View source for SS Robin

{{Short description|Steam ship}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox ship
|infobox_caption=SS ''Robin''
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 |image=SS Robin 2010.JPG
 |image_caption=SS ''Robin'' September 2010, ready to leave Lowestoft
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=
 |country=United Kingdom
 |flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|civil}}
 |name=*''Robin'' (1890–1900)
 |owner=*Robert Thomson, London (1890–1890)
        *Arthur Ponsonby, Newport Mon. (1890–1892)<ref name=MNL1891>{{cite book |title=Mercantile Navy List |year=1891 |publisher=Spottiswoode & Co |location=London |page=225}}</ref>
        *Alexander Blackater (The Robin Steamship Co Ltd), Glasgow (1892–1900)<ref name=MNL1893>{{cite book |title=Mercantile Navy List |url=http://anmm.smedia.com.au/Olive/AM3/ANMM8/Default.htm?href=ANMM8%2F1893%2F01%2F01&pageno=296&view=document |year=1893 |publisher=Spottiswoode & Co |location=London |page=250}}</ref><ref name=MNL1900>{{cite book |title=Mercantile Navy List |year=1900 |publisher=Spottiswoode & Co |location=London |page=301}}</ref>
 |operator=
 |registry=
 |route=
 |ordered=
 |builder=Mackenzie, MacAlpine & Co, then Robert Thomson, [[Orchard House Yard]], [[Blackwall, London]]<ref name=Miramar1 /><ref name=NatHistShips>{{cite web |title=SS Robin |url=http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/1794/ss-robin |website=[[National Historic Ships|National Historic Ships UK]] |access-date=12 June 2013}}</ref>
 |original_cost=
 |yard_number=26<ref name=Miramar1 />
 |way_number=
 |laid_down=
 |launched=16 September 1890<ref name=NatHistShips />
 |completed=November 1890<ref name=Miramar1 />
 |christened=
 |acquired=
 |maiden_voyage=
 |in_service=
 |out_of_service=
 |identification={{IMO number|5222287}}
 |fate= Sold to Spain 1900
 |status=
 |notes=
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=title
 |country=Spain
 |flag= {{shipboxflag|Spain}}
 |name=''Maria'' (1900–1974)
 |owner=*  Blanco Hermanos y Compañia of [[Ribadesella]] (1900&ndash;1913)
        *  Hijos de Angel Perez y Compañia of [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]] (1913&ndash;1965)
        *  Eduardo de la Sota Poveda of [[Bilbao]] (1965&ndash;1974)
 |operator=
 |registry=
 |route=
 |christened=
 |acquired=
 |maiden_voyage=
 |in_service=
 |out_of_service=
 |identification=
 |fate=Purchased for preservation 1974
 |status=
 |notes=
 }}

|section4={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=title
 |country=United Kingdom
 |flag=[[File:UK NHS Fleet Ensign.svg|100x35px]]
 |name=''Robin'' (1974–present)<ref name=Miramar1>{{cite ship register |shipname=Robin |id=101493 |register=MSI |access-date=6 June 2013}}</ref>
 |owner=*The Maritime Trust Corp Ltd, London (1974–2002)<ref name=LRS1990 />
        *SS Robin Trust (2002–)
 |operator=
 |registry=
 |route=
 |christened=
 |acquired=
 |maiden_voyage=
 |in_service=
 |out_of_service=
 |identification=
 |fate=
 |status=[[Museum ship]]
 |notes=
 }}

|section5={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header=
 |header_caption=
 |class=
 |tonnage={{GRT|366}}<ref name=MNL1891 /> (later {{GRT|342}})<ref name=LRS1990>{{cite book |title=Register of Ships |year=1990 |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register of Shipping]] |location=London |page=394}}</ref> {{DWT|550}}
 |displacement=
 |length={{convert|143|ft|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|loa]]<ref name=MNL1891 />
 |beam={{convert|22.9|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=MNL1891 />
 |height=
 |draught=
 |draft=
 |depth={{convert|11|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=MNL1891 />
 |decks=
 |deck_clearance=
 |ramps=
 |ice_class=
 |sail_plan= Originally [[schooner]] rigged 
 |power=[[Triple expansion#Multiple expansion engines|Triple expansion steam engine]] {{convert|152|ihp|abbr=on}}<ref name=LRS1990 />
 |propulsion=Single screw<ref name=LRS1990 /><ref name=NatHistShips />
 |speed={{convert|9|kn}}
 |capacity=
 |crew=
 |notes=
 }}
}}

