On 2 July 1976 Pola Rika of Limassol sailed for the last time from Liverpool, after nearly 23 years of operating from the port. For many in Lamport & Holt Line it was a sad occasion, for Pola Rika was Raphael, under the name given to her by her new owners.

Raphael was built in 1953 for Lamport & Holt Line by Bartram & Sons Ltd at their South Dockyard, Sunderland. She sailed from Liverpool to Brazil and the River Plate on her maiden voyage in August 1953, after joining the Lamport fleet which included her sister ships, Romney and Raeburn.

Fast and efficient Raphael completed 81 voyages, most of them on the South America run for which she was built. She was 10,050 tons, with a closed shelterdeck, and 473 feet long. When she was launched, she was the fastest vessel built by Bartram & Sons Ltd, reaching a speed of 17.5 knots on her trials, although her service speed was calculated at 15 knots. Her engine was the highest-powered Doxford type of 7500 bhp, made by the North Eastern Marine Engineering Co Ltd. She had three cargo hatches forward and two aft, with four deep tanks in No 4 hatch for carrying vegetable oils and other hulk liquids. Her masts and funnel were specially designed to allow her to clear the Manchester Ship Canal bridges, her derricks were of 7-10 tons, together with one 50-ton and one 70-ton derrick. She also had passenger accommodation for six.

Raphael’s first Master was Captain F A Griffiths (who remained in command until his retirement many years later), and her bosun for the first eight years was F G Page, who later became the Company’s Shore Bosun in Liverpool, and now, as Mr Page, REM, is Stores Supervisor in Lightbody Street with BSSM. Raphael had an uneventful life—which is generally what Owners and crew want of a ship. She sailed her run quietly and efficiently.

New waters new Owners

Raphael is now exploring new waters with new Owners. She set off towards Dunkirk, in ballast, on charter from her new Owners, Allegro Marine Co Ltd of Limassol, on a trip which will eventually take her to the Cameroons.

Raphael is the second vessel of this name to sail with the Lamport colours. The first Raphael was built by E & W Henderson & Co at Partick, Lanark, in 1898, and was of the same class as Rossetti and Raeburn of that period. She was operated by the Liverpool-Brazil-River Plate Steam Navigation Company, a fully-owned subsidiary of Lamport & Holt and her life was more eventful than that of her namesake. She was 2898 tons, and 380 ft in length with beam of 50.2 feet and a service speed of 11 knots. Like the second Raphael she spent her life trading to South America.

Rocky passage

Whilst en route between Bordeaux ant New Orleans in ballast in December 1914 she was involved in the salvage of City of Lincoln for which her crew were awarded salvage money. In September 1907, she herself had been salvaged after striking a submerged rock off Chile. The Master beached the vessel to prevent her sinking but the whole of her after-deck was submerged. Salvage was agreed with Lloyds and after jettisoning some of her cargo she was refloated a month later. Her starboard bilge had been damaged and her engines were flooded. She was towed to Punt Arenas, and continued her voyage to Le Havre, Swansea, and Liverpool a month later. Ultimately, in 1930, she was sold to a yard in Morecambe for breaking up.

The Raphaels were successful ships for their Owner, and popular with their crews, and although perhaps not emulating the aesthetic standards of the painter whose name they bore, their appearance testified to their workmanlike qualities.

From: Gangway Number 9 Autumn 1976