Swansea and Port Talbot Docks History

mv Hungsia with the tug Canning in the 1970s.

DEMODOCUS (2) was built in 1955 by Vickers Armstrong, Walker Naval Yard at Newcastle with a tonnage of 7968grt, a length of 491ft 6in, a beam of 62ft 5in and a service speed of 15 knots. The first of three ships designated Mark A5 she was built for the Ocean Steam Ship Co. In June 1970 she was transferred to Glen Line and renamed Glenroy but reverted to Blue Funnel and her former name in April of the following year. She was sold to Nan Yang Shipping Co. of Macao in April 1973 and renamed Hungsia. Operated by Dawn Maritime Corp. of Panama she was , in effect, Chinese owned. In 1979 she became the Hong Qi 137 under the Bureau of Maritime Transport Administration at Canton, China and was broken up in 1982.

Pictured above is the Trinity House tender ‘Triton’ lying high and dry on the east bank of the River Tawe in October 1950. Following a major refit in the Cambrian Dry Dock, the ‘Triton’ was being towed downstream by the tug ‘Queenforth’ when she swung across the river and grounded. She was later refloated with the assistance of three tugs and taken into the Prince of Wales Dock to have her funnel fitted (see picture in Roger Jones’ section under ‘Contributors).

 Built in 1940 by Cochrane & Sons of Selby, the ‘Triton’ was to have been a deep-sea trawler, but she was taken over by Trinity House during construction and commissioned as a light-ship relief and towing vessel. She was broken up in 1963.

Trinity House tender Triton, with new funnel fitted, leaving Swansea Docks in 1950.