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INDIA & EAST PAKISTAN / BANGLADESH : River Ganges / Padma and its delta
Historically,
services in the area, on the lower Ganges (now called Padma when
flowing through Bangladesh) and Brahmaputra Rivers and their delta
rivers were dominated by two companies, the Rivers Steam Navigation Company (formed in 1862) and
the India General Navigation & Railway Company.
In
1889 the India General was re-formed out of the liquidated India
General Steam Navigation Company which had originated in 1844. Both companies had worked closely
together for some time and their ship purchasing policy reflected a
joint strategy. The establishment of an
independent India and Pakistan in 1947 caused problems as the lower
reaches of the rivers and most of the delta fell into West Pakistan
territory and India's Assam province on the Brahmaputra River was cut
off from the rest of India. Pakistan River Steamers Ltd
was formed in 1959 to manage the Pakistani-assigned parts of the Rivers
and General fleets on the insistence of the Pakistan government. In
1962 the Rivers company bought India General's Indian
assets. The surviving operations
in East Pakistan were nationalised by the
new Bangladesh government in 1972 who formed the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporartion.
Other operators
Other railway companies such as the Eastern Bengal Railway , Bengal Nagpur Railway and the Bengal & North Western Railway ran passenger paddle steamer services
Click here for vessel details
A good market for one Scottish shipbuilder
William
Denny & Brothers of Dumbarton, Scotland carved out a market
here (as they had done successfully for river paddle steamers
elsewhere, such as on the Irrawaddy in British Burma) supplying large
numbers of paddle steamers to Rivers from 1877 and India General from
1894.
Currently Operating Paddle Vessels :
Mahsud (1929), Ostrich (1929), Lepcha (1937), Tern (1948) former steamers converted to diesel sail on the Padma and rivers in its delta (Bangladesh) : See more
Bhopal (1945)
restored for service from 2022 as a diesel vessel on the Hooghly River
(India) with some historical displays and parts of the steam engine
retained aboard
Historical ships (built from 1900 onwards for the Rivers and India General Companies)
Note
: Ghazi, Teal and Kiwi survived into the modern era but were all
destroyed by fire in port awaiting refit and planned conversion to
diesel power.
** Surviving Vessels
* Cargo / towage vessels
In the same period, Denny supplied five stern-wheel paddle steamers to India General and six to Rivers.
Ghazi
(Denny, 1949 - yard no 1426, for the Rivers Steam Navigation Co, 250 ft x 30.9 ft x 9 ft
- Triple expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 63 in, engine no
1172)
Mazbi
(Denny, 1948/9 - yard no 1421, for the Rivers Steam Navigation Co, 200
ft x 26 ft x 8.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x
54 in, engine no 1167)
Irani (Denny, 1948/9 - yard no 1420 for the Rivers Steam Navigation Co, 200 ft x 26 ft x 8.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 54 in)
** Tern
Teal (Denny,
1948 - yard no 1418, for the India General Navigation Co, 200 ft x 26
ft x 8.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 54 in,
engine no 1164)
Mysore (Denny, 1945 - yard no 1393 for the Rivers Steam Navigation Co, 205.6 ft x 60.7 ft x 8.9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 44, 27 and 17 in x 66 in, engine no 1137)
Indore (Denny, 1945 - yard no 1392 for the Rivers Steam Navigation Co, 205.6 ft x 60.7 ft x 8.9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 44, 27 and 17 in x 66 in, engine no 1136)
Vigor (Denny,
1945 - yard no 1391, for the India General Navigation Co, 205.6 ft x 60.7
ft x 8.9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 44, 27 and 17 in x 66 in,
engine no 1135)
** Bhopal
Widgeon (Denny,
1938 - yard no 1321, for the India General Navigation Co, 190 ft x 25
ft x 8.6ft, Triple expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 54 in,
engine no 1076)
Bittern (Denny,
1937 - yard no 1320, for the India General Navigation Co, 190 ft x 25
ft x 8.6ft, Triple expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 54 in,
engine no 1075)
Murmi (Denny, 1937 - yard no 1319 for the Rivers Steam Navigation Co, 190 ft x 25 ft x 8.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 54 in, engine no 1074)
** Lepcha
Kiwi (Denny 1930 - yard no 1248 for the India General Navigation Co, 235 ft x 38 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 63 in)
Sylu (Denny 1930 - yard no 1242 for the Rivers Steam Navigation Co, 180 ft x 29 ft x 8 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 54 in, engine no 996)
Mikir (Denny 1930 - yard no 1241 for the Rivers Steam Navigation Co, 180 ft x 29 ft x 8 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 54 in, engine no 995)
