Elder & Fyffes

[NicoRos]

Around 1970, ss Pecos, Pacuare, Patuca and Patia came under UK flag as well as 5 similar ships under Dutch flag.
I served almost one year in the ss Choluteca after United Fruit Co thought it better to change the registration of these nine single propellor steamers with counter stern.
They have had better times in the early fifties and the view of rust was inevitable on the one time snow white hulls.

Now the breakers have done their job, only few photographs remind us of these remarkable and lovely ships and I think it's a shame.
In order to revive the past, replica's are being built only from exisisting pictures and the prototype will be launched this month.
Only 15 will be made and most will find their way to the Chiquita offices, museums and well to do private parties.
The scale is 1:100 and all models will be RC equipped, though most will undoubtely remain under the display cover. Anyway I find that any ship model should be able to be in her 'element'.

I'm looking for photographs to complete a booklet of the history of the ships.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmate I was on The Patia for 7 months and on the last trip to Naples for breakers-yard fiat cars bought her, she was a proper ship canvas hatches real derricks and wooden decks, The food was not good, but the crew were great I would still be on her if I could ? a sad end for a lovely ship

[NicoRos]

Hello Louis,

Do you have any photo's of the Patia (ex Yaque) -- (other than the ones I took from internet) ?

IMG_0688.jpg

[Louis the Amigo]

hi nicoros sorry did not take any photos of the "Patia but she was a very fine ship, every thing worked well engines and all the gear and the hatches were a joy to open and close still very upset, she was too good to go to breakers had many years of work left in her .

[Captain Kong]

The Pacuare I was on had goal post masts on the poop. built in Germany. that must be a different ship.

[NicoRos]

The model now is nearly finished -

Took some paintbrush to make her look like a waterline model.

Choluteca.jpg

[John Gill]

was the Tortugero a banana boat? probably spelt that quite wrong. my father was bosun on her.

[Tony Frost]

was the Tortugero a banana boat? probably spelt that quite wrong. my father was bosun on her.

(Close)TORTUGUERO b/u 1958 Belgium Old Ships T (Tortuguero-02)

[Peter Trodden]

I was on the PACUARE, Jan, 1958. Garston---Tiko--Garston. And yes,Brian she was ex,German along with Zent, Reventazon and maybe more. Acquired after WW11.
ttfn. Peter T.