BP British Signal at Das Island 1962

[Ivan Cloherty]

[QUOTE=Gulliver;92983]
Thinking about what you say about Japan,and one must generally bow down to someone like yourself who knows so much more about everything than almost everyone else,I feel it more likely to be the case that the U.A.E. news media assumed 'LEFO'* to be the name of a port in Japan..........Attachment 9840

Sometimes Gulliver you can be a real pain in the backside, camaflaging your insults with silly little icons, I was giving, or at least trying to, just give an example of what went on in the UAE from my experience of living there at that time, there was NO malice in my post

What comments I do make are made from personal experience, whether that gels with or not is really immaterial. What I cannot understand why someone like yourself who can be so helpful to others most times occasionaly comes up with something insulting, you have done it on many occasions to others, it does you no credit, stick to being helpful because that is what you are appreciated for.

[JamesL]

Just to continue the debate - with more research, I think the British Signal's destination may well have been the BP refinery at Aden, since that is where much of the Gulf oil was shipped at that time. Not sure how that gets John to Glasgow for August 4, but perhaps he can fill in the details? Every official version here lists the destination as Japan, so this will upset a few apple carts!
A big ceremony for the 50th anniversary is planned for December- it's too hot to hold it in July, and most of the big wigs have left for the summer.

[John Arton]

Just to enter the arguement regarding the first shipment out of Das Island.
It was, and maybe still is, common to have on the export docs (b/l's etc) one destination that was chosen for political or financial reasons. Once the vessel sailed then the Master would either receive a wire or open a sealed envelope that had the new destination together with the correct documents.
We used to run crude from the P.G. down to th eoffshore terminal at Durban in the days of aparthtide, cannot recall what was on the original B/L's on loading in the Gulf but everyone knew when you aw the orders you were never going to see that port this trip but only the S/A. coast south of Durban as you sat on the sea bouy discharging.
Another regular run for one tanker (german) I was speaking to was the P.Gulf to Eilat and this was before, during and after the Israli/Eygptian war.
They too had "false" papers on loading, that were destroyed after clearing the Gulf, yet everyone must have known what was going on, but money, especially oil money, talks.
rgds
Capt. John Arton (ret'd)

[Captain Kong]

Many times after a cargo of Crude has been loaded, the cargo is on the NY Stock Exchange and can be sold many times over to different destinations.
I have left Sea Island with a cargo for Singapore and then altered to the Mississippi, then to Galveston , then to Rotterdam and ended up in Slagen Norway.
Several times we had no destination, we stopped engines after the Commores and drifted with many other tankers including BP and rode the Aghulas Current down towards Cape Town , steamed around the Cape and then stopped engines again and drifted North on the Benguela Current whilst the Cargo was bought and sold again and again, each dealer making a profit before we got our final destination.
Hope this helps.
Brian.

[happy daze john in oz]

Many times after a cargo of Crude has been loaded, the cargo is on the NY Stock Exchange and can be sold many times over to different destinations.
I have left Sea Island with a cargo for Singapore and then altered to the Mississippi, then to Gavelston , then to Rotterdam and ended up in Slagen Norway.
Several times we had no destination, we stopped engines after the Commores and drifted with many other tankers including BP and rode the Aghulas Current down towards Cape Town , steamed around the Cape and then stopped engines again and drifted North on the Benguela Current whilst the Cargo was bought and sold again and again, each dealer making a profit before we got our final destination.
Hope this helps.
Brian.

Brian mate, you have just described how many governments work.

[Gulliver]

Just to continue the debate - with more research, I think the British Signal's destination may well have been the BP refinery at Aden, since that is where much of the Gulf oil was shipped at that time. Not sure how that gets John to Glasgow for August 4, but perhaps he can fill in the details? Every official version here lists the destination as Japan, so this will upset a few apple carts!
A big ceremony for the 50th anniversary is planned for December- it's too hot to hold it in July, and most of the big wigs have left for the summer.

I suppose it's over to John Small now to see if he can confirm the date he paid off in Glasgow-and did they proceed via Aden refinery.
Come on,John !

[John Small]

Hi James

Have tried to send E/Mail on Your given site address.

I am having no luck with it.

Hotmail site will not acknowledge it.

Regards John

[John Small]

Well Gulliver

My memory is still serving me well.

It is obviously my eye-sight needs checking, I actually signed on the British Signal 28th December 1961.

Did the first 6mth Articles untill 1st June 1962 then re-engaged because I was so popular on June 2nd 1962.

Discharging myself on the 4th August 1962 at Glasgow.

I will in due course send visual proof of this.

If you look at the dates above from June the 2nd we were still in port (Good old Tilbury) we didnt leave exactly on that date,and then the final arrival date back in the UK August 4th Having opened DAS ISLAND on July 4th 1962.

It doesn't take a genius to work things out. Ha Ha

Regards John

[Gulliver]

Thanks for replying John. It's always great that someone who was there can remember!
As James L;the Abu Dhabi 'National' editor ,has said, all reports of the event seem to be under the impression that the 'Signal' loaded that inaugural consignment for Japan.

I'm sure James will read in to this thread and reply,but if you wanted you could always send him a PM via this site.

But thanks again John.

Gulliver

[John Small]

Hello Guliver

Have just spoken to James Langton in Abu Dhabi.
I must say I found him to be a Gentleman.

He was very Interested in what I had to say.

I have attatched the visual proof as promised, which has also been forwarded to Abu Dhabi.

Regards JohnAttachment 9912002.jpg