Esso Tankers Collision-Gulf of Mexico....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Laurie Stroud
Reading your messages with relish but no mention of Esso Appalachee, Cadallac,Cheyenne, Fawley (T2),Saguaro (Panamanian T2) and I was an AB on the Montevideo back in 1955.
Generally good runs, ovies and food not found elsewhere. Pursres? Not in my days, they were for liners and the likes.
Was anchored off Aruba on the Montevideo awaiting the pilot when there was a collision of horriffic consequences, just can't remember the names of the two Esso ships now, but, when we went to drydock in Palermo, they welded up the doors from the accomodation to the decks,
We had a Chief Officer (Nav.) and a Loading mate Mr. Nicholson who, I believe came from Stornaway, 2nd Mate a Mr. Eve from Helensborough succeeded Mr, Priest from Tyne area when we reached Palermo . Can't remember 3rd Mate as I kept the permanent 12-4 watch.
Laurence H. Stroud ex Cowes Isle of Wight
Can’t find any reference to that one- in 1955? But the excellent Auk Visser Tankers site HERE. mentions the following collision in the Esso section. and it seems likely that it could be this one.
20th April,1951
U.S Flag t.e.ESSO GREENSBORO 16,613 dwt.(which was the ex Molina del Ray built in 1943).Collision with s.t.ESSO SUEZ (blt 1949, 26,759 dwt,)in Gulf of Mexico , abt 200 miles SSW of SW Pass, Mississippi River, about 26.17.5N, 91.25.5W.
Both ships were running at 15 knots in dense fog. Esso Suez altered to port for a green to green passage. Nobody on the Greensboro's bridge survived, but it is clear from the testimony of the Esso Suez bridge, and the position of Greensboro's rudder that she altered to starboard. Greensboro was loaded with about 141,000 barrels of West Texas crude. Suez was in ballast. Suez ploughed into port side of Greensboro in way of No 8 tanks. Both ships caught fire. All but 5 crew on the Greensboro were fried (39). Two killed on the Suez.
Incredibly, both ships survived and the Greensboro was towed in to Galveston, the Suez arriving under her own steam. The Board inspected both ships. On the Esso Suez the side shell plating and all internal structural members were severed between the 15 foot and 28 foot waterline from the stem approximately 40 feet aft on the port side and 65 feet aft on the starboard side.
On the Esso Greensboro whose beam was 68 feet, the vessel was cut in the way of No 8 tank for a distance of 60 feet, from main deck to an undetermined depth. The main deck was completely severed for a distance of 60 feet. The No 8 tanks longitudinal bulkheads were ruptured, the transverse bulkheads to Nos. 7 and 9 port tanks were ruptured, and the transverse bulkheads to Nos. 7 and 9 center tanks were also affected. All steam and water pipes, fire lines, electric wiring, and communication lines from bridge to engine room were severed in way of the collision. 97,000 barrels of the approximately 141,000 barrel cargo were recovered from the Greensboro.
(Source : USCGDate : 1951-03-20)
Vessels Fates
ESSO GREENSBORO After the accident was repaired and lengthened and re-entered service in 5/1952 as ESSO SAN JUAN.)Pan)Sold 1961 to Argentina,renamed PETROMAR CORDOBA.Scrapped Valencia 7/67
ESSO SUEZ .Repaired and re-entered service retaining name ESSO SUEZ. Renamed ESSO JACKSONVILLE in 62- OCEAN PIONEER in 64- TRANSPANAMA in 68 and SAN MARCOS in 76. Retained U.S.Flag throughout.Broken up Kaohsiung.Taiwan 6/84.
UCSG REPORT HERE