Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No Bad language or derogatory remarks Please or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.

British Steel and the like

Posted by Allan Campbell on 12/4/2025, 11:34 am

The sell offs should never have occurred. Why were they sold off.

I cannot remember the details but assume it was Governmental pig headedness and union intractability ending up in outsourcing things. By selling off various industries.

It used to anger me back in the 70/80s that Constructional fabrication companies would buy Russian rolled steel sections instead of British steel sections. Russian Steel sections were far cheaper than British Steel ones.

As far as I know the quality was nearly the same BUT.

Regarding Shipbuilding the Tyne was just too narrow to build big ships and nobody would invest the money to say build a big construction dock say at Jarrow slack or Tyne Dock.

What was never taken into account was the knock on effect of closures. For every shipyard worker there was probably another person employed in shops and companies to feed and clothe them.

If a company moved overseas was one job lost or 5 jobs or more!

Allan C.

We built Supertankers on the Tyne

Posted by Norman Dunn on 12/4/2025, 1:07 pm, in reply to "British Steel and the like "

The Tyne isnt too narrow to build big Ships Allan.
Tyne ship builders built the 'Mauretania' one of the worlds largest Ocean Liners at Wallsend in the early 1900s, then in later years we built the worlds largest 250,000 ton Super Tankers 'Esso Norhumbria' 'Hibernia' etc etc.

Re: We built Supertankers on the Tyne

Posted by Allan Campbell on 12/4/2025, 1:45 pm, in reply to "We built Supertankers on the Tyne "

But that was about the limit and how many of Swan’s slipways could build even that size.

Anyway building in a huge dock was easier and no doubt cheaper.

It appears to be all modular theses days.

So why did the Tyne decline?

Allan C.

Re: We built Supertankers on the Tyne

Posted by David Henley on 12/4/2025, 2:34 pm, in reply to "Re: We built Supertankers on the Tyne "

Shipyards we're never modernised or equipped as well as Japn or Korea UK yards were antiquatated.
In 70s/80s Japan, Korea etc built 750 thousand tonne ships.
Jeans from Gosforth hubby Leo was inspector former chief engineer who authorised companies to purchase, build and sail.
I worked on ships Norman mentioned in 70s before the Ark Royal in Swans. Work practices , unions also issues.

Re: We built Supertankers on the Tyne for David H

Posted by Mac Cummings on 12/4/2025, 2:50 pm, in reply to "Re: We built Supertankers on the Tyne "

My pa in law became a freelance Ships surveyor and Fellow of the British Institute of Naval Architects. He was a HL employee until he saw the light (otherise known as opportunity)>
For all the years I knew him (60's t0 80's) (except for a short spell in Glasgow) he worked in Norway/Japan/Irish Republic/France/Germany etc.....that tels us where ships were being built.

Re: British Steel and the like

Posted by Mac Cummings on 12/4/2025, 2:42 pm, in reply to "British Steel and the like "

Membership of the EU was the prime reason why UK assets were sold to the highest bidder or goods bought from the lowest priced source. It was the legal requirement. We are now "reaping that whirlwind".
As to the Tyne in particular I cannot help point my finger at the Unions and their contant strikes and pay demands. That played into the hands of countries able to build ships at a better price.
The Unions still rule with this "Commie" government.
Whilst some of this is as a result of Socialist ideals I cannot forgive the Tories for not taking the Brexit opportunities.

Re: British Steel and the like

Posted by Sheila on 12/4/2025, 3:33 pm, in reply to "Re: British Steel and the like "

It was the Unions that destroyed our car building industry. There was a joke doing the rounds years ago, supposed from a Union an official. Speaking to a crowed on strike, he was telling them of the latest offer from the management. A free new car every year. Six months paid holiday a year and only work on a Wednesday. A voice from the crowed asked “ What, every Wednesday “. I😁

Re: British Steel and the like ( for Allan)

Posted by Stan Wears on 12/4/2025, 5:06 pm, in reply to "Re: British Steel and the like "

When we began building oil platforms in the 70's we used a lot of BS4360 grade steel and when the shortage arrived we got it from Japan. Made exactly to grade containing Nobium, our steel rated quicker than Japan's. That is a mystery Allan but true!

Re: British Steel and the like ( for Allan)

Posted by Stan Wears on 12/4/2025, 5:31 pm, in reply to "Re: British Steel and the like ( for Allan) "

Rusted not rated!

⁸

Posted by Davy on 12/4/2025, 9:15 pm, in reply to "Re: British Steel and the like ( for Allan) "

Remember management showing Koreans around the newsheds in palmers it was like a conveyer belt starting off with a big a sheet of steel and ended going out the shed a big unit I was thinking that's the end of us.