Bp border boats

[John Lloyd]

I Sailed on the Maiden voyage of the "Border Castle" April 1960 to June 1961 as 2nd R/O ,She was Managed by Common Brothers of Newcastle for BP , lots of Border Boats them days Oil and Ore Carriers all newish and around 20/25000 tonnes

[Doc Vernon]

Hi John
Must saythat i hadnt heard of those Border Ships before,and always nice to hear of new ones here on site!
Seems they had quite a load of those !
Quite modern looking too!
Cheers

http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20...Castle-04.html

http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20...Bl/index3.html

[John Lloyd]

Castleman
Thats terrific ,those pictures ,wow, I only have one in my old box of the Border Castle on her maiden voyage, You are right there were a lot of them , distinguished by the sort of Tartan on the funnel, on perpetual hire to BP. The Ore carriers were similar "all aft" design and were prefixed K if I remember right, Mostly Geordie boys and Indian crews , Happy days
Cheers Shipmate
john

[Graham Griffiths]

Hello John and Vernon,

I had the pleasure of sailing on both the Chieftain and the Falcon after the above company was taken over by BP and the ships manned by BP personnel.

We were proud to be different, with our special funnel.

All ( we took over 5 ) Chieftain, Falcon, Pele, Casle and Shepherd, 'Borders' were assigned to 'D' Fleet ( dirty products). They were good ships although old, vertical, steam recip pumps and once in Las Palmas we managed 150 tons/ hour discharge, flat out. it was usually a bit more.

When they were first designed as 'all aft' the distance from the bridge to the bow was considered excessive and dangerous so a camera was placed on the foremast so the Captain could overlook the bows. The tv screen on the bridge at range rings to aid viewing.

Graham

[Del]

I joined the Border Pele in RAK in May 76, I think just after BP had taken her back from Common Brothers .. she was in quite a state!

We did 4 months Gulf coasting (bunker runs) before I left in Bandar Mahshahr at the end of September.

Had a great time on her, always remember that the Owners cabin had a fireplace complete with an electric fire installed!! .. not that it was needed at that time of the year!

John Hill was the Captain during that time and she had no tv system set up at that time.