BP ships served on

thank you Robpage yes it is the British Merit thank you once more:D

British Fame (captain Merchant? was the Skipper I think)

Was on her at the same time as As/Stewd from Dec 62 till April 63 as you say it was cold running around Scandinavia, did we not have a problem with ice at one stage?.
FFR

Hi, Des. My first trip was on the British Rover, much the same as the Navigator up and down the Norwegian fjords with fuel for the Norske fishing boats. Junior engineer.
The 2nd engineer was a cracking bloke, a Geordie called Olly Mole. He taught me a lot and willingly. Mind you, being a 1st tripper, I think the COOK could have taught me a lot!
The first day out some English bloke suddenly stuck his head round my door and asked me my name. I said Sandy...and he shot off. A couple of weeks later I was getting my "bond", fags & beer the bloke running it that day asked my name so I said Kelman. He searched and then freaked out! No such name there. Then he asked another bloke who Mr Sandy was. Yeah, my name was down as Mr Sandy. After that, even the skipper called me Mr Sandy at sub payouts. I would have liked to meet Ollie Mole again to thank him but never got the chance. Then there was a crew change and the new 2nd was totally otherwise. Short stocky guy with a huge red beard and an "attitude". Two trips with him and I was off. Had enough bull to last a lifetime.

Hi Everyone .. wow what a site - great to read all about the old tankers and memories .....

I joined the British admiral in november 74 i think ... straight from Gravesend Nautical College - Flew out to join her in Bremmen - all i remember was seeing this big black Mountain of a ship - i was 16 , not only was this my first ship - but id never flown before - luckily three of us from sea school were joining together....Myself , Ken Webb & Ian Johnston ...thats about the only names i can remember - but remember the Bosun was a hard man ...trapped his finger end in a deck hatch - just to get paid off!!!! had 16 weeks on her ....great memories i remember going to the aid of the British MAriner which had lost all power , fully loaded - we towed her out to sea , whilst engineers fixed her - we worked all day xmas day & boxing day draging the insurance wire from for`rd... about 5 years later i received the princley sum of 110 quid salvage money ha ha ....

my next two trips were aboard the British Fal .....half the crew were from the east yorks area ... so had a good crack ... i remember getting locked up in russia - cinderella leave - we were adrift - well i was only 17 .... luckily the old man let us off with a bollocking .....had a fantastic bosun ... `Spike ` Milligan - a terrific Irish guy ....looked after me big time .... cracking guy - wonder what happened to him .....Loved being on the B Fal ..... always busy , in and out of European ports ....

Happy , happy days ..... ive been a RNLI lifeboat man & launch officer for 32 years ... but still hanker after the old BP days ... what id give for one more trip :)


gotta have dreams


rob

PS. I since remembered the 2nd Engineer who took over after Ollie Mole went on leave. Red-bearded stocky little fat guy, Kitchener was his name. Used to shampoo his beard and comb it all the time. Anyone come across him?