LOTORIUM (2)

Submitted by Kees Helder on Sat, 04/18/2015 - 14:26

About

Completed 1975 as "LOTORIUM" for STUK. 1980 sold to Belgravia Tanker and renamed Lotor. 1980 sold to Grafton Shipping Panama and renamed Olympic Armour II. 1982-1987 laid-up at Piraeus. 1987 in service Persian Gulf. 1987-1996 laid-up Piraeus. 1996 sold to Thai Int. Tankers and renamed Orapin Global. 18-10-2002 arrived Chittagong for scrap.

Also known as	Lotor Olympic Armour II Oraphin Global
IMO number	7341001
Call sign	GUIR
Construction number	1694
Tonnage	268.393 ton
Beam	55m
Length overall	351m
Year of construction	1975
Year of renaming/broken up	2002
Service for Shell	1975 to 1980
Cargo	Crude
Class	L-class 270.000 / 315.000 ton
Flag state	Great Britain
Home port	London
Manager	Anglo-Saxon / Shell Tankers U.K.
Shipyard	Harland & Wolff Shipyard Belfast
Status	Sailing / Sailed for Anglo-Saxon / Shell Tankers UK / STUK

Photo(s)

Comments

427-265-5683

Permalink Submitted by Derek Cumming on Tue, 11/23/2010 - 14:40

1012-265-8002

Permalink Submitted by Capt A. F. Devanney on Wed, 04/23/2014 - 19:28

1027-265-8002

Permalink Submitted by Capt A. F. Devanney on Thu, 05/29/2014 - 23:59

Sailors

Name	Job	Period	Details
Derek Cumming	deck cadet	1975 to 1976
Richard Graham ...	2nd mate	1975 to 1976
Martin Murdoch	5th engineer	1975	newly married, accompanied by wife
Peter Copeland	3rd mate	1975	Maiden voyage
Peter Gill	2nd mate	1975
Jim Wylie	deck cadet	1975
Chris Wallace	3rd engineer	1975
James D. Glover	3rd engineer	1975
Ian Stretton Walker	chief officer	1976 to 1977
Ian Bishop	5th engineer, 3rd engineer	1976 to 1979
Kevin Stephenson	deck cadet	1976
Steve Roberts	5th engineer	1976
Roy Tubbs	2nd engineer	1976
Ian Coulman	chief officer	1976
Steve Kent	5th engineer, 3rd engineer	1976 to 1980	on maiden voyage+2 other trips
Paul Price	radio officer	1976 to 1977
David Ward	5th engineer	1976
Siu Ming Tam	chief steward	1976 to 1977
Lawrence Lawson...	2nd engineer	1978
John Ross 2	chief officer	1978 to 1979
Eamon Mullin	3rd mate	1979
Chris Matthews	chief engineer	1979
Capt A. F. Devanney	chief officer	1979 to 1981
Lee Ruane	5th engineer	1979
Robin Ritchie	chief engineer	1979 to 1980

