SEA-BORNE

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 13th Year

Issue

Issue No.

3

Date Released

Nov 1959

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1PLAN FOR SPEED
2. 2NEW SLANT
3. 3SEA-BORNE

Story

Story No. within this Issue

3 / 3

Summary

BFI synopsis: Mining Review goes to Denmark with a cargo of British coal for Scandinavian power stations.
NCB Commentary - By train through the English Countryside, go a party of coal buyers from five overseas countries. Their destination was Stoke Orchard, the Coal Board’s Central Research establishment near Cheltenham. It was part of a four-day visit to this country arranged by the Coal Exporter’s Federation in an effort to increase our sales. At Stoke Orchard, they were shown something of the constant research that goes on into the science of mining, the experimenting with different kinds of solid fuel and the many ways of getting the best out of them.
Already this year there has been a significant increase in the tempo of shipments particularly to Denmark - where Midlands washed smalls are in demand for power station use. Such a consignment recently left Ollerton Colliery on its long jouney to Scandinavia.
The port of departure was Immingham - not far from Grimsby and soon the contents of the railway trucks were being tipped into the capacious holds of the British owned and British built ship "Waterland" - a modern vessel with some 4,000 tons of cargo capacity.
With the cargo safely aboard, Mining Review set out for Denmark - a journey which would end in the bright lights of Copenhagen.
Ahead lay some 69 hours of sailing - to Odense on the Island of Fun.
Captain Berwick and the pilot were on the bridge as the journey down the Humber to the open sea began. At the mouth of the river, the pilot was dropped. From now on, "Waterland" was in the hands of her crew-men like Mr. Crawley the first mate whole eyes were ever watchful and Jimmy Anderson from Lerwick in the Shetlands who is the second officer.
In the radio cabin, Sparks Duncan from Edinburgh began his eight hour watch. At the helm A.B. Wardropper kept his eyes on the compass. As the Sun went down that night all was peaceful and quiet but during the darkness the wind rose.
The life of a sailor even on a routine journey across the narrow seas has its own rigours and its own trials. (Man fighting along deck)
The next day all was quiet again (we, of Mining Review, having recovered, were able to make note of the normal everyday jobs of a life at sea).
As we entered the narrows leading to the Odense Canal, the Danish Pilot came aboard.
In courtesy to the country we were visiting, the Danish Flag was raised. Already the hatch covers were being removed for a quick turn round was essential.
Ahead lay the Fynavaerket Power Station - we were about to Land in Denmark at last.
Almost before the ship was tied up, the huge grabs were grasping at the cargo - fuel for the boilers and the turbines which produce Denmark’s electricity.
This power station, which went into operation in 1953, consumed 363,000 tons of coal from various sources last year.
It produces 320,000,000 kilowatts of electricity - supplying the whole of the Island of Fyn and part of Jutland with power as well as exporting it to Germany through the grid system. Already extensions are needed.
Inside, the modern layout, the incredible cleanness of it all was particularly apparent. Although the main turbines are of German origin, much of the equipment and machinery in the station is of British manufacture.
The Fynsvaerket stands of the outskirts of Odense - the birthplace of Hans Anderson. Although a modern town, the old streets and house where he was born still attract the tourists, but it wasn’t long before Mining Review was attracted by the bright lights of Copenhagen to see just how the electricity made from British Coal was used.
In homes all over the capital, the evening meal is prepared with skill and care - by electricity - for Copenhagen can well be called the electric city. Functional, clean and convenient - the average Danish home is a delight.
A quarter of the total population of Denmark live in Copenhagen and its suburbs.
In the streets the two-car trams clank past and, like well-disciplined people, the Danes wait patiently for the lights to change before crossing the wide roads.
Bicycles were everywhere and the bike parts were as full as car parks are in England.
Things are expensive in Denmark and bargains are eagerly sought.
In the centre of the City is a vegetable market which is crowded as workers leave their offices and but their evening meal.
Near the docks is the King’s Residence, The Amalienburg Palace where, as in England, the tourists gather to watch the changing of the Guard. But perhaps of all the tourist sights the mermaid in the harbour is the one which is most famous.
Electricity for the Capital itself - comes from another new Power Station at Kalundberg and it was here that "Waterland" arrived with another 4,000 tons of washed smalls just one week after leaving Odense.
And so the seamen of Britain bring British coal to the Islands and continental mainland of Denmark - across the angry waters of the North Sea to provide heat and comfort and bright lights for the people of a firendly nation.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 5th October 1959.

Keywords

Mining; Scenery and travel; Fuels

Locations

Denmark

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.14 No.167 September 1960, p520.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board