John Readhead & Sons - Introduction
John Readhead & Sons - History
John Readhead and Sons - the People
Readhead's Ships
Readheads Ships, including photos
The Technical Offices & Head Office
The Engine Works & Drawing Office
Readhead's Timeline
Local Memories
The Steel Trades
The Outfitting Trades
Other trades
Royal Visits
More photo's
Newspaper & website publicity
The West Docks
The Readhead Family Tree
Readhead's Customers
Local Pubs, social scene, sports, Ashley House & Woodies sho
The Readhead Shipping Line
Readhead's Launch Photos
Photos
Photos 2
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION 2
UNDER CONSTRUCTION 3
UNDER CONSTRUCTION 4
UNDER CONSTRUCTION 5
Message Board
Guestbook
Mail Form
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Readhead's Ships, cont'd.
 | Marylyn |
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 | | Baskerville |
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 | ss Highcliffe
(Photo by kind permission of Ivor Rooke) |
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 | | Baron Inverclyde |
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 | | Khuzistan |
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 | Baluchistan |
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 | | Baron Berwick |
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 | Seistan
At 9.35pm on the evening of February 19th 1958 the 7,440 ton British cargo vessel "Seistan" blew up in a shattering explosion in the Bahrain Explosives anchorage at Sitra. The explosion killed 57 people consisting of ships crew, stevedores and a tug crew alongside.
The vessel had been carrying a mixed cargo which included cases of Toe Puff, a substance described in the "Dangerous Cargoes aboard Ships" listing as; 'Several layers of fabric impregnated with cellulose nitrate solvent, rosin and dye. Liable to spontaneous combustion. To be packed in hermetically sealed tins and packed in wooden cases and to be stowed away from inflammable cargo and not in the same hold as explosives.'
Two cases of this material had been stowed in No. 5 hold which also contained 156 tons of commercial explosive consisting of Geophex and gelatine together with cases of safety fuses and detonators.
On 17th February 1958 as the vessel was entering the Arabian Gulf, via the Mediteranean and Red Sea, smoke was seen issuing from a deck ventilator in the vicinity of No. 5 hold. The hold was immediately filled with steam to smother any flames. The steam smothering continued until 5.30 am on 18th February when the vessel anchored at Sitra where it was decided to discharge the explosives. Some 75 tons were subsequently discharged and steam smothering resumed.
During the day the vessel was moved closer to the port. That evening, February 19th 1958, a glow was observed in the vicinity of No. 5 hold. Minutes later, at 9.35pm, a vast explosion blew the vessel in two - leaving a huge pall of smoke rising into the night sky.
'The shock wave from the explosion was felt in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. In Awali, the cinema screen shook like jelly. The ship's stern was completely shattered, the after part of the main deck being wrapped over the superstructure as if it were the top of a sardine can'. [ From 'The Islander' newspaper, published by BAPCO]. What remained of the vessel caught fire and sank by the stern in 40 feet of water leaving the bow and foredeck above the surface.
The explosion killed Captain Chappel, almost the entire Indian crew in the after part of the vessel and five crew members of a tug alongside. There were 18 survivors. [ From articles written by Kevin Patience and published in the Gulf Daily News.]
Three victims of the Seistan disaster remain in the cemetery.
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 | | Atlas |
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 | | Baron Jedburgh |
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 | Baron Garioch |
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 | | Granwood |
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 | | Baron Belhaven |
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 | | Trewidden |
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 | | Kohistan |
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 | Photinia as a Cable Layer |
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 | | Trebartha |
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 | | Media |
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 | | Saxonia |
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 | | Shahristan |
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 | | Himmerland |
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Nigaristan
Built 03-1947
Call/Flag Sign:GZDF
BRT:7173
DWT:9850
LOA x B x D:475'8"x58'10"x25'5½" 2 dks.
Owner:Strick Line Ltd
Manager:F.C.Strick & Co. Ltd.
Flag:British
P.o.R.:London
Eng:T 3Cy.26½" 44" & 74"x48" & LP turbine with DB gearing & hydraulic coupling
Sold in 1967 to Ascendente Cia.Nav. SA Greece and r/n ASTROMAR. 1969 r/n ARIS and in 1971 delivered to Chinese breakers in Shanghai.
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