'''SS ''Robin''''' is a 350 [[gross register tonnage|gross registered ton]] (GRT) steam [[Coastal trading vessel|coaster]], a class of [[steamship]] designed for carrying bulk and general cargoes in coastal waters, and the oldest complete example in the world.  One of a pair of coasters built in [[Bow Creek (England)|Bow Creek]], [[London]] in 1890, the ship was built for British owners, but spent most of her long working life on the Spanish coast as ''Maria''.

In 1974, she was purchased for restoration as ''Robin'' and is listed by [[National Historic Ships]] as part of the [[National Historic Fleet]] (the nautical equivalent of a [[Grade 1 Listed Building]]).  She is situated at [[Trinity Buoy Wharf]] in east London, opening as the SS ''Robin'' museum, theatre and educational centre in 2014.

==Specification==
As built, ''Robin'' was {{convert|143|ft}} long, her beam is {{convert|23|ft}}, her depth is {{convert|12.2|ft}} and her [[tonnage]] is {{GRT|366}}.<ref name=MNL1891 /> She carried about 450 tons of cargo.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}}

The engine is a three-cylinder [[triple expansion steam engine]], developing {{convert|152|ihp|lk=in}}, and made in 1890 by [[Gourlay Brothers|Gourlay Brothers & Co]] of [[Dundee]], Scotland.<ref name=LRS1990 /><ref name=NatHistShips />  Her maximum speed was {{convert|9|kn}}.<ref name=LRS1990 />

In [[Lloyd's Register]] she was described as a "steel screw 3-masted schooner",<ref name=LRS1930>{{cite book |title=Register of Ships |year=1930 |url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b0763.pdf |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register of Shipping]] |location=London}}</ref> and had indeed been provided with sails for all three masts when first built.<ref name=OldHist>{{cite web|title=The Story of the Steam Coaster Robin |url=http://www.ssrobin.co.uk/heritage_back_in_time.php |publisher=SS Robin (cached) |access-date=12 June 2013 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130522030030/http://www.ssrobin.co.uk/heritage_back_in_time.php |archive-date=22 May 2013 }}</ref>

==History==

''Robin'' was ordered from Mackenzie, MacAlpine & Co of [[Orchard House Yard]], Hercules Wharf, [[Blackwall, London]], situated in [[Bow Creek (England)|Bow Creek]] at the mouth of the [[River Lea]], by London shipowner Robert Thomson, and launched on 16 September 1890.<ref name=NatHistShips /><ref name=OldHist /> However, she and her sister ''Rook'' were completed by Thomson himself, though the reason is unknown.<ref name=LRS1990 /><ref name=OldHist /> After fitting out in the [[East India Dock]], ''Robin'' was towed to [[Dundee]] to have her engine, boiler and auxiliary machinery installed by [[Gourlay Brothers]] & Co. When completed she was registered in London with [[Official number]] 98185 and in the ownership of Arthur Ponsonby of [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], then in [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]].<ref name=MNL1891 /><ref name=NatHistShips /><ref name=OldHist />

===1890 to 1900===

On 20 December 1890, ''Robin'' commenced her career in the British coastal service at Liverpool, with a crew of 12 signing the Articles for her maiden voyage. As a coaster her range was normally limited to the Home Trade limits (broadly from the [[Elbe]] to [[Brest, France|Brest]]). However, on her first voyage she went {{convert|400|mi}} further, to [[Bayonne]];<ref name=NatHistShips /> the owners had to replace the Master's mate with another, who held the correct certificate, until the ship returned to [[Swansea]] on 10 January.<ref name=OldHist /> Her second voyage began at [[Swansea]] on 14 January 1891, visiting [[Rouen]], [[Northfleet]] on the [[River Thames]], [[Eastham, Merseyside|Eastham]] and [[Garston, Merseyside|Garston]] on the [[River Mersey]], [[Plymouth]], [[Deauville]], [[Guernsey]], [[London]], [[Rochester, Kent|Rochester]], [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], [[Swansea]], [[Cherbourg]] arriving in [[Northfleet]] by 5 April 1891. This would be typical of her trading under the [[Red Ensign]], carrying bulk cargoes of grain, iron ore, scrap steel, pit props, china clay, railway steel, general cargoes of casked and baled goods such as herring barrels, and even granite blocks for the [[Caledonian Canal]].<ref name=NatHistShips /><ref>{{cite book |last=Waine |first=Charles V. |year=1980 |title=Steam Coasters and Short Sea Traders |edition=2nd |page=143 |publisher=Waine Research |location=Albrighton, Wolverhampton |isbn=0-905184-04-1}}</ref> In 1892, ''Robin'' was sold to Andrew Forrester Blackater of [[Glasgow]], where she was re-registered.<ref name=MNL1893 />

