ALERT (IV) 1960

[shipstamps]

Built under yard No 801 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd., Glasgow for H.M. Postmaster-General.
07 November 1960 launched under the name ALERT, Mrs. Bevins, wife of the then Postmaster General, performed the launching ceremony.
Tonnage 6.143 gross, 2.135 net, 4.765 dwt., dim. 127.13 x 16.64 x 10.14, draught 7.1m., length bpp. 114.5m.
Powered by four 8-cyl. Mirrlees type KSSMB diesel engines each 1.860 bhp., direct coupled to D.C. generators, two shafts each 2.200 shp., speed 14 knots.
A Voith-Schneider bow-propeller fitted in the bow to give additional control when cable operations are in progress.
She was strengthened for navigation in ice.
Three cable tanks were arranged before of the machinery space, the tanks did have a diameter of 30, 42 and 47 feet.
Accommodation for a large crew.
April 1961 completed. Homeport Dalmuir.

She was primarily designed to maintain the transatlantic cable in the North Atlantic, working up to depths measuring 3½ miles.
25 June 1961 she sailed from Greenwich for her maiden voyage to lay the St Lawrence section of the CANTAT 1 cable between Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Grosses Roches, the work commenced on 16 July 1961.
The following cables were laid by the ALERT.
1962 Lancaster to Colwyn Bay (UK). 1962 SCOTICECAN Scotland to Iceland section
1963 UK to Denmark. UK to the Netherlands. TAT 3 USA to the UK.
1966 US Virgin Isl. to Venezuela.
1968 UK to the Netherlands.
1969 UK to Portugal. Greece to Italy.
1970 UK to Spain.
1971 UK to Germany. Scotland to the Shetland Islands.
1972 UK to the Netherlands. UK to Belgium. UK to Guernsey. USA to the Bahamas.
1973 CANTAT 2 UK shore ends. UK to Denmark.
1975 UK to the Netherlands. Italy to Israel.
1981 TAT 7 surveyed route.
1986 UK to Belgium (First commercial fibre optic cable)
1989 UK to France.


1969 Renamed in C.S. ALERT.
1981 Transferred to British Telecom International.
1995 Sold to Ruby Enterprise Inc. St. Vincent and renamed AL.
27 October 1995 arrived at Alang for breaking up.

On Ascension Island 1988 18p sg 475

Source: Register of Merchant Ships completed in 1961. Merchant Ships world built Vol X . http://www.sigtel.com/tel_hist_alert.html http://www.atlantic-cable.com/stamps/Ca ... indexa.htm

[aukepalmhof]

From Mr. Peter Crichton I received an e-mail in which he says that the LONG LINES is not the ship on the stamp, it is the British cable ship ALERT, by comparing the stamp with a photo he is right, she can not be the LONG LINES.
The stamp shows us a vessel with one yellow painted funnel, while the LONG LINES has two white painted smokestacks, also other details are not the same as seen on the stamp, while the details are the same of the ALERT after her refit, see photo.