Harrogate
On the withdrawal of of the venerable cattle boats Slieve Bloom and Slieve More the Associated Humber Lines general cargo ship Harrogate was transferred to Holyhead to join the Slieve Bawn on 15th April 1965.
The Harrogate's sisters, the Selby and the Darlington, became frequent visitors to Holyhead although neither were particular favourites of the port's masters as they were single screw. They would berth port side to at the coal crane to discharge and load containers - the easiest side with a right handed single propellor. Getting the bow to seaward for departure was accomplished by running a rope from the bow, outboard to a bollard astern of the ship. Then, after heaving the stern in as much as possible with a stern line, heaving on the bow rope to pull her around.
Arriving at the North Wall it was a different story, starboard side to and the 'fresh' in the River Liffey to contend with.
In preparation for Holyhead's entry into ISO and the container revolution the Harrogate was converted into a celluar container vessel and on 2nd January 1968 ISO 20ft containers were shipped through the port for the first time.