===1900 to 1974===
In 1900 ''Robin'' was sold and renamed ''Maria''; for the next 74 years she had three different Spanish owners:

* 1900&ndash;1913 Blanco Hermanos y Compañia of [[Ribadesella]].
* 1913&ndash;1965 Hijos de Angel Perez y Compañia of [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]]. During World War I she carried iron slabs for the French government from the foundry at [[Santiago de Compostela|Santiago]] to [[Bayonne]] and [[Bordeaux]], escorted by two [[destroyers]] to protect her from German [[U-boat]]s.  From 1935 to 1939 (the [[Spanish Civil War]]) the ship was laid up at [[San Esteban de Pravia]].
* 1965&ndash;1974 Eduardo de la Sota Poveda of [[Bilbao]], working around Bilbao and the north coast of Spain until 1974, carrying coal for the bunkering of [[Ocean liner|liner]]s.<ref name=NatHistShips />

Until 1965, ''Maria''{{'}}s structure stayed mainly unchanged; in 1966 she had a major refit with the [[whaleback]] (at the stern) and the [[mizzen mast]] removed, the foremast and the funnel shortened, and the [[forecastle]] extended. The coal-fired furnaces were modified for oil fuel.  After this she resumed trading.<ref name=NatHistShips />

===1974 to 2002===
[[File:SS Robin Nov05.jpg|right|thumb|SS ''Robin'', November 2005.]]
''Maria'' was discovered by the [[Maritime Trust]] in 1972. Following an inspection, it was decided that she was worth preserving, and in May 1974 she was purchased, on the brink of being sold to Spanish breakers. In June 1974 she came home to [[St Katharine Docks]] under her own steam and was renamed ''Robin''. She was restored at a cost of £250,000, with most work taking place in 1974 and 1975 at the Doust & Co shipyard at [[Rochester, Kent]], and was subsequently moored in St Katharine Docks.<ref name=NatHistShips /><ref name=OldHist /> She was moved to new moorings in 1991 at [[West India Quay]] but fell into disrepair.<ref name=Robin2008press>{{cite web |title=Relief as world's oldest complete steamship avoids scrapyard |url=http://www.shippingtimes.co.uk/item_10073.html |website=Shipping Times |date=27 May 2008 |access-date=12 June 2013}}</ref>

In 2000 David and Nishani Kampfner were looking for a unique space to be transformed into an area for innovation and learning. They bought ''Robin'' for £1. In 2002, SS Robin Trust was created to bring awareness to the general public about the importance of the ship. With the help of many volunteers they began restoration on this coastal steamer.

===2002 to 2008===
[[Crossrail]] provided SS Robin Trust with a £1.9 million loan to enable her to move to dry dock for restoration works to commence. Before she was able to be moved, her masts, funnel, lifeboats and davits were dismantled and removed by Cutty Sark Enterprises.<ref name=Robin2008press /> She was then towed from [[West India Quay]] down the [[Canary Wharf]] locks to [[South Quay Estate|South Quay]] for temporary mooring. Around this time the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]] had also been approved and SS Robin Trust was awarded a grant of just under £1 million.

