Anecdote

My father R.S. Datema was the first captain on this vessel . My brother and I were on the maiden trip . Good memories . Litlle boys ... a lot of vanilla icecream .

This was my wife's first trip to sea with me, was a short voyage as broke my right wrist trying to start emergency fire pump down the fore peak. 2nd engineer and I did not know it had been under water!! we paid off on Middlesborough

My mum remembers that her father, Philip Sharer, captained this vessel. I don't know of any dates unfortunately bit if anyone out there crewed with him and could tell me anything about any journeys, places or anything about him I'd be really grateful. I have memories as a kid spending time round his house and all the seeing souvenirs he collected from his travels. He also had a Shell flag desk ornament that i used to love raising and lowering. I never got the chance to know him as well as I'd have liked to and would've loved to have heard him tell of his time at sea. Any information... good or bad (!) I'd love to hear it.

On a routine Main Engine Crankcase inspection in 1999 I found extensive cracks in some of the main bearing support girders. Repairs were not feasible the only remedy was to fit a complete new Main Engine bed plate. In the last quarter of 2001 Myrina entered Sembawang shipyard Singapore to have this work carried out Phill Williams was the Engineer superintendent and I was also there as a temporary Engine Superintendent due to the amount of Main Engine work involved. This was completed and the vessel sailed with the Main Engine fully operational in November.

Prior to handing the ship over to its new owners in March 2004 she spent 3 months in Sembawang shipyard Singapore fitting a new Main Engine Bed plate due to the original developing cracks in the bearing housings similar to those found in Myrina where the bed plate was changed 2001.

My great-grandfather was the Master of this ship ... his name was Capt. William Daniel of Aberdovey and Ilford.

I have an original photograph of this ship sent by Capt. Daniel to his daughter Myfanwy Daniel (my grandmother)

We where in Kuwait discharging into 30 ton lorries. We only pumped during the day and the bitumen hardened in the pipes over night.
One morning we got set to discharge again and tanker driver was standing over the hole that our discharge pipe went into on the top of the truck. He was in typical Arab dress of kaftan and flip flops and tried to get him to stand well clear of the hatch. However he would not listen and choose to peer into where our pipe went into the truck.
The pumpman had to us quite a bit of pressure this morning to clear the blockages. There was so much pressure that when the bitumen left the end of the discharge pipe it bounced straight up and out. The Arab was sprayed with bitumen from head to foot and could dance pretty well. I haven't got a clue what happened to him, it was in the middle of Ramadan and I remember being thirsty, Amstel time.

Falmouth photo brings back memories.Hard to believe it\'s almost fifty years ago.

Hi ,
I joined the Rincon Hills at Portland. Maine on March 1960.Jack Richmond and I have become re acquainted after a mere 45 years.
I live in Victoria BC. and would love to hear about any more of my shipmates from Shell Canadian Tankers.
Just came across a letter from Rolph Wirminghaus who was on the Rincon. Anyone out there know of him and his whereabouts. He did come from a town called Wuppertal in Germany but may be living in Canada.
Cheers
Peter Coulson.

During one of the ship's early voyages toward the end of 1980, we sighted a fishing boat flying a distress signal during the 12-4 one afternoon while heading toward Singapore. Close examination showed it to contain Vietnamise "boat people" desperately trying to escape that country. All hands were involved in getting the men, woman and children on board from the old wooden boat, which promptly sunk - and the Master then turned the ship to go back for one young guy who had fallen into the sea during the rescue....that guy was particularly lucky to survive.

During the couple of days they were on board we heard stories of how other ships had passed them bye. We saw the primitive equipment, such as a chart that was simply a tracing on rice paper - their only navigation aid!

I seem to recall they were removed in Singapore without undue problem - but was amazed to find about half of them turned up in a refugee reception centre in Essex, just a few miles from my (then) house, and whom I later visited. About half the group went to the UK, and the other half (inc the guy who fell off!) went to the US. I later got a letter from the guy who fell off - but didn't continue any further links. I wonder what happened to them all.....they owe their lives to the Ebalina and its crew.

Was radio officer on the Drupa when it grounded (well sank on the jetty) in stavanger Feb 1976.
Remember the bulbous bow hitting then rocks and the ship bending like a banana and rolling to port, taking off the bulbous bow and 1-6 starboard tanks ( I think) Was a beautiful blue sky day - flat calm - pilot on board, 3rd mate said captain we are too near the rock, what rocks he shouted, too late. Remember being thrown off my chair with the impact and the sayi,h to captain, distress call? No he said, contact shell HQ. Sent message to cullercoats radio on 500khz, prefixed GETUM to shell, th4 highest priority message. Remember captain saying don't think we hit the tanks, seconds later a sound you could not discribe came from under the ship and black crude was everywhere. We limped to the jetty, sank on the jetty and the ship had a masssive list to port, we all were told to stay on board except the wives. Wouldn't happen nowerdays with H&S ???? Captains and Pilot were arrested and jailed, believe they were find A?5000 each, a price of as small house, then sacked tickets lost. As Drups had a 1.5 million refit to have a pipe fitted to the bow, it was going to be the first ship to take oil from the North Sea! - this was not to be and mobile took the prize! Shell were not best pleased, the heads from Shell in London were out by private helicopter within hours of the news. As drupa was such and expensive ship it was decided to get 4 massive tugs and limp it to Hamburg where it was repaired and put back into service in the summer of 1976.
Well that's the story - after that epic short lived trip joined the AMASTRA

I remember when we ran her up the beach in kirachi the captain told the engine room to give it all and clear the pit... i helped sparkie crate up all the radio gear as ithas to go back to marconi...i asked him what about the clock all by itself now on the bulkhead..he said take it if you want..so i did and its here in front of me..lovly