The Southern Harvester and Southern Venturer whaling ships built at Haverton Hill shipyard by North Eastern Marine and owned by Chris Salveson & Co.Ltd. (We are aware that these vessels were wrongly named from the outset, thanks to those who brought this to our attention, but to maintain consistency with the comments received on the subject we have kept the original headings) 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
My Grandfather sailed with both of these ships from South Shields. He Was killed in the shipyard there in 1963, his name was Richard BOYACK, known to his friends as Dick or Dicker. He died when I was young so not many tall stories for me. His drinking place was the North Eastern bar in South Sields where they all met to tell their stories and tell of work on board – no telephones then, late 40s/50s. If anyone has any old photos I would be grateful.
Hi Yvonne Richard, Boyack was my grandad. What was your Mothers name? Regards Rob
Christen Salvesen was of Norwegian origin and not Danish. Would like to hear from all of you regarding whaling as I collect postal history of the pelagic whaling industry around this time.
Clifford do you have any interesting information about the Southern Venturer 16th December 1952 to May 9th 1953 season?
Ray Buck: Thank you. Although it was hard to find anything on S/S Askholm or S/S Askot, I have yet to confirm that with my grandfather’s brother. When I google the ships name there is only a boat that sunk in 1944 that appears. I am most certain that there was only one JRH on the seas from Norway, this could just be him! He was born in 1927 and was around 30 when he was out with Southern Venturer and I think he only had that one trip out with that boat. But he has always been a shipsman, fisher and captain. He later, in 1959, he got hitched to my grandma and they settled in Norway with kids. Paul Dee: I am Norwegian, born and raised. My name is only a result of immigration and an inventive dad. I have already been to the museum a couple of times and contacted them to see if we had something of interest for them after my grandfathers passing. Although I haven’t been at the museum since I was little, so it might be good to come back with a couple of grown up eyes! Thank you for the tip/takk for tipset!
Joined Christian Salvesen as an Engineer Cadet, and my first trip to sea (aged 19) was on the Southern Harvester for it’s last Whaling Season 61/62. I am also from Stockton. I am writing a book about my life at sea, and if anyone would be kind enough to send a picture of the Southern Harvester (with permission to reprint), I would be very grateful. If you contact the site’s admin I am sure they would be kind enough to pass on my e-mail address. I have hundreds of slides of the actual whaling operations, but they are probably too gruesome to print!
Hi Ian, my father, Jimmy ‘Seamus’ Printer, was an engineer on the Southern Harvester at that time – did you know him ?
I worked as a engine room boy on this trip, I worked the 8-12 watch both ways, so we must have crossed our paths.
Hi Ian, We were in Glasgow at the start of our cadetship. Please contact me as I am still in contact with a couple of our fellow engineer cadets. Danny. ( martin danielson)
Hi – would you perhaps know my father, Jimmy Printer ? He was an engineer on the Southern Harvester around 1960-62.
Thanks.
Michael Printer.
Hello Michael, I wad engine room boy on the Harvester on this trip. Did he do the full trip on the Harvester or on the catchers.where was Jim from, the only one i can remember was Thompson who was 2nd and a Shields engineer his name was Geordie Reay.
There was 4 engineers in total one on each watch, I knew them all so if you can give me more info, I’ll try to dig and remember.
My name : Malcolm MacLean
Does anyone remember my father who was on both ships. He was a boiler maker called Bob Harrison, his nick name was Mick.
Thanks for your reply.
My dad was from Glasgow and was known either as Jimmy or sometimes Seamus.
As far as I know he was on the Southern Harvester. I know he wintered on South Georgia on at least one trip. I don’t know much else about his days with Salvesen.
Any insights would be great. Thanks.
Hello Michael, I am sorry I didn’t know your father because I sailed with Clan Line. I am trying to make contact with Ian Dobson who was employed by Christian Salvesen from 1960 . We were both engineer cadets starting out together on our careers. Once we had finished at college we sailed our different routes and never met again . Does anyone out there know of Ian Dobson he will in is late 70’s?
Dominique Hardy. Your name is not Norwegian but your flag is. You might be interested in the whaling museum in Sandefjord (Hvalfangstmuseet) – they have extensive archives about whaling including details of crews. A friend of mine, Peder Melsom in Larvik, was able to turn over all the archives of the whaling company Melsom & Melsom to the museum. He also was able to turn over masses of gear that was vital for the restoration of the Smith’s Dock ‘s built Southern Actor (now part of the whaling museum) Lykke til!
