18 May 2012
Last week
Shoreham Port welcomed a magnificent three masted 19th Century
barque, known as the Kaskelot to the Port. The Kaskelot is the flagship of a
fleet of Square Sail Ships, built by J. Ring Anderson in 1948, for the Royal
Greenland Trading Company, supplying the remote East Greenland coastal
settlements. Subsequently she acted as a fisheries support vessel in the Faroe
Islands.
The Port’s engineering team docked the
barque to allow the owner to replace a significant length of the sacrificial
“worm shoe” along the keel that was damaged following a recent grounding off
the French coast. They have also taken
the opportunity to carry out a detailed inspection of the hull. The Kaskelot has
undergone its statutory inspection by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and
the crew have used the down-time to touch up some of the caulking, inspect the propeller,
replace anodes, range the anchor chains and apply anti-fouling paint.
The Kaskelot
has been capturing the imagination of many passers-by. Those that use the
popular route across the lock gates pass under the shadow of the bowsprit and the
dramatic masts which conjure up thoughts of pirates and long forgotten expeditions!
The Kaskelot has featured in a number of major films and television productions
including Amazing Grace, Cutthroat Island, David Copperfield, Last Place on
Earth, Longitude, A Respectable Trade, Return to Treasure Island, Revolution, Shackleton,
Swept from the Sea and The Three Musketeers.
Keith Wadey,
Assistant Port Engineer said “I am delighted the Kaskelot has returned to
Shoreham again. This is the tenth time the Kaskelot has used the Port’s dry
dock facilities and we are well equipped to dock vessels of this size”. The
Kaskelot is one of the largest remaining wooden ships in commission.
Dave Redhead, General Manager of Square Sail said “We are
really pleased to be using Shoreham Port’s dry dock again. It is a great
facility, especially since the recent refurbishment of the dock. Keith Wadey
and his engineering staff have been exceptionally helpful and we hope to return
to Shoreham Port next year.”
Shoreham
Port has a number of bookings over the coming months, but they aim to remain as
flexible as possible, so if you are interested in using the dry dock facility
at Shoreham Port or have any questions then please contact one of the team on
01273 598100. Alternatively for further information on Shoreham Port’s dry dock
please visit the Port’s dry dock
webpage.
