esso northumbria

[Paul Kennedy]

I was on this ship around 1978
anyone else remember this vessel?

[Captain Kong]

I was on `Big Geordie` in 1976 and then when she broke down in Cape Town. A good trip. Did six months.
I heard there was a Murder on board a few years later, someone went berserk in the galley with a carving knife, , anyone else hear about that??
Cheers
Brian.

[Ray Buck]

If I remember correctly Esso Northumbria & Esso Hibernia had lifts install that gave a lot of trouble due to the flexing of the ship
Ray

[Captain Kong]

Hi Ray,
There were four ships of that class, I sailed on them all.
They were designed by a friend of mine who died last year, Joe Hirder, he lived near Norfolk, Virginia.
.
ESSO- Northumbria, and Hibernia, both built in Swan Hunters, Tyne. and Ulidia, and Caledonia both built in Belfast.
.
The two Tyne built ships always had a lot of problems, hull cracking on the Hibernia on the maiden voyage and many problems on Northumbria. The Rudder stock fractured in 1976 off Cape Town and we were towed in along side the outer breakwater. the biggest ship ever to go into Cape Town at that time, three months alongside.
I didnt experience any problems with the lifts.
There was a lot of corrosion causing many problems and a lot of problems in the engine room.
There was flexing of the hull in heavy weather, the fore deck used to go up and down, bending like carrying a long plank. This was necessary as if it wasnt flexible they would have snapped in half. The Sheer strake was made of high tensile steel to accommodate this movement.
They were built 1970.
.
Esso Northumbria
B. 1970. 256,000 dwt, Swan Hunter S. B. Ltd. Steam Turbine. B/U at Kaohsiung in 1982
.
I enjoyed the trip of six months on her.
Cheers
Brian.

[Capt Bill Davies]

Brian,

I recall we had a mutual friendship with Joe. I have to say I was unaware that he had anything to do with designing ships outside of NBC.

Brgds

Bill

[Captain Kong]

Hi Bill,
Joe told me he had designed the Northumbria class of VLCC for EXXON.
He also arranged for Princess Anne to launch the Northumbria and then when the launch was delayed for a while he went to Buckingham Palace to arrange a later date for the launch.
Joe was not the type of man to exagerate. so I believed him.
I met him socially many times and he would read out my seafaring poems out to the members of his EXXON Club in Virginia Beach.
It was a great pleasure to have known him and his wife Shirley.
I will send you a PM of exerpts of various emails so it will give you some idea of his life style.
Cheers
Brian.

[Gulliver]

Hi Ray,
There were four ships of that class, I sailed on them all.
They were designed by a friend of mine who died last year, Joe Hirder, he lived near Norfolk, Virginia.
.
ESSO- Northumbria, and Hibernia, both built in Swan Hunters, Tyne. and Ulidia, and Caledonia both built in Belfast.
.
The two Tyne built ships always had a lot of problems, hull cracking on the Hibernia on the maiden voyage and many problems on Northumbria. The Rudder stock fractured in 1976 off Cape Town and we were towed in along side the outer breakwater. the biggest ship ever to go into Cape Town at that time, three months alongside.
I didnt experience any problems with the lifts.
There was a lot of corrosion causing many problems and a lot of problems in the engine room.
There was flexing of the hull in heavy weather, the fore deck used to go up and down, bending like carrying a long plank. This was necessary as if it wasnt flexible they would have snapped in half. The Sheer strake was made of high tensile steel to accommodate this movement.
They were built 1970.
.
Esso Northumbria
B. 1970. 256,000 dwt, Swan Hunter S. B. Ltd. Steam Turbine. B/U at Kaohsiung in 1982
.
I enjoyed the trip of six months on her.
Cheers
Brian.

Brian,
There were Four more of the same size (250,000 dwt.) :- ESSO SCOTIA built by AG Weser,Bremen,-ESSO CAMBRIA built by Verolme,Rozenburg, and ESSO DALRIADA and ESSO DEMETIA both built by Kockums,Malmo.

In addition three slightly smaller ships were built during the previous two years -ESSO MERCIA (170,000 dwt.) built by AG Weser;ESSO ANGLIA (200,000 dwt. )Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique,St.Nazaire;and ESSO BERNICIA(200,000 dwt) built by Howaldtswerke,Kiel.


　
　
　
　
　
I think this picture will bring back seagoing tanker memories for you . It depicts the VLCC m.t. RAMLAH (300,361 dwt.) of National Shipping Co.of Saudi Arabia off Cape Agulhas,South Africa. RAMLAH.jpg
(Picture courtesy of the excellent Auke Visser Tanker Site)




Best Regards




　
　

[Captain Kong]

I sailed on most of the ESSO Big ones, four of the Northumbria class and the best were the Kockums buit ones Demetia and Dalriada.
The ships were slightly larger tonnage and better built, the accommodation was much nicer as well.
The DEMETIA was hit by an Exocet Missile in the Gulf , Iraq/ Iran war.
I enjoyed my time with ESSO and got a great Golden Hand shake when I took early retirement, plus free pension.
They looked after us very well.
.
. The biggest Tanker I ever went on was the BATILUS, French Shell Tanker, I sailed around the Cape on her when I was with Court Helicopters, there were several flights to her with various parcels of cargo from Cape Town, so I stayed on board for around three hours with the Paperwork as she steamed around the Cape. Now she was BIG.!
560,000 tons, she was on her maiden Voyage in 1976. It was like being on the Isle of Man. I have photos somewhere. She only lasted seven years.
CALEDONIA , DEMETIA, HIBERNIA, BATILUS.

[Capt Bill Davies]

There was very little difference in them Brian. From the 'Bantry Class' in 1970 to King Alexander they all seemed a little 'samey'.

What stays in my mind more is the accommodation and I use the above ULCCs as examples . The Bantry Class were BASIC (steel Bulkheads in accomodation) and I use capitals to make the point whilst the King Alexander was sumptuous due her previous Scandinavian owners. One company I sailed in whose ULCCs were perhaps bordering on the lavish was Grand Bassa Tankers. Absolutely out of this world. All Italian except for me and the German C/Eng.

As for early retirement Brian, you must have 'blue eyes'. In Jan 2005 I had 50 years unbroken and no kindly owner to look kindly on me. That's life.

Brgds

Bill

[Captain Kong]

Hi Bill,
Esso with the fleet slowly disappearing to Taiwan, wanted everyone to retire at 50, with a Gold Handshake and non contributary pension, I refused and carried on for another three years, then a Friend of mine in the Office, told me to take it, the big money was going to be stopped.
I went into the Office and had a chat to the Man. the figures he showed me were astounding. I snatched his hand off.
I never knew how much they were paying.
It was paid in three lump sums over three Tax years to avoid the tax that would have decimated it if paid in a lump sum. A cheque in March , another in April and the third in the following April. It was like a lottery win.
Now my younger brother had to stay on for another nine years, he got Peanuts in comparison. But enough to get himself a Brewery.
They had excellent Financial Advisers and they really did advise us well and the money made more money.
The best move I ever made in my whole life was to join ESSO.
While working for them they paid all my college and examination Fees whilst on pay for going there.
We had First Class travel and the best Hotels world wide.
They do not have a Fleet now. They just use Chartered tonnage for the transportaion of crude and products.
Cheers
Brian.