There was a John Rudolf Hardy Norwegian signed on the S.S. “Askholm” as 3rd Engineer in Oslo Norway 4th may 1955 his age is not given but had 5 years services, the ship had sailed from London arrived in Buffalo N.Y. 13th June 1955. He paid off in Montreal before arriving from Buffallo. There was a John Rudolf Hardy Norwegian signed on the S.S “Askot” as 2nd Officer in Montreal 9th June 1955, the ship arrived in Detroit 2nd June 1956.
Hi, Ray buck, are you still in here?
My Grandfather was 2nd mate on Souther Venturer from fall 1958 to spring 1959, his name was John Rudolf Hardy. If someone has any information or knowledge about him I would like to know. I never got to hear his stories.
I sailed on the SS Venturer between 1960-61 and would like to hear from anyone who was on the ship at the same time. I worked on the laundry with Billy Scott.
My dad, Bill Regan, a Leither from West Bowling Green Street, served on the Southern Harvester in the late forties early fifties. On the tenth Anniversary of his death I would like other whalers to know that my dad loved his time on the ship and would relate his experiences to his children and grandchildren. We still have a print of the Southern Harvester in the family and it brings back fond memories of him.
hi joan my father also on the harvester 56-57 jock mckay i have photos of the royal vist i think in 57 was your father on that ship then?
willie.
Can anyone remember Dougald Conner who served on the Harvester in the 60s – any information would be appreciated, thanks.
Can anyone remember Dougald Conner who served on the Harvester in the 60s – any information would be appreciated, thanks.
I knew a man called Bill Scott on the Southern Harvester in 1949 – 1950, he was a Mess Man.
He also had two brothers aboard, I think one was called Jackie. I was a Mess Boy and went by the nickname of Titch because of my size. If we are talking about the same man, I’m sure he would remember me.
Salvesen is spelt with an ‘E’ and not an ‘o’ as the name is Danish.
I worked the whole of my professional life for Christian Salvesen but that was after they had finished hunting the whale. In the board room of Salvesen’s head office in Fettes ave, Edinburgh hung an oil painting of the Southern Harvester. Fettes Ave head office also housed the Norwegian and danish consulates. The last time I saw the oil painting of the above mentiond ship was in the board room at Northampton where Salvesen’s eventually relocated. Alas Salvesen’s as a company is no more having been taken over by Norbert Dentressangle a few years ago. After whaling Salvesens built several million cubic feet of cold storage facilities up and down the country as well as getting heavilly involved in vegetable processing,freezing and packaging.They expanded the cold storage facilities into Europe and America. They also made bricks and were at one time the north wests biggest house builders with Whelmar homes. They bought into the generator hire business with Agrekko which went independent of the company several years ago and today is one of the worlds largest companies in that field. I had a wonderful career with Salvesen’s as a project manager and loved every minute of my time with the company
My father, George Whitfield, worked on the Southern Harvester and Southern Ventura from 1951 – 1953. He has amazing memories of his time there and has even written a 25 page diary of his experiences and his colleagues – anyone who wishes a copy I will happily send. Does anyone remember my father? I have a lovely photo of him and the rest of the crew at Leith Harbour South Georgia, 1/7/52. The names on the photo are: Arthur Dunn, Alf Harper, George Whitfield, Alec MacRae, Doug Finlayson, Allen Kennedy, Dave Clarke, Brian MacKenzie, Jim Cummings, Dave Butters, Ron MacKay, Les Wild and John Williams. If anyone remembers my father please get in touch: you can get my contact details from the Picture Stockton team.
Ann you may have some record of my father Ronald Clarke who was on the Southern Venturer 16th December 1952 to May 9th 1953.
Arthur Dunn was my Grandfather. Could you send me a copy of the picture please?
You are correct Valerie as are many more people posting that these are catcher ships and not either the Southern Harvester or Southern Venturer or even the third vessel built at Haverton Hill Ship yard which from memory I think was the Southern Cross. I remember having to grab a bag of tools and with two tradesmen (I was an apprentice at Brown’s Sheet Iron Works) dash off to the shipyard and start to fit Louvres in the cabins air conditioning, someone had forgotten to put them in. The cabins were all fitted out and the ship was sailing in a few hours so it was a rush job or as the foreman said “you will find yourselves at sea.” A ship yard welder was assigned to each of us and we had to cover everything from sparks burn a hole in the duct and fit the louvre with four tap screws after hand drilling the holes. One reason I do remember it so well apart from the threat of finding myself heading south was the welder was a young woman who between burning holes for me lay on the fitted out bed in the cabins asking me about my love life. I can assure you I worked with a continuous red face as I was prone to blushing a lot. It was the first time aboard a ship, I was overawed by the size, we seemed to walk for miles to get to those cabins plus dragging all the welding cables with us, also the luxury to us war weary lot who had not seen brand new furnishings such as those cabins held. Needless to say we did finish just before the ship took on its Pilot and managed to not set fire to anything whilst burning the holes in galvanised duct that spatted sparks all over the place as the girl arced into it. I cut my hands to bits filing the holes and had blisters from hand drilling holes, we had to wipe any smoke stains and touch up with silver paint any places showing arc marks. It was one of those jobs you never forget so I can say for sure the ships pictured could have been slung on the Factory ships as lifeboats.
