Anecdote

I was the Executive Officer of the USS Safeguard (ARS-25) which rendered salvage assistance to SS Helisoma in the harbor at Nha Trang, Vietnam during the period 26 December 1968 to 2 January 1969. Helisoma had been mined while at anchor by suspected Viet Cong swimmers from an island in the harbor. I have numerous photos during the operation as well as articles that were written and unclassified portions of the salvage report. The Commanding Officer of Safeguard was LCDR Charles H. Billings (deceased).

Upon arrival, Safeguard moored portside to Helisoma's port bow. An initial survey revealed two holes in the skin of the ship - a hole 10'8" by 11'7" existed on the port side 16 feet from the bow and 3.5 feet below the waterline; a small blown out hole 10" by 17" was found on the starboard side 56 feet from the bow and 12 feet below the water line. Helisoma's draft at this time was 36' forward and 27'5" aft. The hole in the port side penetrated the port bunker tank, foreword dry cargo hold, forward cofferdam, and the number one port cargo tank which contained JP-4 fuel. An estimated 1000 tons of JP-4/bunker fuel remained on top of water in damaged tanks and spaces. To prevent this mixture from being discharged into the harbor, the mixture was pumped to the Dutch Shell tanker SS Korenia.

A 16' square wooden frame, steel reinforced American type patch was built and fitted by 28 December over the hole on the port side. Pumping of uncontaminated cargo, approximately19,000 tons of JP-4 to Korenia and saltwater to Helisoma's midships tanks by 31 December. A great New Years Eve celebration occurred, a story unto itself.

The job was completed on 2 January and Helisoma got underway for Singapore at 1430 hours for permanent repairs.

Signed on this ship in May 1958 at Thames Haven 6 months trip USA coast Curacao and lake Maracaibo. My first trip at sea.

Joined the Achatina in Drydock Malta in July 1980. Six months that I will never forget and will remember forever. Some fantastic runs ashore down South American coast and many others including Quebec and Panama where we paid off. Some great crew members I will also never forget and thankful I have such fond memories of such a happy and exciting times in my early life at sea.

I believe my father, William J Smyth, sailed on this ship’s maiden voyage as Chief Engineer.
As was the custom, he was given the ship’s bell when she was cocooned and I now have the bell.
My father subsequently became Shell’s Chief Superintendent Marine Engineer responsible for the entire fleet when he came ashore around 1960.

My wife is trying to get pictures of Malcolm Furness who worked as an engineer in a Shell Tanker s.s "Medora" 207,332 d.w tons. She is not certain about the year, born in Carlisle U.K and studied in South Shields Marine and Technical in New Castle. Her email address is Jenny.furness@yahoo.com

Anonymous 5th engineer 1939 to 1942 was mijn vader Louis Meijer, die met een paar Chinese matrozen als enige overleefde op een aanval van de Jappen in 1942

Op de Katelysia (2) was mijn vader Louis Meijer eerste machinist van 1954 - 1955 (nu anonymous)

Sailed to Bonny West Africa on her last trip before sale in 1976 to Goulandris Oil. Slow steaming as the price of oil was increasing as we made our way to Holland. Almost collided with a ferry on its way out of Rotterdam when we arrived the Pilot turned white but the ferry missed, Pilot really unhappy with Harbour Control. QM at the time and I along with everyone on the bridge had also broken into a sweat! Outstanding food, great crew one of the best I sailed with.

Hi, any crew out there that joined the "HYALA" in HARLAND& WOLFF ie, Thompson Drydock 1972. If so, I would be delighted to hear from you. Cheers.

Jaap Vaandrager was commodore na eerder stuurman te zijn geweest.

Wat leuk om dit terug te vinden. Mijn vader is de anonymous jaw die voer onder andere op de Daphne (Anonymous DAPHNE 1977; Anonymous CAPILUNA 1977 to 1978 ; Anonymous MACOMA (2) 1976). Sterker nog, ik ben genoemd naar deze tanker de Daphne. Als iemand me meer hierover kan vertellen zou ik dat erg leuk vinden.

I sailed on the Mytilus as in 1976 for almost 6 months as engineer.