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VEGA SEAL

Submitted by Kees Helder on Wed, 05/06/2015 - 09:56
About

Built 1970 as Hoegh Robin for A/S Alliance, Oslo (Manager Leif Hoegh & Co A/S), 1978 Sold to Vega Seal Shipping Co, Ltd, London Renamed Vega Seal. 1981 Sold to Treadwind Shipping Ltd, Hong Kong & renamed Treadwind. (Manager Tanker Fleet Services). 1985 Sold to Gentle Breeze Ltd & renamed Gentle Breeze. (Manager Wallem Shipmanagement Ltd). 1987On the 21/09/87 severely damaged by an Iranian gunboat when in position 27.50N, 49.48E during a voyage from Salaam to Mina Saud. Two crew members killed, ship taken in tow for Bahrain. Subsequently towed to Singapore. Sold to Taiwan breakers and towed to Kaohsiung arriving there on 26/12/87.

Also known as
Hoegh Robin
Treadwind
Gentle Breeze
IMO number
7028544
Call sign
M..
Construction number
1123
Tonnage
101.176 ton
Beam
35m
Length overall
265m
Year of construction
1970
Year of renaming/broken up
1987
Service for Shell
1978 to 1985
Cargo
Ore (oil)
Class
Bulkcarrier
Flag state
Cayman Islands
Home port
George Town
Manager
Vega Shipping Corp.
Shipyard
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Sakaide Japan
Status
Sailing / Sailed for Anglo-Saxon / Shell Tankers UK / STUK
Photo(s)

Comments

Submitted by Gary Holland Dutchy on Sun, 06/28/2009 - 17:01

Submitted by Nigel Taff Hughes on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 15:59

Submitted by Eric Scott on Fri, 03/21/2014 - 23:23

Submitted by Stewart A. Wood on Sun, 03/12/2017 - 04:08

Sailors

Name Job Period Details
Steve Hardy deck cadet 1977
Stewart A. Wood 2nd engineer, 3rd engineer 1978 to 1980 3rd engineer then 2nd engineer
Peter Thompson junior ordinary seaman 1978 to 1979
Paul Price radio officer 1979
Steve Sherwood 3rd officer 1979
Ian F. Boon captain (commanding officer) 1979 to 1980
Gary Victor Mitchell junior catering rating 1979 to 1980
Keith Rourke chef kok 1979 to 1980
Roger David Collins 3rd engineer 1979 motor time
Lewis Swainson catering boy/galley boy 1979
Nick Slater engineer cadet 1979
Nicholas Slater engineer cadet 1979
David Heron chef kok 1979
Eric Halcrow 3rd engineer 1980 motor time
Eileen Brown deck cadet 1980
Gary Holland Dutchy able seaman 1980 to 1981
Eric Cordiner mg 1 1980 to 1981
Geoffrey Forster 2 chef kok 1980 to 1981
Thomas Malcolm ... 3rd engineer 1980
Gary Holland able seaman 1980 to 1981
Nigel Taff Hughes motorman 1981
Michael Turnbull 5th engineer 1981
Danny Liddington efficient deckhand 1981
Eric Halcrow 3rd engineer 1981 motor time

Anecdotes

Date Visitor Anecdote
03/12/2017 - 04:08 Stewart A. Wood

I joined the Hoegh Robin with the Chief, Second (Adam Manson) and myself as 3rd in Gibraltar to take over from the Norwegian officers after a short period of familiarization. The ship was then re-named Vega Seal and the rest of the Shell crew joined some time later. I then had a number of subsequent trips all as 2nd Engineer and managed through most of that time to operate it under UMS conditions. It was however, a very difficult ship to operate, requiring a huge amount of effort and time repairing the badly maintained vessel, after years of neglect by its former owners and operators. it was also a dog in difficult sea conditions and we had our fair share of these over the years, however, I fondly remember my very ample accommodation which my wife and I enjoyed for our out time on board.
03/21/2014 - 23:23 Eric Scott

My Mother was the Godmother of the new building Hoegh Robin
Hope all who sailed with her and trod her decks faired well under Mom's watchful eye!
07/23/2009 - 15:59 Nigel Taff Hughes

I was a first tripper on the VEGA SEAL. Joining the ship in Gijon on 24th of June 81 myself and the other crew members about to sign on watched her glide into harbour from a breakfast bar overlooking the dock. My heart pounding at the thought of what was to be. I was shown to my cabin by the galley boy who pointed out i had a fridge in which to keep my drinks cold. Next door was and old AB from Swansea Aden Norris his son also signed on that day.
Within a short time the whole crew had settled and my first journey with my new famiy began.
Three hot meals a day, clean sheets and a tot on sunday.
8mm Movies projected onto the bulkhead included shout at the devil with Lee Marvin.
In the crew mess i sat listening to stories of old, gladly shared by ancient mariners rolling cigarettes with one hand and tin in the other.
I can see the crew now each going about his daily task.
Take care lads.
Regards Taff
06/28/2009 - 17:01 Gary Holland Dutchy

on the beer in japan with all the lads