===2008 to 2010===
In June 2008, ''Robin'' was to undergo her first seaward journey in 35 years from South Quay to [[Lowestoft]] for structural restoration using, so far as was practicable, the same craft skills with which she was built in 1890, conserving her Victorian technology.<ref name=NatHistShips /> Once at Lowestoft a detailed examination revealed that after 118 years she was now considered too fragile to be able to float again. Initially it was thought that ''Robin'' would need a 40% steel replacement, but after the examination it showed that she would need an 80% steel replacement thereby essentially ruining her historical value. These new findings urged SS Robin Trust to find a less destructive approach maintaining ''Robin''. It soon became clear that a pontoon would be the most innovative and least destructive method to keep her floating and to preserve and display her original riveted fabric.<ref name=NatHistShips /> It also provided a wealth of more space. In 2010, ''Robin'' was lifted by two cranes and placed onto her new pontoon.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10427928 |title={{-'}}Oldest' steamship completes refit and heads for London |work=[[BBC News]] |department=England |date=27 June 2010}}</ref> She was then towed to [[Tilbury]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11349724 |title={{-'}}World's last' steamcoaster heads home to London |work=[[BBC News]] |department=England |date=17 September 2010}}</ref> where she was moored for a year.

===2010 to present===
[[File:SS Robin 2014-07 (04).jpg|thumb|SS ''Robin'', July 2014.]]
After 3 years of conservation work in [[Tilbury]], in July 2011 ''Robin'' returned to east London, where she was originally built, to undergo further internal restoration and preparation before opening as the SS Robin museum, theatre and educational centre in the [[Royal Victoria Dock]] in [[London Borough of Newham|Newham borough]] in 2014, with the support of a grant of just over £950,000 from the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14135730 |title=Steamcoaster SS Robin arrives at London's Royal Docks |work=[[BBC News]] |department=London |date=13 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22784159 |title=Prince visits oldest steamship SS Robin |work=[[BBC News]] |department=London |date=5 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=SS Robin to re-open doors to public |url=http://www.hlf.org.uk/news/Pages/SSRobintoreopendoors.aspx#.UiNA-9JJMrU |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120215071941/http://www.hlf.org.uk/news/Pages/SSRobintoreopendoors.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2012 |website=[[Heritage Lottery Fund]] |date=1 February 2012 |access-date=12 June 2013 }}</ref>

She was then subsequently moved to the [[Millennium Mills]] Dock, where she was temporarily berthed for further restoration and development before reopening to the public, at the western end of the Royal Victoria Dock (close to the [[London Cable Car]]), in 2015.

In 2023, she was moved to [[Trinity Buoy Wharf]].<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://ssrobin.com/news/2023/12/6/ss-robin-move-to-trinity-buoy-wharf-timings-amp-route |title= SS Robin move to Trinity Buoy Wharf: timings & route}}</ref>

==Arts & Education Centre and Museum==
In 2002, David and Nishani Kampfner bought ''Robin'' and founded the SS Robin Trust as a registered charity ([[Prince Philip]] is an honorary member, and [[Jim Fitzpatrick (politician)|Jim Fitzpatrick]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]], and Channel 4 news reader [[Jon Snow (journalist)|Jon Snow]] are patrons).<ref name=NatHistShips /> The Trust converted her into an educational centre and photographic gallery; in this restoration, the original beams, structures, fittings and engine were preserved and restored by her volunteer crew.<ref name=NatHistShips /> She operated as a learning centre and photojournalism gallery from 2003,<ref name=NatHistShips /> with an extensive programme of exhibitions, talks, seminars and workshops designed to build bridges between communities and interacting with local schools and businesses. The gallery, with a flexible classroom and exhibition area, was accommodated within the original cargo hold.<ref name=NatHistShips /><ref>{{cite web |title=House of Commons Crossrail Bill Committee: Evidence, paragraphs 21229-21293 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmcross/uc235-xviii/uc23502.htm |publisher=House of Commons |date=28 March 2007 |access-date=12 June 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.ssrobin.org/|name=Official SS Robin website}}
* {{cite AV media |url=http://vimeo.com/38169524 |title=Saving SS Robin |medium=film |first=Paul |last=Desmond |publisher=[[Vimeo]]}}
* {{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3DXr3vLVaE|title=SS ROBIN 2014|medium=video|last=Parsons|first=Martin|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}

{{National Historic Ships}}
{{Oldest surviving ships (pre-1919)}}
{{Coord|51.5058|0.0292|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robin}}
[[Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Museum ships in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ships built in Leamouth]]
[[Category:Ships and vessels of the National Historic Fleet]]
[[Category:1890 ships]]
[[Category:Preserved cargo ships]]