8. Bazan Magazine for the Year 1956

Bazan, 1. May-June 1957

The source for the news in this chapter is the Ferrolian Atheneum's digital collection of Bazan the shipyard's magazine. This collection may be viewed in the gargantuan "Internet Archive," a public-access digital library of webpages, books, texts, audio recordings, videos, images and software programs.

The user should type "https://archive.org/details/revista-bazan/195705-06_num.01/" to access the Atheneum's collection. S/he will then find on the left-hand side of the opened webpage a list of all Bazan magazine numbers plus a column of six icons, download icon included. The first download moves the particular Bazan magazine file from the Archive's storage disks to the Archive's webpage viewer. A second optional download transfers the same file from the Archive's webpage viewer to the user's own computer. S/he can choose between a PDF version (recommended) or an ePub version.

September

5.

According to p. 11 of the first number of Bazan, September 5, 1956, was the most indelible date of that year, Sacrificing chronological order we shall begin by referring to the memorable day lived in the Factory on September 5 with the ceremonies surrounding the launch of the fast frigate "Oquendo," the delivery to the "Elcano" transport company of the recently built oil tanker "Puentes de García Rodríguez" (19,000 deadweight tonnage), and the laying the keel of a new tanker (construction project #108) similar to the aforementioned and destined for the "Naviera Vizcaína" shipping company. Given the exceptional importance of these events bestowed with supreme luster, as is known, by the presence of H. E. the Head of State Generalissimo Franco and of his distinguished spouse, godmother of the "Oquendo," along with the other high-ranking Authorities, we have not been able to resist the temptation of commenting on them in the first place. The following film of those events co-opts the newsreel's intro for show. The full newsreel, ten minutes long, was first shown on Monday September 17, 1956. Official Spanish Newsreel NO-DO 715 A Voice-Over Translated: El Ferrol del Caudillo entertains the visit of His Excellency the Head of State to his native city with keen displays of sympathy. The Generalissimo visits the modern shipyard and workshops of the Northwest installed in Perlío. Note: This was rival shipyard Astano located five kilometers away by road (End of Note). Franco receives during his walk the workers' show of allegiance. Franco tours the factory accompanied by ministers, other authorities, the president of the Board of Administration and the director of the factory and surveys the technological advancements plus the codders scheduled for launch soon. Next the Generalissimo goes aboard the oil tanker "Puentes de García Rodriguez," which then sails around the Ferrolian bay. This vessel has also been built at the shipyard. Note: This however was Bazan shipyard! the script writer got into a muddle (End of Note). The oil tanker displaces more than 26,000 tonnes, has a carrying capacity of 19,000 tonnes, a length overall of 171 meters, a beam of 22 meters and an upper works of 12 meters. After a tour of the bay the ceremony of the tanker's official commissioning took place. Franco disembarks and heads to the (Bazan) shipyard to attend the launch of the frigate "Oquendo". The ship is blessed by Cardinal Archbishop of Compostela Dr. Quiroga Palacios. Mrs. Carmen Polo de Franco acts as the godmother. The ship glides down the slipway. It has a displacement of 2,135 tonnes, a loaded displacement of 2,893 tonnes and a speed of 38 knots. The Ferrolian people gather in Marqués de Alborán Square. Note: See the news entry for November 15, 1955 (End of Note). Meanwhile the municipal government tributes an official reception to the Generalissimo inside Town Hall who, pressed by the public acclamations outdoors, must go out to the building's balcony and acknowledge the demonstrations of affection and sympathy which the crowd salutes the presence of His Excellency in the city with.

OTHER NEWS

There were "numerous" visits of national and foreign names. John Davis Lodge the American Ambassador and Sir Hilary Worthington Biggs the British Vice Admiral stand out in the foreigners' tally. The American diplomat came accompanied by his wife, daughter and embassy staff. The British commander arrived with several senior officers of the H.M.S. Theseus light aircraft carrier.

There were also "numerous" visits of engineers and technicians from national and foreign enterprises, among them the French "Société Rateau," "Ateliers and chantiers de Bretagne," the Italian "Gio. Ansaldo & C." and the U.S. Navy Shipbuilding Liaison Office.

On December 31, 1956, the traditional year-end reception for a large delegation of workers and employees was held in the Library Room of the Board of Directors. Julio Murúa Quiroga the director of the Factory addressed the gathering. He summed up the work done in 1956, forecast an auspicious 1957, had a kind word for the personnel on sick leave and a special remembrance for those who had died. He enjoined everyone to keep working in 1957 with the same enthusiasm and he entreated foremen to update their skills to raise productivity and to be a source of inspiration to their subordinates. His speech closed to hearty applause and everyone was served a glass of Spanish wine.

Statistics for the year 1956. 174 weddings of workers or employees. 473 births. 49 workers and 5 employees retired. 24 deaths.

SPORTS

The magazine's Sports Section dwells on the huge following that the sport of basketball generated in the city of Ferrol thanks to the impressive success of Bazan's basketball team in national competitions. The magazine gives full credit for Bazan's recent accomplishments to the training and technical skill of former coach Michael Ruzgis.

Few sports have generated such an atmosphere of expectancy in a city as the one generated by the Bazan basketball team in the space of a few months.

From its formation in 1950-51 the Bazan basketball team drew to the seats of its court crowds that always followed the team's victorious campaigns with enthusiasm. So much so that it became necessary to condition the shipyard's gym, where the court is now, because the primitive court was too small.

And this expectancy and this enthusiasm spawned many teams in our city and caused basketball to become Ferrol's most popular sport. And all the basketball matches, provincial-league or bantam or junior or women's, etc., are played in front of a full house that follows the various incidents of the match with keen interest.

"Bazan" has the category of a first national division team and it is the "perpetual" provincial and Galician champion. It continues without a doubt to be at the forefront of Ferrolian basketball. But the shipyard is not satisfied with sponsoring this team alone. It promotes the sport of basketball throughout the workforce, and so today it boasts women's and men's teams that play in the Educación y Descanso League, both were provincial champions this year, plus bantam and junior teams whose roster is made up of apprentices. Thus we would fall short of the mark if we said that only a hundred workers played in its basketball teams.

[...]

The work of a man who transformed this sport with his technique deserves a mention apart. That man was the coach. Mike Ruzgist (sic). He gave to Ferrolian basketball, represented by "Bazan," a new technique, a new style of play that subsequently influenced the other teams and which raised "Bazan" to the level of rubbing elbows with the best teams in the country.

We believe that the stint of Ruzgist in Ferrol was highly beneficial for the game of basketball and that his training will serve as a stimulus—now he has departed—to overtop the results achieved under his orders.