Anecdotes

Date	Visitor	Anecdote
05/29/2014 - 23:59	Capt A. F. Devanney	I've just remembered that when the LOTORIUM was sold to Belgravia and her name was changed to LOTOR the managing company was Tanker Fleet Services. I believe the reason we were arrested while bunkering at C.O.T. in Curacao was due Belgravia having sold the ship to one company then, selling to another company as well. The first we knew of our release from arrest was when the Greek Master and other Officers came aboard to take over. Karl Biscoe came out to Curacao on a specially chartered plane and arranged for everyone (except Peter Murphy 2/E and myself) to board this chartered plane and be home for Christmas. The carrot we were given was "it won't do your careers much good if you don't sail with the ship for a handover!!!!" It was shortly after this that all the Officers and Chinese Crew left to be ferried ashore in the lifeboat - watched by Peter and myself, during which time the name OLYMPIC ARMOUR II was being emblazoned on each bow and on the stern with port of registry PANAMA added below on the stern. I was Chief Officer for much of 1979, 1980 and part of 1981 and was sorry to see her go especially as I ended up confined to the Harland and Wolff "L" Class almost non-stop up until they were due for scrap.
04/23/2014 - 19:28	Capt A. F. Devanney	I first joined the LOTORIUM as Chief Officer in the Arabian Sea in early February 1979 under the command of Capt. J Y Cox loaded a cargo at Ras Tannurah and steamed round the Cape changed from Capt Cox to Capt. T D McDermott, proceeded to a two port discharge in Italy. An eventful voyage during which we ended up loading for Ship to Ship transfers in the Gulf of Mexico. On the way past Barbados Capt McDermott was relieved by Capt. I R Farnell. By this time I was over 7 months on board and had been "supposed" to get relieved at Barbados inward bound with Capt. McDermott!!! which never happened. There was a Tropical storm brewing and slowly moving towards the West Indies at this time. While we were ship to shipping this storm was downgraded to a depression, unfortunately, this was a mistake as it suddenly got it's act together, girded it's loins and became a severe tropical storm called David and arrived in the Gulf of Mexico. While one of our lighters was alongside, the seas became so rough that it rode right up the ship's side with the Yokohama fenders and nearly ended up on deck. Suggestion made to the Captain that we broke off for a few days while the seas subsided. Eventually paid off at Barbados in late September though, my relief was none too pleased as he'd been told I would do a handover to Nigeria and back to Barbados. In August 1980 I was sent down to Setubal (near Lisbon) to join the LOTORIUM as Shot Blasting Chief Officer only to find that I was to change the name to LOTOR as she had been sold by present owners. Under the command of Capt. R Grieg we spent some 2 or 3 months in Setubal before getting a cargo from Nigeria for Curacao. We arrived and drifted off the island for a few days before discharging and, once again we heard we were to be sold. We had to bunker in C O T and, while doing this, the Third Mate came to the bar and said the ship had been arrested and we were to be moved to the buoy mooring in St Michael's Baai the following morning under Naval escort!!! At the buoy mooring Capt. Grieg was relieved by Capt. J A Potts and, here we stayed for some days, breaking the anchors out one evening during a movie and having to get tugs to push the bow back in so we could re-anchor the bow again. Just before Christmas we were informed that the ship had indeed been sold and was to become the OLYMPIC ARMOUR II, the Greek Officers and Crew would be boarding Christmas Eve and all but myself and Second Engineer Peter Murphy (from Hamilton Scotland) were "requested" to stay and help the Greek Officers become familiar with the system above and below decks. Shell had chartered a special flight to get everyone else back to the UK and home for Christmas but both Christmas and New Year were to be spent with our Greek compatriots. A very interesting time was spent seeing how the Greeks, under the Command of a Capt. Mendrinos operated their "new" ship. A slow steam round the Cape to anchor at Fujairah then, load at Mina al Khafji where Peter and I had an interesting "off signing" and eventful journey from Khafji through the Neutral Zone into Kuwait and eventually back to the UK. My trip this time lasting more than 9 months and arriving home to a rather unamused wife, fortunately no divorce papers (but only just!!!!)
11/23/2010 - 14:40	Derek Cumming	My first trip to sea in October 1975 started with a flight out to Dubai to join the Lotorium at Ras al Khaimah. I remember travelling in a suit and tie only to meet some of the other guys (5th Engineer, Gary I think, his wife and the Captain amongst others) in denims. I was not prepared for the heat of the Persian Gulf at that time. We had to wait a number of days for the ship to arrive and I don't think I ventured out of the hotel's air conditioned interior. Life at sea was an eye opener and the voyages around the Cape seemed to take forever to me. This was also my first time away from home at Christmas, but not the last! My first girlfriend left me during this 6 months at sea so there was plenty for a young lad to get used to. I can't remember many of the names but I do remember many evenings in the bar during those deep sea voyages. As a few of the guys had brought their wives, it was normally quite civilised and entertaining. I eventually left the ship while she was at drydock in Lisbon in April 1976, a fully fledged seafarer.