Records collected by Macrae during his engagement as master of the flatiron collier DEPTFORD (1951), operated by the Central Electricity Generating Board and managed by Stephenson Clarke Shipping Ltd: Crew list sheets, 1951-1958 (1 volume). Compass observations book, 1960-1972. Portage and master's cash account books, 1964-1966 (3 volumes). Deck log sheets, 1966-1967 (2 large folders). Master's cash account sheets, 1969-1972 (1 envelope). National Insurance card receipt book for crew, 1970-1972. Voyage time sheets, 1971-1972 (1 volume). Board of Trade crew agreements, crew lists and official logbook for the voyage commenced on 15 November 1972. Lloyd's Register of Shipping and Board of Trade safety certificates, 1965-1969. Capacity plan (1:192 scale) for the sisterships BRUNSWICK WHARF and DEPTFORD built for the British Electricity Authority by S.P. Austin & Son Ltd at Sunderland (Yard Nos 409 and 410).

Also sample of entries in a book listing vessels arriving and departing from Northumberland Dock, South Shields, 1946-1947.

Please contact archive staff for more information about ordering from this collection.

Administrative / biographical background
Macrae was born at Newport in Wales. Much of his career in the Merchant Navy was spent working on coastal colliers carrying coal to the London power stations from ports in South Wales and Northeast England. He qualified as master (certificate number 109764) and worked in this role on flatiron colliers including the DEPTFORD (1951) and HACKNEY (1952). The low profile of these vessels enabled them to pass under bridges and reach up-river power stations such as Battersea. As the collier fleets and wharfs began to disappear, Macrae became interested in preserving their history. Following his death, the Macrae family allowed the written and photographic material to be used in 'The Steam Collier Fleets', J.A. Macrae and C.V. Waine, Waine Research Publications, 1990. Some of Macrae's photographs of the coaling staithes at Blyth, Dunston and Seaham are held in the Historic Photographs collection at the NMM.