Bellubera

At Circular Quay, 1970, as a diesel-electric vessel, late in her career
History
Name	Bellubera
Operator	Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company
Port of registry	Sydney
Route	Manly
Builder	Mort's Dock
Launched	26 April 1910
Out of service	29 November 1973
Identification	IMO number:5040043
Fate	Scuttled 1 August 1980
General characteristics
Tonnage	499 tons (1936: 505 tons)
Length	63 metres
Beam	9.75 metres
Decks	2

Belluberawas a ferry operated by thePort Jackson & Manly Steamship Companyon theManly service.Launched in 1910, she was the third of six "Binngarra-type "vessels. Upon her 1936 conversion from steam power, she became the first diesel-electric vessel in Australia. She was decommissioned in 1973, and scuttled at sea in 1980.

Due to many misfortunes in her 63-year service life, she was nicknamed theHoodoo Ship.Two of her masters died at the wheel, two crew members died when she was gutted by fire in 1936, and the owner of a motor launch was killed when theBelluberaran it down and sank her.

The name "bellubera" is thought to be an Australian Aboriginal word meaning "pretty lady" or "beautiful woman".

Background

Kuring-gai(1901) was the forerunner to the "Bingarra-type" vessels includingBellubera.Note the wheel houses located midships compared toBellubera's at the ends of the sun deck.

The Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company's fleet transitioned comparatively late to screw propelled vessels and the fleet comprised mostly paddle steamers until the early years of the twentieth century. The difficulty of turning in the narrow bays of Sydney Harbour - particularly in the busy Circular Quay terminus inSydney Cove- required the use of double-ended vessels. However, a double-ended screw configuration was particularly difficult for the fine bows that Manly ferries required for both speed and heavy seas. Further, a propeller at the leading forward end of a vessel reduced speed considerably. In the prosperous early twentieth century, this speed drawback was overcome by increasing engine size and power.

The first screw ferries on the Manly run were two innovativeWalter Reeks–designed vessels; theSS Manly(1896), andSS Kuring-gai(1901), which were to become the fore-runners of the "Binngarra-class" ferries. They both had highforecastlesat either to help her run through the deep-sea conditions across theSydney Heads.The steel-hulledKuring-gaiwas larger and she further refined the basic design to be similar to the subsequent and larger "Binngarra-class" vessels.ManlyandKuring-gaihad both, however, followed paddle steamer design with their bridges around the midships funnels. Whereas the "Binngarra-class" vessels would have their wheelhouses at either end of their promenade decks.

Design and construction

The "Binngarra-class "ferries,Binngarra(1905),Burra-Bra(1908),Bellubera(1910),Balgowlah(1912),Barrenjoey(1913), andBaragoola(1922), were designed byMort's Dock and Engineering,initially under the guidance of former chief draughtsman Andrew Christie. The first five were built at Mort'sWoolwich yardandBaragoolawas built at theBalmainyard. They were among the largest ships built in Australian yards at the time and, on the admission of Mort's executives, were built by the dock more for prestige than profit. Build costs were higher in Australia than in the United Kingdom, but this was offset by the cost of sailing them out to Australia.

Launched on 6 April 1910 by Mrs J. Fyfe,Belluberawas the third of six Binngarra-type vessels. She was a near identical sister toBarrenjoey(laterNorth Head) andBalgowlah(1912), and similar to the slightly smallerBinngarra(1905),Burra Bra(1908) andBaragoola(1922). She was 499 tons and 64.0 m long. As built, she was powered bytriple expansion steam engineproviding 123 hp and was able to make up to 15 knots.

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  Launch day, 26 April 1910
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  AtManly Wharfin as-built condition, 1910s

Service history and configuration changes

The exorbitant cost and difficulty in replacing the large expensive steel hulledBinngarra-type vessels saw theBellubera,along with theBalgowlah,Barrenjoey,andBaragoolaretained and significantly modified. In the 1920s, all four had officers' cabins attached to their wheelhouses. Beginning withBarrenjoeyin 1930, and then in 1931-32Balgowlah,Baragoola,andBelluberaover 1931–32, had their open upper passenger decks enclosed.

In 1936 with her boilers nearing the end of their service life,Bellubera'soriginalsteam engineswere replaced by four five-cylinderHarland & Wolffdiesel engines(1,800 bhp) which drove twoBritish Thompson-Houstondiesel engineers, which could push her to 16 knots. Her single funnel was replaced by two, the second funnel being a dummy mounted for appearance. She became the first diesel-electric powered vessel in Australia.The new engines increased her service speed to 18 knots, but increased vibrations throughout the vessel making her less popular with passengers.

In 1948,Bellubera,along withBalgowlah,Baragoola,was fitted with the larger wheelhouse/cabin structures that they would sport until the rest of their ferry careers. In 1954, she was taken to theState Dockyardwhere she was partially replated, repainted, and re-engined with three seven-cylinder British Thompson-Houston diesel engines that drove 2English Electricelectric engines.

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  With extended wheelhouses and original open upper decks, 1930s
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  Removal of boiler during conversion from steam to diesel-electric propulsion, 1935/36
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  Conversion to diesel-electric, 1936
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  Rebuild of superstructure during conversion to diesel-electric propulsion
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  Rebuild of superstructure during conversion to diesel-electric propulsion
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  Diesel generators being installed during conversion to diesel-electric, 1936
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  Post diesel-electric conversion and prior to fire, 1936
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  RoundingBennelong Pointand approachingCircular Quay,1966

Misadventures

Due to many misfortunes, she was nicknamed theHoodoo Ship.She collided with at least four vessels, sinking two of them, seven people died through direct association with the ferry and at least seven people fell or jumped off the ferry.

On 2 April 1914, she collided with thesteamtugKateoffDobroyd Head,sinkingKatein seconds and capsizing thelighterKatewas towing;BelluberarescuedKate′s four-man crew.In 1933,Belluberacollided with the smaller ferry,Kaikainear Circular Quay. Slight damage was done to the sponson and bulwarks ofKaikaiand steelBelluberawas slightly dented. There were no injuries.

On 16 November 1936, fire broke out aboardBelluberawhile she was moored at theKurraba Pointdepot while workmen were repairing a steel plate on the roof of the upper deck. A welder's oxy-acetylene torch set alight the leather seats in the saloon and within five minutes the entire ship was ablaze. Four men were trapped below decks, with one dying that night in hospital and a second a few days later. Another suffered leg burns and spent 21 months in hospital.The superstructure was gutted and the hull significantly damaged.Belluberawas rebuilt at theCockatoo Island Dockyardand re-entered service in October 1937.

In 1941,Belluberacollided with the 30-foot launch,Sydbridge,cutting the boat in half and sinking it with its owner whose body was found nine days later.On 6 February 1946, her master, Captain Walter Dohrn, collapsed and died at the wheel as the vessel was making its way acrossthe Headstowards Manly. On 5 September of that year, a young women fell overboard. In 1946, a passenger fell overboard and drowned, and in the same year,Belluberacollided with a naval launch killing the helmsman.In October 1960,Belluberacollided with the 7,000-ton Norwegian freighterTaurusbut received only minor damage continuing her run to Circular Quay. Her master, Captain Albert Villiers, died at the wheel in February 1961 while berthing her at the Kurraba Point depot. Five years laterBelluberacollided with the dredge WD66.

On 28 February 1970, en route from Manly,Belluberacollided with the Australian Navy Ship,HMAS Parramattaas it was backing out of the naval depot nearChowder Bay.She inflicted a 2 m x 3 m hole in the warship, whilst only suffering minor damage herself. Navy personnel covered theParramatta'sdamage with a tarpaulin to hide it from press photographers, whileBelluberaresumed her journey.On 23 July 1973, heavy seas damaged doors and seats.

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  Well alight,Kurraba Pointbase 1936. Two crew died.
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  After the fire. People watch from Kurraba Road above
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  At Circular Quay 1938, rebuilt after the 1936 fire

Retirement and demise

Belluberawas taken out of service on 29 November 1973.Her service life of sixty-three years was a record for a Manly ferry, that would be beaten by theNorth Head,formerlyBarrenjoey(1913-1985).At this time, the Manly services had been taken over byBrambles Limitedand the service struggled and ships were in poor condition.She was sold in 1975 to a company named Trouble Shooter, so certain equipment could be stripped and installed into the ex-Royal Australian NavyTon-class minesweeperHMASGull.Bellubera′s English Electric diesels were removed and returned to thePublic Transport Commissionto support theBaragoolaandNorth Headin service.Belluberawas towed to sea by tugBetts Bayandscuttledoff Long Reef on 1 August 1980 and today rests on her side in two pieces in 45 metres (148 feet) of water.

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  Laid up with the largerSouth Steyne,Balmain1970s
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  Being towed out of Sydney Harbour for scuttling at sea, August 1980

See also

• List of Sydney Harbour ferries
• Timeline of Sydney Harbour ferries