An amateur film produced by Edwin Davison showing the launching of several ships from the Wallsend yard of Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, where the filmmaker worked as a Manager in the Cost Department, and also views of both the yard itself and fellow employees working in an office. The film also captures views of the surrounding landscape including terraced streets, the Tyne Ferry and the river itself. The first launching to be filmed is the cargo ship Port New Plymouth on the...

An amateur film produced by Edwin Davison showing the launching of several ships from the Wallsend yard of Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, where the filmmaker worked as a Manager in the Cost Department, and also views of both the yard itself and fellow employees working in an office. The film also captures views of the surrounding landscape including terraced streets, the Tyne Ferry and the river itself. The first launching to be filmed is the cargo ship Port New Plymouth on the 29th March, 1960 followed by the floating dock Apapa Dock being taken out of the Tyne by tugboats in April 1961. Next to be launched is the tanker Solen on the 30th June, 1961 and finally the tanker Ottawa on the 10th June, 1964. The entrance to the Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd shipyard at Wallsend. Inside on its slipway, the cargo ship Port New Plymouth ready to be launched with a decorative platform build around the bow. The ship is launched slipping into the Tyne watched by spectators and workers. Tynemouth beach with the priory in the near distance and people walking on the sand. Back at Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd shipyard the Apapa Dock built for the Nigerian Port Authority is being manoeuvred by tugboats along the Tyne. On its slipway, the tanker Solen awaiting launch, again a crowd watches as the ship slips into the water, the chains snapping into position preventing it from crashing into the far shore. Cranes and scaffolding surrounding several ships under construction at the yard changes to an officer where men and women work at their desks. Back outside large cranes work moving large and heavy objects around the yard while on their slipways several ships are beginning to take shape. From the deck of one of those vessels nearly completed a panoramic view of the yard, the Tyne as well as the surrounding houses and the local Ships Inn. Two men climb a ladder to an upper part of the deck, the camera looking down a hole into the vessel. Rows of terraced houses as well as Simpson’s Hotel as seen from bow of the ship. On the river below the Tyne Ferry crosses from South to North Shields. Onboard a lifeboat has been installed, but the deck is full of equipment and scaffolding. On its slipway, the tanker Ottawa nearing competition for launching. A large crowd gathers around its base as it slips into the water, dust blowing up into the air from the large drag chains. The film ends with people beginning to leave.