A new organisation has recently been established for people connected with the old whaling trade. The Shetland ex-Whaler Association has a page on the Net. This coming September there is a reunion for ex-whalers up in the Shetlands.
I can also recommend the book ‘Shetland Whalers Remember’ by Gibbie Fraser, an ex-whaler himself. Its ISBN is 0954156404 .
My father confirms that the photographs are not of The Southern Venturer nor The Harvester. My dad (Bill Scott), from Lochend, Edinburgh, was Catering Storekeeper aboard The Venturer from 1946 and sailed on both ships until 1956. Does anyone remember him? I remember, as a child, having whales eardums painted as faces and a whale’s tooth. My dad is 82 now and would like to hear from anyone who remembers him.
My father was on the Harvester between 56-57 mess boy jock mckay there are some great pictures on jim mcleans site off leith harbour which i sent 2006
He may also of know my father Ronald Clarke who sailed on the Southern Venturer 16th December 1952 to May 9th 1953.
My late father (from Leith) served on board the Harvester in the mid fifties as 2nd Engineer. He also wintered down at Leith Harbour South Georgia for a season. His good pal "Gus Rankin" was also down there. My father left the whaling side of Salvesons and did a trip on the "MFV Fairtry" in the late fifties fishing of the Grand Banks.
He obviously enjoyed his time in the industry and would always keep us amused with his recollections and stories of his "times in the ice".
A friend in Sandefjord, Norway is sending me a postcard of the whale catcher Southern Actor. The Southern Actor is fully restored and seaworthy. It is moored near the Sandefjord Whaling Museum (the Hvalfangstmuseet)
Both pictures are of whale catchers. I have a 1 metre model of the Southern Actor which is similar to the two catchers in the pictures. I did the last season on the Southern Venturer (1962) she was then sold to Japan. All surviving whalers are meeting in Shetland between 10th and 12the September. Norwegian contingency are also coming over.
Yes these two boats are whale catchers.
Did a spell on the Southern Harvester in the 60’s.
Then with Three Crown Line, Baatan.
Magic wee boat!
From Leith, Scotland.
Hi Murff we met in Leith, South Georgia late 65? Then later that year in Rotterdam. We were signed on the Ville de la Harve.
Heard you were on Kungsholm and later went to Australia?
Karl Corlasso / Wilfred Schrabler
There is a fully restored whale catcher at the whaling museum in Sandefjord, Norway. This is the Southern Actor built in 1950 at Smiths Docks, South Bank. The ship can be visited during the summer and even hired for a fjord cruise.
Southern Actor is listed in the exhibits. There is a nice photo of the ship steaming on the fjord.
I visited the southern harvester factory ship when it was in the Tyne in the 1950s with my father who was a fitter working on the ship for one of the shipyards on the Tyne .I can still remember the meal served. After being shewn round the ship I was given a pair of Whale teeth .I still have the teeth and would never part with them .Such a great memory when I look at them on my window sill
I was in the 7th sea scouts of South Shields and we had a troop visit aboard the Southern Venturer in the late 1950’s. She was in dry dock on the Tyne somewhere in the area. Very exciting for a young lad.
My father, Ronald Clarke, who may have been known as ‘Nobby’ sailed on the Southern Venturer, expedition contract season 1952-53. He was 20 years old and was employed as a deck galleyboy, what exactly the work entailed I do not know.
The contract I have states that she sailed 22nd October 1952, not sure for how long – hope someone will remember.
I’m also uncertain where she sailed from – does anyone know?
I’d love to hear from anyone who remembered him and would dearly like to see any photos taken which included him.
Can people with relatives who sailed on this ship during the date please look to see if they have any information as my family history is very vague – my father died when he was 30 so any help appreciated.
I’m looking for any information regarding my uncle, Lenny Cairns. From the information I have he died at 18 years aboard either the Souther Harvester or the Southers Venturer. Any information would be greatfully received.
