which were signaling the closing of the shipbuilding of Smith’s Dock. Smith's was the last large-scale shipbuilders on the Tees. Middlesbrough, the launching point of the Athelfoam, started off as a small farm, before rapidly expanding with an increasing number of inhabitants. By the mid 1870’s, Middlesbrough was producing one third of the entire nations iron output, and was dubbed “Ironopolis”, and later in the 1930’s, “The Steel River” referring to the Tees, and the transition of output from Iron to Steel. References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlesbrough |
