Launched at Bideford

As spectators watched a new inshore survey vessel for the Royal Navy, H.M.S. “Enterprise,” being launched from Messrs. M.W. Blackmore and Sons’ yard at Bideford on Tuesday morning, the keel was disclosed of an 80ft. Pilot vessel ready to take her building berth.

The pilot vessel is one of two being built for the Qatar Petroleum Co. For use in the Persian Gulf, one being due for launching in March and the other in June next. With the new inshore survey vessel being fitted out on Messrs. Blackmore’s new mechanical slipway at Bank End, and with various other vessels in course of construction, the firm have regular work ahead for some 130 employees.

The christening ceremony was performed by Mrs. Lowry, wife of Captain C. G. Lowry, R.N. (Retd.), of Westward Ho! who is at present serving as official hydrographer to the Government of Sarawak. Among many friends of the firm present were representatives of the hydrographic department of the Admiralty. Mrs. Lowry was presented with a bouquet by little four-year –old Anna Dark, grand-daughter of Mr. W. Blackmore, one of the directors of the firm.

Prior to the smashing of the bottle on the bows, there was a short service of dedication conducted by the Rector of Bideford (the Rev. T. Derwent Davies), which included the singing of the National Anthem and the hymn “O God, our held in ages past.”

H.M.S. Enterprise then slipped gracefully down to the Torridge waters to the cheers of the onlookers. She was later navigated through the widest arch of Bideford Bridge, en route for the slipway. Some 106ft in length, with a beam of 22ft. 10ins., she will probably be the largest vessel to be built by Messrs. Blackmore and Sons above the Bridge in future.

At an “after-the-launch” breakfast at Tanton’s Hotel, Mr. L. C. Pound (Warship Production Superintendent) proposed “The Builders of the Enterprise,” and congratulated them on an excellent launching. It was the fifth of similar size vessels launched for the Admiralty from that slip-way. She was the third of three inshore survey vessels, one built at Cowes already doing good service on the Goodwins, The Echo; a second, Egeria, was launched a fortnight ago in the Forth, and he believed the Enterprise would be every bit as good as the other two. Enterprise was the keynote of Messrs. Blackmore and Sons and he referred to their achievements in laminated wood production, in navigating the vessels through the arches of the Bridge, and in constructing a new mechanical slipway. It spoke well for a firm that they could built an 80ft. boat and deliver it under its own power to New Zealand as they had done in recent years.

Mr. Harold Blackmore (managing director), replying, said the Enterprise was built to carry out coastal and harbour hydrogaphic surveys for the Hydrographer of the Navy around the coast of the British Isles. The prime requirements of such a craft were ability to navigate in shoal water, to obtain depths and to detect the existence of wrecks or obstructions to the sea bed, coupled with the ability to fix the position of the craft with accuracy. The Enterprise was equipped with echo-sounders, asdics and modern radar. Hew crew of 19 would include three surveying officers and three surveying ratings. The hull was of wood, with glued laminated members, and her displacement was 160 tons.

Expressing the hope that they might build further Admiralty ships, Mr Blackmore paid special tribute to the work of Mr. Parks, their manager, and all the staff and employees for their co-operation; also to A. E. Hutchings and Co., Ltd., their electrical contractors.

Mr. W. Blackmore proposed “The Visitors,” which was responded to by Capt. D. B. H. Wildish (representing the Admiralty Engineer-in-Chief), Cmdr. R. S. Brooks (Superintendent of contract built ships for the Admiralty) and Lt. Cmdr. S. J. Hayles, commanding officer of the Enterprise.

Guests were able to watch the new vessel going through the Bideford Bridge at the close.

Altogether Messrs. M. W. Blackmore and Sons have built nearly 300 craft of all kinds during the past twelve years (including many for the Admiralty).

3 October 1958