A film made by I. Dalton and P. Jackson, students of Bede College in Durham, showing the construction and launching of the cargo ship Nicholas I. Livanos from the Pallion Yard (No. 882) of Doxford & Sunderland Shipbuilding on the River Wear, Sunderland, on 16 November 1967. The film begins with a panoramic view of shipyards and a steam tug boat on the river Wear as seen from Austin Pickersgill Ltd. shipyards. The tug 'Grangetown' sails up the Wear, and other tugboats seem to be...

A film made by I. Dalton and P. Jackson, students of Bede College in Durham, showing the construction and launching of the cargo ship Nicholas I. Livanos from the Pallion Yard (No. 882) of Doxford & Sunderland Shipbuilding on the River Wear, Sunderland, on 16 November 1967. The film begins with a panoramic view of shipyards and a steam tug boat on the river Wear as seen from Austin Pickersgill Ltd. shipyards. The tug 'Grangetown' sails up the Wear, and other tugboats seem to be preparing to tow a ship. The cargo ship Lutetian (completed on October 1967) is at Bartram & Sons shipyard. Various river traffic passes, one ship guided downriver by pilot boats. Sunderland is viewed through the ornate ironwork of a bridge. A diesel train passes. General views follow of the Wear looking out to sea. The keel of a ship is laid out in a building berth at the Pallion Yard. Industrial train tracks lead to the yard. Construction work is in progress at the yard. Workers guide huge steel plates being winched into place and other ship parts arrive by rail. Inside the large fabrication sheds, men are cutting and welding steel parts. [dark footage] Parts are laid out on the floor of the shed. Sparks fly from the cutting machines and the welders' torches. A gantry along the roof moves ship parts from fabrication shed to building berth. Parts are welded into place at the construction site. General view of a misty day on the Wear where the ship 'N.G. Livanos (Monrovia)' (launched 6 September 1967) is docked at a quayside. Back then to the riveters at the building berth, working on the Nicholas I. Livanos. The ship stands proudly in the berth, getting closer to completion. Welding takes place on the ship. Workers finish a shift and head off. The N.G. Livanos is still docked at the quayside. Work continues in the vast building berth. Overhead view of a keel laid out at one of the Doxford & Sunderland Shipbuilding yards. The Nicholas I. Livanos nears completion. The blocks and wedges are still under the keel of the ship prior to launch. View towards the river from the ship's deck. The Tyne tug 'Prestwick' arrives for the launch. The flag flies from the jackstaff at the bow of the ship. [Dark footage] Workers are knocking out the wedges and blocks. Brief view towards the launch platform against the hull of the ship. The camera is now placed on the deck of the ship as it slides down the slipway at the launch, moving dramatically through the structure of scaffolding around the building berth. Back at the yard, workers are watching the ship as it turns on the river. The sun sets on the slipway, all quiet now. Various shots picture the ship from the yard, debris from the launch floating in the water. The tug 'Prestwick' tows the ship downstream, the Wearmouth rail bridge in the background. Credit: Camera Work:  I Dalton, P. Jackson End Title: Finis