My dad served on one of Salvesen”s factory ships after WW II. I don”t know which one. I don”t know the exact dates. I know that he came home around the middle of May 1946. His name was James Young, but was known as Sonny. He was from Lerwick, Shetland. If there”s anyone out there who remembers him, I”d be delighted to connect.
My father Thomas McAlister Meechan served two seasons in the 1950″s onboard the Southern Harvester. He also worked on the Catchers. All his photos, Whales tooths, he donated to the Museum in Greenock. My father is in agreement that some pregnant whales were killed but once they were cut open the calves were not touched. They were put back to the sea.
A lot of the whalers who settled in Shields went onto the oil rigs – I don”t think they could get the sea motion out of their blood stream!…
I can confirm that the photos are of unknown catchers. I served on the Southern Venturer as a Whaler Group 9, on her last but one expedition for Christian Salvesen. I am sorry to say that pregnant whales were sometimes killed and have seen the young calves when the mothers were cut open and processed. The crew were half British and half Norwegian. The British were mainly recruited from Shetland, the Western isles of Scotland and Scotland. I would love to be contacted by anyone who sailed on The Venturer in 1961-1962 along with Angus Arthur and Sep Donnelly or anyone else.
It seems we all have vivid memories and artifacts of those bygone days… I have several photos of crossing the line and hauling their catch onto the ships. My dad was one of several smith brothers from Aberdeen and he was the only one who settled in Shields. He used to say that the pregnant whales were not harpooned and they could tell them by the swell of their tummies out of the water, it sounds true but I don”t know if he was trying to spare my feelings!! Alas my dad died at 56 but I know he would have loved the internet and the bringing together of people who shared this unusual occupation.
Hi Margaret , I don’t know whether your mother Margaret has mentioned me in the past but, if it is the same Margaret Montgomery I knew in the late 40s early 50s, then I knew her very well. In fact she was my first girlfriend I ever had and the guy who took her away from me was a certain Martin Smith.
The last time I met your mam was in 1989 when we met on the corner of the “Chriterion” Pub in Ocean Road, where we later met up with Peter Mcgruther. Your mam and I later went to the Grotto at Marsden where we talked over those happy days at the merchant navy club and the times I spent with her and her mom which was near where the old swimming pool used to be.
I do hope you’re the right person, if I am not please forgive me, it just seems such a coincidence of names.
All my best wishes ,John Burton.
My father Harry Flynn was an electrician who sailed on Southern Venturer after he helped build it at the Furness haverton Hill yard. I have an article from a newspaper which talks about the voyage. A photo of my father is in the article. It mentions who sailed including Mark Pallister of Wolviston who left his job as an electrician at I C I to sign on. It also mentions W A Dobbs of Anlaby Hull (a second electrician)and Norman William Hartford of Wolviston. It was a dissappointing trip as only 1,850 whales were caught although that would have been a good catch if they had been mainly blue whales. I have some small and indistinct photos of the crew members, not all of them named, but including Eddie Lawrie, Billy Hartford Norman Greig and my Dad with a penguin. Would enjoy making contact and swapping photos and hearing any stories about Dad who sadly died about 5 years after his trip. The article is undated.
My father and his brothers were on both ships at some time. He married my mother in South Shields – as many did…my birth certificate states father”s occupation as whale fisherman. I have photos and whale drums painted by the sailors, also a minature harpoon made in bronze – the local schools do a term of “where have the whales gone?” and my artifacts usually contribute to this work – negatively of course. I was extremely proud of my dad working in such dangerous conditions. He was a seafarer all his life and they and their spouses are a special breed…
The name Mark Pallister rings a bell. As I worked on the after deck I wouldnt have any contact with him apart from maybe seeing him in the messroom. The Venturer had 500 of a crew and I knew more faces than names. Most of the crew were Norwegians and I was one of the Scottish bunch. Im surprised at him spending coupons as he could have got any amount duty free. I must admit,as like many others of our age group,we indulged in sweets before going on a bender.
My father, Mark Pallister, also sailed as an electrician on the Southern Venture during these years (1947-1949). I wonder if you would remember him, George Moar? I still have many of the whales teeth he carved into penquin figures, baleen plates from the whales” mouths, models of the blubber-flenzing knives (like long hockey sticks with huge curved blades, etc. Unfortunately all the photos of the ship and crew, plus postage stamps from South Georgia and the Falklands(worth a bob or two, nowadays, I would imagine)have long gone. When he returned he brought a huge box of sweets with the saved-up ration-coupons he was entitled to. What a treat for us!
