Anecdote

I was transferred to the Dromus in Suez dockyard in Dec, 1951. She was there because a bulkhead in 5 starboard had come away from the hull and was scraping and flapping loose. This was fixed and we proceeded East. When Loading octane at Bukom in 1951, the last tank 7c was topped up and loading ceased. The 3rd. mate closed the valve and,on reaching the closure, there was a bang and the wheel continued to spin. The valve spindle had broken and we had no means of discharging the contents. On arrival at Colombo, a superintendent from Singapore was there to meet us with a plan of action. We commenced discharging the wing tanks, raised the hatch lid of 7c, placed boards across the coamings, put the emergency fire pump on top with the suction in 7c and discharge in 7s. When we had lowered the level to below the break,(about halfway) the Ch.Off descended the ladder, wearing a safety line, waders and the smoke helmet and carrying a large stillson heavily wrapped with rags, until reaching the break. With the stillson on the spindle, he managed to open the suction valve. A rather unpleasant operation!
All the valves were heavily corroded and often stuck in the closed position, requiring valve spanners on each side and plenty of brute force to open them. Previously I had served 2 years on the Donacilla which had the same problem as all the old ships kept on the white oil trade had. We were used to the practice of cracking open the next tank to be filled well before topping up commenced.
A few days after Dromus went into drydock in Singapore, I was transferred to the Amastra to work my passage home as I had served 22 months. Myself, 3rd.Mate and 2 apprentices swapping with our counterparts. We spent 3 weeks loading in Miri and Pladjoe before setting out for Colombo. Before leaving the Straits of Malacca, we heard of the accident on Dromus. I am sure that those sticky vaves were the cause. Quite likely the 2nd mate had not had any experience of them as Amastra was a black oil ship.

My anecdote about Naninia and the explosion is incorrect please ignore it. A senior moment I guess.

I joined Naninia in Singapore in June 1956 as 4th engineer and spent all my time with her in the Pacific and on the Australian coast. With a Chinese crew food was good and she was a very happy ship. I left her in March 1957 after 15months away as I had transferred from TES Trigonosemus in june 1956.

Joined Thalamus in December 1954 as 5th engineer in South Shields. In April 1954 Thalamus was sent to the aid of the San Cirilo after the boiler explosion which killed all the engineers apart from the Chief and two firemen. Chief Engineer Macaulay arranged for 3rd engineer and two 5ths to be put aboard Cirilo,I was one of them.
Our Chief Mate refused to take the ships motor boat and Cirilo had to send hers for us. We found the Cirilo Chief inside the other boiler descaling. We spent 7 days aboard repairing and sailing her into Trinidad. We kept 6 hour watches.
On rejoining Thalamus I was promoted to 4th engineer.
Unfortunately in September 1955 In Rotterdam myself and a 5th were scalded and hospitalised.

I joined Tagelus in September 1953 in Dry Dock in Birkenhead as 5th Engineer and left her in Harburg in September 1954. Our Chief Engineer was Andrew Phillips who was succeeded by THM Anderson. Our Master was Captain TLGreen who was taken ill in January1954 and we had to put him ashore in the Azores. Captain J Brittain joined the ship in Curacao. A happy ship but troubled with some crew unrest which ended with one of the lifeboats being damaged. I am sure Third Mate Eric Phillips will remember this incident.

boarded along with two other engineers in South Atlantic after boiler explosion.
We spent seven days aboard repairing and sailing into Trinidad. I would like to trace the other two engineers but have no names.

ik mis het nog

Hospitalised with four other Crew members in Sumartria for 6 weeks. If anyone would like to get in touch please contact me on Regen_slayer@hotmail.com

I remember picking up a load of Vietnamese "Boat People" during one trip in the south China sea. We dropped them off in Singapore and got a commendation from the UNHCR High Commissioner.

This fantastic ship was my first trip in 78.Over the years i done five trips on her,great crews,great memories,never forget....from Ardrossan to San Estaban she was a dream to sail on,chatty but happy.

I boarded San Cirilo along with two other engineers from TES Thalamus after the boiler explosion aboard Cirilo in the South Atlantic in April 1955. Only the Chief Engineer and two firemen had survived the explosion. We made the necessary repairs and sailed the ship into Trinidad. The Chief and I took a watch of 6hours and the 3rd engineer (who I think was Thomas Pursey from the North East) and the 5th from Thalamus did the other watch all over a period of three days.
Thalamus stood by until we approached Trinidad and then sailed on to Curacao. After one night in Trinidad we flew to Curacao to rejoin Thalamus. We then sailed for Punta Cardon to load then the long trip to Singapore via Durban
The cause of the explosion was a badly leaking condenser feeding salt water into the boiler.

I joined the Neothyris, in Rotterdam, on the 20th March 1960, as supernumery radio officer. We sailed to Hong Kong and signed off on the 25th May 1960, when the ship was handed over to the scrapyard. The officers then stayed in Hong Kong for a few days before sailing, as passengers, on the MS Asia, to Singapore. We there joined the MS Northia, on the 1st June 1960, and following a couple of trips to Calcutta and Manila, were given orders for Hong Kong. We signed off on the 14th July 1960, when again another Shell tanker was handed over to the scrapyard. We then spent a couple of weeks ashore in Hong Kong, before sailimg as passengers on the SS Carthage back to Singapore. Following a couple of days in Singapore, I then joined the SS Gouldia, on the 6th August 1960, for one trip to Pladju, where I joined the MS Bursa on the 12th August 1960. I then spent a very happy 9 months on the MS Bursa, as Sparky, mainly sailing between Singapore, Indonsia, Borneo and Malaysia.
I finally signed off in Singapore on the 5th April 1961, before flying home to the UK on the 7th April 1961
That was my introduction to Shell Tankers and the Far East and as a 19/20 year old it was a fantastic experience, one which I will never forget.