THE JAMAICA PLANTER.

[Administrator]

In 1941 or 42, there was a shipwreck on the Watchtower Beach between the Knap and Friars Point, Barry, South Wales. It was called THE JAMAICA PLANTER.

As a child I walked around it many times when the tide was out. Bolder boys climbed up onto it.

Any info gratefully received

Regards
Jenny Reynolds

[Administrator]

Jamaica Direct Fruit Line / Jamaica Banana Producers' SS Co.

Formed in 1929 to carry passengers and general cargo to Jamaica and bananas to Europe.

In 1962 with the independence of Jamaica, the fleet transferred to the Jamaican flag. Taken over by the Jamaican Government in 1977, the company continued to operate until 1980 when they disappeared as an independent ship owning concern.

Route:· 1929-1977 London - Rotterdam - Jamaica

Funnel: Blue funnel with two white bands below black top.

Fleet:

Jamaica Merchant 1911 ex- Highland Piper, 1929 purchased from Nelson Line renamed Jamaica Merchant, 1935 sold to Standard Fruit Co, New Orleans. 7,490

Jamaica Pioneer 1931 1940 torpedoed and sunk in Atlantic. 5,471

Jamaica Planter (1) 1911 ex- Highland Loch, 1929 purchased from Nelson Line renamed Jamaica Planter, 1935 scrapped. 7,493

Jamaica Planter (2) 1936 chartered from Hadley Shipping Co, London, 1940
purchased from Hadley Shipping Co,
1944 sunk in collision in Barry Roads with s/s WELLESLEY. 4,098

Jamaica Planter (3) 1959 1974 sold to Singapore renamed Fine Fruit. 6,159

Jamaica Producer (1) 1910 ex- Highland Glen, 1929 purchased from Nelson Line renamed Jamaica Producer, 1934 scrapped after fire at London. 7,548

Jamaica Producer (2) 1934 1962 scrapped. 5,598

Jamaica Producer (3) 1962 1981 sold to Greece converted to livestock carrier, renamed Miranda. 5,781

Jamaica Progress 1932 1940 torpedoed and sunk in Atlantic; loss of 7 lives. 5,475

Jamaica Settler 1910 ex- Highland Laddie, 1929 purchased from Nelson Line renamed Jamaica Settler, 1935 scrapped. 7,381

[Billy McGee]

The Jamaica Planter had been sailing from Jamaica to Avonmouth with a general cargo including citrus fruits. On the 22nd January 1941 the ship detonated a mine off Nells Point, Barry. Severely damaged the ship was beached at the Old Harbour, Barry where her cargo was discharged. The ship was later refloated and beached at Whitmore Bay 13th February. Again refloated the ship docked in Barry to undergo repairs 18th February and went back into service until she was lost in a collision in 1944.

[keithgreenway]

Thanks Billy, Jenny will be pleased with feedback, certain she will thankyou herself. Also, a little of my hometowns history that I personally was unaware of.

[BARRIAN]

Jamaica Planter (The Orange Boat) struck a mine in the Channel and was beached in Watchtower Bay near the Breakwater. She was later towed out of the Bay and taken into Barry Docks. Whilst there she was bombed, and, after repairs had been completed and she was on her way to Swansea, she was in collision with the American Tanker Wellesley and sank in the Barry Roads. No loss of life was reported.

During the early part of the 1939-45 war, the Jamaica Planter, later to be remembered as The Orange Boat, struck a mine in the channel and was beached in the Old Harbour, near the Breakwater. In the process she lost most of her cargo of fruit, which consisted mainly of oranges, and these were later washed up on the shore, were sour and had an oily taste. She was later towed into Barry Docks for repair. Whilst under repair, she suffered further damage in a bombing raid on the Docks. After repairs were completed she left Barry bound for Swansea, and whilst in the Barry Roads she was in collision with the American Tanker Wellesley and sank. All the crew was saved. It wasn't until after the war ended that we realised that oranges didn't have an oily taste.

[Zena Burland]

In 1966 my father a Jamaican had just finished serving his 22years in the RAF, and he wanted to go home to a Jamaica , we sailed there on the The planter stayed in Jamaica for seven months and mum wanted to go back to her home England so we sailed back on the Producer.



Iam trying to find out if the young man serving on the Producer at the time called Junior Marks is still alive contact [e-mail]

[Administrator]

Will do all I can to help and will be in touch ASAP. K.

[Administrator]

Tried initial contact: your e.mail address seems not correct ?

K.

[Owen Vaughan]

I recall been shown a photo of the Jamaican Planter as a child. I was told that my maternal grandfather was crew on it at some stage? Possibly the skipper? He was from Airdrie and his surname was Strickland. Can anyone enlighten me with some details? [e-mail]

[Administrator]

Initially which ship ?

Jamaica Planter (1) 1911 ex- Highland Loch, 1929 purchased from Nelson Line renamed Jamaica Planter, 1935 scrapped. 7,493

Jamaica Planter (2) 1936 chartered from Hadley Shipping Co, London, 1940
purchased from Hadley Shipping Co,
1944 sunk in collision in Barry Roads with s/s WELLESLEY. 4,098

Jamaica Planter (3) 1959 1974 sold to Singapore renamed Fine Fruit. 6,159

[Owen Vaughan]

I was told that he was sunk twice. Possibly the “Producer” in 1940 and then again in the “Jamaican Planter” 2 in ‘44? Rescued twice and died of cancer six months after the war ended...

[Administrator]

Jamaica Line

LINK

Jamaica Direct Fruit Line / Jamaica Banana Producers' SS Co.

LINK