Irish shipping Ltd P2

IRISH SHIPPING LTD.

PAGE 2

THE COMPANY HAD FOR MANY YEARS WANTED TO SET UP A CONTINENTAL SERVICE BETWEEN IRELAND AND FRANCE, AND ON THE 19 MAY 1968 THE LEOPARD A RO-RO FERRY STARTED A WEEKLY SERVICE BETWEEN ROSSLARE AND LE HAVRE.

M.V.LEOPARD

IT WAS RUN BY A CONSORTIUM OF 3 COMPANY'S:
I.S.L. -- IRELAND
G.S.N. -- BRITAIN
S.A.G.A. -- FRANCE
THIS SERVICE LASTED TILL THE END OF 1971.

AT THE START OF 1971 THE COMPANY'S FLEET
CONSISTED OF :
2 STEAMERS
4 CARGO SHIPS
1 BULK/ CAR CARRIER
2 SELF-DISCHARGING BULKERS
AND THEIR INTEREST IN THE CONTINENTAL SERVICE.

ON THE 26 JANUARY 1972 THE IRISH SPRUCE WENT
AGROUND ON THE QUITA SUENO BANK OFF NICARAGUA AND WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS.
IRISH SPRUCE

ALSO THAT YEAR THE IRISH POPLAR(2) WAS SOLD.

THE IRISH POPLAR(2)

IN 1973 THE COMPANY TOOK DELIVERY OF 4 NEW CARDIFF CLASS SHIPS:

THE IRISH MAPLE(2)

THE IRISH OAK(3)

THE IRISH LARCH(3)

THE IRISH PINE(3)

(THE IRISH PINE WAS SOLD IN 1984 AND RENAMED THE CHRISTINAKI WHICH SANK I00 MILES OFF THE CORK COAST IN A FORCE 10 IN 1994. THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS)

ALSO IN 1973 A NEW COMPANY WAS FORMED WITH FEARNLY AND EGER OF NORWAY-- LION FERRY A/B OF SWEDEN AND I.S.L. IT WAS CALLED IRISH CONTINENTAL LINE AND STARTED A NEW SERVICE BETWEEN ROSSLARE AND LE
HAVRE/CHERBOURG IN JUNE 1973 WITH THE ST.PATRICK.

FIRST LADY OFFICER IN IRISH SHIPPING 1974
MS. MARILYN STOCKWELL

REPORT FROM COMPANY MAGAZINE. "THE SIGNAL "
History is being made on the present voyage of the "Irish Maple" which carries, for the first time ever.
a lady radio officer in the person of Miss Marilyn Stockwell from Tuam, Co. Galway, Ms. Stockwell". daughter of the Galway All-Ireland football star of the 1950's. Frank Stockwell.
Marilyn has been a keen radio enthusiast from her early school days. Even before she
went to Cork to study. 'Marilyn had her own amateur radio transmitter and operated under the call sign EI'ONF./CM
Having completed her shore training Marilyn will spend the next five months as junior Radio Officer on board the "Irish Maple" and when she has completed this period of sea service she will be qualified to take up duties as a ships radio officer.
Prior to joining the "Irish Maple" at Antwerp, Marilyn was guest of honour at a press reception in Dublin and
she was also interviewed on radio regarding her choice of career. At the Dublin reception. Mr. B. W. Lynch,
Personnel manager, Irish Shipping Limited, said that the Company were pleased to have been asked by
Marconi International Marine Company to accept Marilyn as a trainee radio officer. He expressed the Com-
pany's good wishes to Marilyn on her first voyage and added that Irish Shipping would be pleased to have her as radio officer on one of the Company's vessels when she had completed her qualifying term of sea service. Also
present at the reception was Mrs F. Stockwell, Marilyn's mother; Mr Jack O'Brien. Manager, Marconi Interna-
tional Marine. Dublin, and Marconi and Irish Shipping officials.

Mr. O'Brien. on behalf of Marconi International Marine, said his Company was delighted at the new departure
and expressed the hope that many more young ladies would follow the excellent example of Marilyn Stockwell
by embarking on the interesting and rewarding career of Marine Radio Officer.

Marilyn will not lack female company on board the "Irish 'Maple" during the vessel's present round-the-
world trip as the Chief Officer's wife. Mrs. P. Tyrrell and her two children as well as Mrs. P. Hughes, wife of the
Second Officer and Mrs. T. Dugaan. wife of the Electrical Engineer, will also be on the vessel.

IN 1977 THEY ACQUIRED 100% OF THE COMPANY MAKING IT ENTIRELY IRISH OWNED.
A SECOND FERRY THE ST.KILLIAN (EX.STENA SCANDINAVICA) WAS ACQUIRED DURING 1978 ALLOWING THE COMPANY TO MAKE 7 ROUND TRIPS TO FRANCE WEEKLY.
ST.KILLIAN

Position of I.S.L. Deep sea fleet at Christmas 1977 (Phil Smyth)

2 NEW BULK CARRIERS WERE DELIVERED FROM JAPAN IN
1976 AND 1977:

THE IRISH ROWAN(2

THE IRISH CEDAR(4)

IN 1981 THE COMPANY TOOK OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL SAIL TRAINING VESSEL ASGARD 2.

ALSO IN 1981 THE COMPANY ORDERED FROM VEROLME DOCKYARD CORK A NEW PANAMAX BULK CARRIER THE IRISH SPRUCE(2) OF 72,000 TONS FOR DELIVERY IN 1983.

THE IRISH SPRUCE(2)

BUT THE CHARTER RATES OF THE HIRED SHIPS FROM
HONG KONG OWNERS PROVED TOO MUCH TO COPE WITH AND THE COMPANY WENT INTO LIQUIDATION IN NOVEMBER 1984. ALL ASSETS WERE DISPOSED OFF AND A SMALL BUT GREAT SHIPPING COMPANY WAS GONE.

"ALL THAT COULD BE HEARD WAS THE ECHO OF THE PRAISE AND PROMISES OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES AND POLITICIANS FROM OVER THE YEARS, FALLING ON THE SEAS OF THE WORLD NOW DEVOID OF IRISH FLAGGED SHIPS.
TO ALL IRISH SEAMEN WHO HAVE SERVED ON SHIPS ACROSS THE OCEANS OF THE WORLD".
©AIDEN MC CABE 2001

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND FURTHER REFERENCE TO:

THE LONG WATCH
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Ireland declared neutrality and thus became isolated as never before. But it was imperative to continue essential trading overseas. A lifeline had to be formed and so the nucleus of a merchant marine was established.
For the Following Five years a tiny fleet of vessels ventured the seas under the Tricolour, the badge of neutrality clearly emblazoned on their hulls. This is the story of that Fleet, diminutive in size but large in heroism. It is the story also of the exceptional courage of the mariners themselves, many of whom perished as victims of a war in which they were non—participants.
The author's narrative has been enriched by patient research through the official papers of both Britain and Germany and by interviews with survivors. The stark logbook entries from German submarines, British naval vessels and the Irish ships themselves provide a dramatic counterpoint to contemporary accounts of the period. A neutral flag was no guarantee of safety from attack.
The Long Watch, is a dramatic and authentic book that documents the remarkable achievements and grievous losses of the Irish mercantile marine during the Second World War. Complete with a new introduction epilogue and many new photographs.
FRANK FORDE (THE LONG WATCH)
ISBN 1-902602-42-0

H.C.SPONG (IRISH SHIPPING LTD.)
ISBN 0-905617-20-7