Hello “kaybee”
Welcome aboard
To start off,I can only suggest you look into and read all the excellent help given in the forum Research Help -Where to Look: further down the home page screen.
For most types of information about Merchant Navy You will need to know the persons seaman’s Discharge Book number(Known as a Dis.A no.)
British seamen usually have a number starting with R or UK.
Remember though,not all personnel working on ships were registered seafarers-for example he might have been a company representative,or shore technical staff either on voyage or working by in port,when he had that tragic accident.
I can tell you a bit about the Tamega,as I used to regularly see these ships in the Med, and I sailed with someone from Ellerman’s who had sailed on them,when they were operating out to Turkey and Israel In 1973/4 from the U.K.. What you would assume to look at,to be small feeder container ships actually did 12 days out, to the Med. then 7 days in various ports,then 12 days back home.
The design was called the ‘Hustler’ class .He said quite often they were like submarines in Biscay(I‘m not surprised considering the freeboard),and the accommodation noise and vibration were truly excessive. .There were 9 of them according to records,most being built in Holland,but some in Northern Spain.I’’m not sure of the actual ownership/leasing/chartering arrangements,because just like today ‘s shipping industry,such details are so very complex.However,Ellermans,and Sea Containers(Bermuda) Chartering etc were involved.
I’m just going to add a list of the 9 ‘Hustlers’ here,as maybe some on site here would like to know more about them…
.HUSTLER CLASS-1599grt approx.- Container Vessels (9?)
Built by Vuijk,NLD-unless otherwise stated
1./1970 ENGLAND-ISBRIT(75)-HUSTLER CHEYENNE-ZIM MANILA(third)(81-83)-HARVESTER etc.
2./1969 MINHO-CITY OF MILAN(74)-ECO MONDEGO-ANA RAQUEL
3./1972 MONDEGO-CITY OF VENICE(74)-ATLANTIC RESOLUTE-HUSTLER INDUS etc.
(Blt.by Atlantico,Santander,ESP)
4./1970 TAGUS -CITY OF LISBON(74)- CAPE HUSTLER-CAPE-DESPO
(Blt by Cadagua,Bilboa,ESP.)
5./1970 TAMEGA-CITY OF GENOA(74)-HUSTLER EBRO-BERMUDIANA-MINART-ZIM LEVANT(89-92) etc.
6./1970 TIBER-CITY OFNAPLES(74)-TIBER-ATLANTIC CLIPPER etc.
(Blt.by Zaanlandsche,Zaandam.NLD)
7./1970 TORMES-CITY OF OPORTO(74)-ECO GUADIANA-DINA
8./1971 TRONTO-Launched as TIGRIS- CITY OF LA SPEZIA(74)-TRONTO-ATLANTIC INTREPID etc.
9./1970 TUA - CITY OF FLORENCE(74)-HUSTLER FAL-CONFRIGO 1 etc,
Each name shows subsequent name changes and the year. You can see the Ellermans connection,as some of them ended up being called ‘City of …….etc. in 1974.
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The TAMEGA then was called that from new in 1970,until 1974.
You will need her Official Number which for TAMEGA is 339928
And here is the little ‘beauty’ herself:-
http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20Ships/Old%20Ships%20T/slides/Tamega-01.html
And a colour pic after she was renamed City of Genoa in 1974:-
http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20...0Genoa-03.html
If your relative’s body was not shipped home or flown home,then try burial records for the Pasajes cemeteries.?
The British consul in San Sebastian will probably have records etc.relating to the incident.?
You may get replies from others on here who can assist you more.......
All I can say is Good Luck in your quest,and keep us informed of your progress……….
Regards
Gulliver