** Ostrich
** Mahsud
Flamingo (Denny,
1928 - yard no 1212, for the India General Navigation Co, 182 ft x 29
ft x 8 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 54 in,
engine no 965)Naga (Denny 1928 - yard no 1211 for the Rivers Steam Navigation Co, 180 ft x 29 ft x 8 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 54 in, engine no 964)
Gairala (Denny,
1928 - yard no 1205, for the India General Navigation Co, 240 ft x 32
ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 44, 27 and 17 in x 66in,
engine no 956)
Paracha (Denny 1928 - yard no 1204 for the Rivers Steam Navigation Co, 240 ft x 32 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 44, 27 and 17 in x 66 in, engine no 954)
Garo
(Denny 1927 - yard 1202. 190 ft x 28 ft x 8.5 ft, Triple
expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 54 in, engine no 950)
Florican
(Denny 1927 - yard 1201. 190 ft x 28 ft x 8.5 ft, Triple
expansion diagonal 41, 25.5 and 16 in x 54 in, engine no 949)Galiana (Denny, 1927 - yard no 1199, for the India General
Navigation Co, 240 ft x 32 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 44, 27, and 17 in x 66 in, engine no 947)
Galla (Denny, 1927 - yard no 1198, for the India General
Navigation Co, 240 ft x 32 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 44, 27 and 17 in x 66 in, engine no 946)
* Ghilzai (Denny, 1927 - yard no 1197, for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 240 ft x 32 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 44, 27 and 17 in x 66 in, engine no 945)
Hazara (Denny, 1927 - yard no 1196, for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 240 ft x 32 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 44, 27 and 17 in x 66 in, engine no 944)
Chakrata (Bow, McLachlan of Paisley 1922 for the India General
Navigation Co)
Mongolian (Denny, 1922 - yard no 1149, for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 300 ft x 42 ft x 10.5 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 47, 30 and 19 in x 66 in, engine no 903)
Chaibassa (Bow, McLachlan of Paisley 1921 for the India General
Navigation Co)
Manchurian (Denny, 1921 - yard no 1148, for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 300 ft x 42 ft x 10.5 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 47, 30 and 19 in x 66 in, engine no 902)
Tibetan (Denny, 1921 - yard no 1147, for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 300 ft x 42 ft x 10.5 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 47, 30 and 19 in x 66 in, engine no 901)
Persian (Denny, 1921 - yard no 1146, for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 300 ft x 42 ft x 10.5 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 47, 30 and 19 in x 66 in, engine no 900)
* Fardikot (Denny, 1921 - yard no 1145, for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 225.5 ft x 30 ft x 9.3 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 47, 30 and 19 in x 66 in, engine no 897)
* Gujerat (Denny, 1921 - yard no 1144, for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 225.5 ft x 30 ft x 9.3 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 47, 30 and 19 in x 66 in, engine no 896)
* Jhalawar (Denny, 1921 - yard no 1143, for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 225.5 ft x 30 ft x 9.3 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 47, 30 and 19 in x 66 in, engine no 895)
* Kathiawar (Denny, 1921 - yard no 1142, for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 225.5 ft x 30 ft x 9.3 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 47, 30 and 19 in x 66 in, engine no 894)
Salween (Denny, 1921 - yard no 1128, for the India General
Navigation Co, 300 ft x 42 ft x 10.5 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 47, 30 and 19 in x 66 in, engine no 878)
Shwebo (Denny, 1921 - yard no 1127, for the India General
Navigation Co, 300 ft x 42 ft x 10.5 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 47, 30 and 19 in x 66 in, engine no 877)
Almora (Denny, 1921 - yard no 1126, for the India General
Navigation Co, 210 ft x 26 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 60 in, engine no 876)
Calicut (Denny, 1921 - yard no 1125, for the India General
Navigation Co, 230 ft x 30 ft x 9.3 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in, engine no 875)
* Alipee (Denny, 1913 - yard no 1007, for the India General
Navigation Co, 210 ft x 26 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal )
* Kapurthala (Denny, 1913 - yard no 997 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 220 ft x 30 ft x 9.3 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in, engine no 772)
* Udaipur (Denny, 1913 - yard no 996 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 220 ft x 30 ft x 9.3 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in, engine no 771)
