Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
The MV Nicola about 1968
The SD 14
The first SD14, named Nicola, was launched in December 1967. The SD 14 design had come about by the need to replace the aging wartime Liberty Ships many of which were still in general use. Thirty designs were proposed by shipbuilders in 1966, and it was the design by Austin and Pickersgill of Sunderland that proved the most popular. The design name, SD14, stands for Shelter Deck 14,000 tons dead-weight. Although ship design was advancing, A&P’s simple design was still favoured by owners. The ship was built under licence by other Sunderland yards and in shipyards around the world. By 1984 the total number of Sunderland built SD14s to be constructed, came to 126. By the end of production in 1988 the total number of ships built, including those built around the world, came to 211.
The MV Nicola about 1968
The SD 14
The first SD14, named Nicola, was launched in December 1967. The SD 14 design had come about by the need to replace the aging wartime Liberty Ships many of which were still in general use. Thirty designs were proposed by shipbuilders in 1966, and it was the design by Austin and Pickersgill of Sunderland that proved the most popular. The design name, SD14, stands for Shelter Deck 14,000 tons dead-weight. Although ship design was advancing, A&P’s simple design was still favoured by owners. The ship was built under licence by other Sunderland yards and in shipyards around the world. By 1984 the total number of Sunderland built SD14s to be constructed, came to 126. By the end of production in 1988 the total number of ships built, including those built around the world, came to 211.