On 09/11/2016 21:53, wrote:
On Wed, 9 Nov 2016 20:06:23 +0000, ColinR
wrote:


Do not forget Pirelli, or was that not major?


They'd gone by the time I moved here, they lingered at Eastleigh for
quite a long time. IKEA now occupies part of their site.


I did a summer's job experience at Pirelli - many many years ago!


Used to get cable-layers in the docks, presumably loading up with fresh
cable.



Worked on them as well, but the BT vessels were primarily engaged in
repairs, not laying, only one of the vessels was designed as a layer.

Colin

Didn't other companies ships sometimes call? fairly sure the Long
Lines dropped in at one time.

They BT ships tended to use cables made from the other cable factory
STC , I can't remember if there was a gantry from the factory to the
loading berth (109?) or not. There was a gantry constructed
relatively late in the life of the Pirelli plant to berth 101 which
passed over West Quay road. So late in fact a bit of the planning
application is still on Sotons planning portal.
https://planningpublicaccess.southam...ZZ ZZCOZXT381
ISTR this was for one particular cable contract (fibre optic ?) after
which the gantry lay moribund long after the plant finally closed till
it got demolished to make way for later developments.

G.Harman


Not sure but my recollection is that you are correct about STC.

Colin