Mayetto (Denny, 1913 - yard no 995, for the India General
Navigation Co, 253 ft x 65 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in, engine no 769)
Maymyo (Denny, 1913 - yard no 994, for the India General
Navigation Co, 253 ft x 65 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in, engine no 768)
* Amba (Denny, 1912 - yard no 968, for the India General
Navigation Co, 210 ft x 26 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 60 in)
* Arcot (Denny, 1911 - yard no 967, for the India General
Navigation Co, 210 ft x 26 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 60 in)
Kabuli (Denny, 1908 - yard no 842 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Shimwari (Denny, 1908 - yard no 841 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Chitrali (Denny, 1908 - yard no 840 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Sittang (Denny, 1908 - yard no 832, for the India General
Navigation Co, 165 ft x 21 ft x 7.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 30, 21 and 14 in x 48 in)
Susang (Denny, 1908 - yard no 831, for the India General
Navigation Co, 165 ft x 21 ft x 7.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 30, 21 and 14 in x 48 in)
Bengal (Denny, 1908 - yard no 827 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 200 ft x 25 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.4 and 17 in x 60 in)
Punjab (Denny, 1908 - yard no 826 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 200 ft x 25 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.4 and 17 in x 60 in)
Burmah (Denny, 1907 - yard no 825 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 200 ft x 25 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.4 and 17 in x 60 in)
Mirani (Denny, 1907 - yard no 813 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Sherani (Denny, 1907 - yard no 812 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Battani (Denny, 1907 - yard no 811 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Bunerwali (Denny, 1907 - yard no 810 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Durani (Denny, 1907 - yard no 809 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Dawari (Denny, 1907 - yard no 808 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Swati (Denny, 1907 - yard no 807 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Mahamuni (Denny, 1907 - yard no 806, for the India General
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Mahlong (Denny, 1907 - yard no 805, for the India General
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Madaya (Denny, 1907 - yard no 804, for the India General
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Mayan (Denny, 1907 - yard no 803, for the India General
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Mahadeo (Denny, 1907 - yard no 802, for the India General
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Martaban (Denny, 1907 - yard no 801, for the India General
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Maulmein (Denny, 1907 - yard no 800, for the India General
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 36 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 72 in)
Oudh (Denny, 1906 - yard no 787 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 200 ft x 25 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 60 in)
Orissa (Denny, 1906 - yard no 786 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 200 ft x 25 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 60 in)
Behar (Denny, 1906 - yard no 785 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 200 ft x 25 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 60 in)
Nepaul (Denny, 1906 - yard no 784 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 200 ft x 25 ft x 9 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 60 in)
Pagan (Denny, 1905 - yard no 758, for the India General
Navigation Co, 245 ft x 32 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 60 in)
Garwhali (Denny, 1904 - yard no 750 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 235 ft x 29 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 69 in)
Dogra (Denny, 1904 - yard no 749 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 235 ft x 29 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 69 in)
Waziri (Denny, 1904 - yard no 748 for the Rivers Steam
Navigation Co, 235 ft x 29 ft x 9.6 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 38, 25.5 and 17 in x 69 in)
Minhla (Denny, 1903 - yard no 687, for the India General
Navigation Co, 236.6 ft x 28.1 x 8.7 ft, Triple expansion diagonal 37, 25.5 and 17 in x ?? in)
Mergui (Denny, 1902 - yard no 669, for the India General
Navigation Co, 230 ft x 28 x 9 ft)
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Historical Database