As stated, the above photographs are of unknown whale catchers. I worked with Salvesens 1947 to 1949. The first season aboard the Southern Foam, a whale catcher, fishing for the Harvester and the next on the Venturer with the aft plan blubber boys. I also sailed on the Polar Chief and the Saluta. In those days it took us over a month to get to our work which was usually from South Shields via Norway, West Indies, South Georgia and then to the ice. As it was a long time ago I cant remember the Norwegian Venturers Skippers name who we buried at sea.
A friend of mine was on the Harvester around that time, John Short known as Shorty he is still around at 87 and still talks about those days.
My dad was recently telling me about his uncle John Short who joined the whaling fleet when he found he was too young to join the Royal Navy. He was born in 1930?
My grandfather joined the Souther Venturer in the 50″s.I still have (a gift from my grand)a handmade plaque from the Souther Venturer exp. 52-53 around the antarctic continent. The ship was a whale factory ship.
I reached the glory heights of Mess Boy on the Southern Venturer for 3 seasons, 58/59, 59/60, 60/61. My 6 Uncles, all named West had all been at the whaling with Salvesens up to that time. I have lots of photos and clippings including when both the Venturer and Harvester were in Belfast having their Helicopter decks added. Now living in New Zealand
I was deck boy on Polar Maid 1953. Travelled to South Georgia and joined Southern Opal. Most crew from Leith. Great crowd. I was from Gorbals Glasgow. Other deck boy on Southern Opal was nicknamed Flash.? I am now living in Yorkshire
I DID SEASON 61/62 ON SOUTHERN RANGER GOING OUT ON THE HARVESTER FROM SOUTH SHELDS THE CATCH FOR THAT SEASON WAS 185 WHALES A LOT OF THE CATCHERS WENT BACK TO NORWAY AT THE END OF THE SEASON INQUDING THE RANGER I THINK I WAS THE LAST BOY FROME MONTROSE SCOTLAND TO GO WHALING VENTURE SOLD 62 HARVESTER WENT BACK 62/63 THAT SEASON ON SOUTHERN TERREOR THE CATCH WAS 204 WHALES
I was on the Southern Harvester for the 1961/2 whaling season. I was laboratory assistant, My boss, the chief chemist, was Mr Christopher Ash an absolute gentleman. I think in my collection of photographs from that trip I have some shots of the Southern Rider delivering whales to the Harvester’s stern, you may be on the shots and if you took any of the Harvester, I may be on yours. That was an experience, wasn’t it. Best wishes to you anyway.
To Bruce Milne. Sorry Bruce, I of course meant the Southern Ranger.
I did one season on the Southern Opal. That was enough for me this was about nineteen fifty two I compare the trip like prison with wages
The Souther Venturer and Harvester were both definitly factory ships equiped to obtain and process the whales at sea. They were built after the war 1945-7 and were a totally new concept in whaleing. The Harpoon ships would hunt and kill the whales taking them back to the factory ships and pulling them up the stern, cutting, slicing and boiling the blubber and extracting the oil. At that time nobody complained it was a way of life, like working with asbestos and toxic fluids. I toured one of them in M/Bro Docks and am sure the building of the ship was reported by the Gazette.
I”m looking for the crew lists from Southern Harvester,my husband has 12 seasons on the ship and I”m very busy to get more photo”s from Southern Harvester and crew lists from 1930 – 1961. Maybe some one can help me. all info welcome Els Tveit elstveit@hotmail.com
I have a photo of a ship without any information except a comment that it was built at Craig and Taylors yard Stockton. The name of the ship is on the side but only partially legible. I have scanned it and enlarged it but cannot decipher more than South . . Could it be one of the Southern line? In which case who actually built this ship and when?
My father spent a few seasons on the Southern Harvester, I was employed briefly also on Harvester as a supernumery aged 7years 8months when discharged at so. shields may 16 1954.yes 7years 8months. my fathers name was william.
I was on Southern Rider No. 6 of Harvesterfleet
Sorry but the pictures are not the Southern Harvester orSouthern Venturer, they are of the catchers. I was on the catcher Southern Lily which was attatched to the Harvester for the 1958/59 season.
There appears to be a little confusion here, as neither of the vessels shown have been correctly identified. They appear to Whale Catchers and were probably built at Smith”s Dock, South Bank. The Southern Venturer and Southern Harvester were both Whaling Factory Ships and were built by the Furness Shipbuilding Co. at Haverton Hill in the mid “40s. As an Apprentice Fitter I worked on both of these ships during construction.
These two vessels are wrongly captioned. The Southern Venturer and sister ship Southern Harvester were whale factory ships, these two are whale catchers, probably built at Smiths Docks, South Bank.