Mersea Island Museum - Blackwater Ships


Ship:      SUEVIC
Arrived:23 July 1968
Departed:19 August 1968
Arrived 2:7 August 1969
Departed 2:13 September 1969
Career:SUEVIC was a large refrigerated cargoship and was laid up in the River Blackwater at least twice.
In 1969 she arrived in the River from Southampton. Nolan Loveridge was a Junior Engineer on the SUEVIC during her stay and says a nucleus of mates and engineers remained on board during the visit. The motor lifeboat was given a makeshift canopy, renamed "African Queen" and made 4 trips a day into the jetty (the causeway) at West Mersea. Sundays there was an extra trip to take people to lunch at the pub in Bradwell-on-Sea. From the Blackwater, the SUEVIC sailed for Rotterdam to be dry-docked and then loaded in London for New Zealand. See also www.shipsnostalgia.com.
SUEVIC was broken up Kaohsiung 6 Jun 1974

Read more about the SUEVIC in the Blackwater

Tonnage:13,587 gross
Built:1950
Type:Refrigerated ship
Owner:Shaw Savill & Albion
LR/IMO Number:5343108
Official No:183613
ID5343108

SUEVIC in the River Blackwater August/September 1969. Union Castle boats are thought to be RICHMOND CASTLE and ROCHESTER CASTLE. Date: c September 1969.

Above:  SUEVIC in the River Blackwater August/September 1969. Union Castle boats are thought to be RICHMOND CASTLE and ROCHESTER CASTLE. Date: c September 1969.
Source: Mersea Museum / Nolan Loveridge

Above:  "African Queen" slung up in falls - SUEVIC in the River Blackwater. Date: cAugust 1969.
Source: Mersea Museum / Nolan Loveridge

Above:  "African Queen" at the Causeway, West Mersea - the motor lifeboat from S.S. SUEVIC. Date: August 1969.
Source: Mersea Museum / Nolan Loveridge

Lifeboat from SUEVIC and the SCEPTRE at the Causeway, West Mersea Date: cAugust 1969.

Above:  Lifeboat from SUEVIC and the SCEPTRE at the Causeway, West Mersea Date: cAugust 1969.
Source: Mersea Museum / Nolan Loveridge


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