| IMO number | 5147425 |
|---|---|
| Call sign | MSDF |
| Construction number | 1219 |
| Tonnage | 19.349 ton |
| Beam | 21m |
| Length overall | 169m |
| Year of construction | 1954 |
| Year of renaming/broken up | 1976 |
| Service for Shell | 1954 to 1976 |
| Cargo | |
| Class | |
| Flag state | |
| Home port | |
| Manager | |
| Shipyard | |
| Status |
HEMIFUSUS
Sailors
Anecdotes
| Date | Visitor | Anecdote |
|---|---|---|
| 12/04/2021 - 20:34 | Robert Dunbar |
Joined the Hemifusus my 2nd trip in Rotterdam 04/02/1970 along with three other deck cadets. After completing the discharge and tank cleaning in the English Channel we entered Bute Dry Dock Cardiff 09/02/70 The following day a full crew change was carried out. The ships articles were closed and new articles opened. One of the cadets who had only just joined, decided he was not re-signing on and simply walked off the ship, the one and only time I saw this happening in 40 years at sea. Tiger bay was in full swing and we had some great runs ashore. After sailing we headed west to the Caribbean loading Lub oils in Curacao and discharging in the US. The Capt. was very much old school and had logged/sacked quite a few people in the first 8 weeks. On the 2nd. loading in Curacao the Capt. paid off and was temporarily relieved by an elderly retired Capt. for a month or so. Regrettably a couple of crew members the worse the wear for drink returned from the Madhouse and decided to "have a word" with the Capt. about the numerous loggings and sackings unaware that he had left the vessel, that afternoon. There was a scuffle, outside the Captains cabin with lots of shouting and banging which resulted in the police arriving and the two crew members being arrested, never seen again. We then headed for Panama, Japan, Singapore, Curacao and finally back to the UK without too many further incidents, paying off in London 19/08/1970 (A great learning trip for a cadet but definitely not a happy trip) |
| 06/05/2017 - 22:30 | Tony Dodd |
Hemifusus was my last H boat, joined and left in Singapore during first half of 74 after I had passed my 2nd Class Steam ticket. Nice old girl, running around the Pacific with Lub Oils and the only time I went to Japan was on her. I loved the routes but, with new ships coming on line and me only getting sent to old ones, I was becoming a little bored with Shell boats by the time I was on her and wanted something more modern so I left Shell for a challenging role with a Greek shipping company - where my Panamanian ticket cost me just 10bucks and I could have a 2/E berth and pay! |
| 05/10/2014 - 17:11 | John Selbie |
my first trip at sea ,was supposed to be for 3 months turned out to be a 9 month sentence,i lived in the rabbit hutch assigned to catering boys ,i was sea sick from hamburg to gulf of mexico aprox for 3 weeks ,the ship its self was hmm rubbish so say the least,but the work and guys i worked with were great, i worked as galley boy,and as i came from a small mining town in fife, and from a large family living on the bread line, i can honestly say i have never been so well fed,but have to say saw a lot of this world we live on in that nine months in fact a world criuse,so from sept 1968 to june 1969, i have to say thanks to ,john the cook from everton liam curran liverpool rocky (nobby clark pantry boy lol closest i can get for him was west ham area, and fellow scot davy herron,hope u all done well and life was good to u all. |
| 10/22/2011 - 12:48 | Peter Cole |
Had black out on the Musi river heading for Pladju, ran aground briefly, fended off river pirates with capstan bars and brought the new year in half an hour early due to a timing error that was down to the skipper whose name I can't remember. Ch.Eng. was Marnoch Thompson, we drank all chiefies scotch & a good time was had by all. |
| 12/03/2009 - 12:00 | John Holly |
I was an ordinary seaman and member of the crew of the Hemifusus when she carried first cargo of oil from Port Harcourt. We were treated to a roof-top party at Shell House, Lagos. On arrival in Port Harcourt Shell laid on a reception for the then Governor of Nigeria, together with his wife and party of officials. However, an engineer officer, who being fond of his drink, was considered too much of a liability to mix with invited officials and was foiled into entering his cabin with a "spare" case of whiskey etc. As he placed under his bunk, a couple of other officers locked his cabin door and left him there until the Governor and his party had left. As we were at anchor on the river, a barge was set in place to enable the guests, especially the ladies, to embark from the launches, and ascend the steps to the deck. A cadet was posted as lookout on the bridge, in order to inform the captain when the first launch left the key side. It was arranged for the Governor to on the first launch. Unexpectedly, I was the sole person on the launch, having missed the last launch of the night before. I spent the night on a Fife's banana ship. When "my" launch pulled up at the landing barge, I was met by the captain and his officers in their white uniforms. The look he gave me suggested I was in for a keel-hauling. The crew members were casually assembled on the poop deck and gave me a round of applause. I crept to my cabin and laid low for a while. Halcyon days. Regards John Holly PS. I gave up the sea on my return to England |
| 10/27/2009 - 20:42 | Keith Refault |
Hemifusus was my first deep sea ship. I joined as Radio Officer at the age of 18 (15 days before my 19th birthday). I have always wanted to get a copy of the shell or a good photo of her. The one in the Helderline website looks as if it was toward the end of her days. When I joined she was only 2 so I would be 'over the moon' to get a photo of her in her prime |
| 03/20/2009 - 20:10 | Jon Welford |
My first ship as Deck Cadet joined in Rotterdam and straight to Barry Dry Dock to replace propshaft bearings. Loaded Lube oils in Curacao ended up in New Zealand, Only ship I spent Christmas aboard in 9 years with Shell! |
| 03/20/2009 - 20:06 | Jon Welford |
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