This was one of Cayzer’s less thought out ventures. I believe the technical department thought this was a good idea and that they would get an opportunity in the North Sea repair business.
Hartland Point was an ex submarine depot and repair ship, a Fort class WW2 vessel.
The joint venture was a disaster, the shipyard “maties” had a “work to rule” mindset and the work had to come to the vessel - they put a Manitowoc crane on the back and a helipad forward and that was about it.
They had to get steam men from the fleet to run her. She worked, as I recall, in the likes of the Firth of Forth but the venture only lasted a year or two, in the late seventies she was laid up in Birkenhead.
Official Number
Ship Builder
Engine Builder
Engine Type
363617
Burrard
Vancouver
Steam 3 Cyl
HP
Screws
1
Life Before Cayzer Irvine Shipping
HMS Hartland Point
Built for Landing Craft Maintenance
1956: Commenced conversion to Escort Maintenance ship;