cheap diesel fuel anyone

[Keith Tindell]

I used to go to the fawley refinery every quarter to test the fire equipment on the Tugs Gatcombe and Vectis, long gone now i suspect. Was there on a major fire, now my brain might not recall all correctly, Esso Glasgow???, circa late 60`s i think. as i recall the cause of this incident was static electricity, but maybe some of you guys may have better recall than i. I reacll it was a dodgy job for us Fire crews KT

- - - Updated - - -

John A, there was a pub not far from the refinery entrance, just follow the solent frontage along to Ashlet creek, a nice little pub, also a club situated in the old tidal mill there, KT

[John Arton]

Keith
Believe the only entrance is about 1-2 miles inland, hence the bus trips. Outside of the main gate a decent walk takes you too a small village..somethingWood? and the nearest shops and pubs are in Havant if I recall correctly.
rgds
JA

[Keith Tindell]

Would not have been havant John, thats the other side near Pompey, would have thought nearest was Hythe village, about 3-4 miles away i would guess, plenty pubs there, which was the only destination we were interested in those days, KT

[robpage]

Hythe is the next place along , but quite a few Hythe pubs are Tesco Expess shops now , the town centre and the Marina are quite busy though

The Esso Mersey had a pump room explosion in the very early 1990s http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources...l%20report.pdf

But I think the one you are talking about is On 4/1/1967 Eso Glasgow she caught fire after an explosion whilst berthed at No 2 jetty, Fawley refinery. The explosion occurred shortly before midnight as she was loading. There was a second explosion at 1.15 a.m. and several of the 160 firemen who fought the blaze were injured, though none seriously. No members of the crew were injured, although her Captain (H.W.Keeble) and 40 others had been on board at the time. The Port of Southampton was closed for the night as a precaution but reopened on 5/1/1967. Other vessels berthed nearby were moved away. There was no damage to the refinery or other facilities, nor any reported spillage of oil. The fire was extinguished by 3.45 a.m. Examination of the damage revealed that the explosion had occurred in No 6 centre tank, containing marine diesel oil, of which she had been loading four grades at the time. She had on board 11-12000 tons of diesel and had a further 3-4000 tons to load at the time of the incident. The damage report showed severe damage to Nos. 5,6 and 7 tanks and internal bulkheads and decking. There was a 3 feet deep split to No 6 port tank, which was exposed to the weather. After discharge of her cargo, she was moved to Cowes Roads on 6/1/1967 and then to Husbands Shipyard, Marchwood, Southampton on 9/1/1967 for temporary repairs to be carried out. She sailed to Rotterdam on 17/1/1967 for full repairs at the Wilton Fijenoord yard, arriving at Nieuwe Waterweg on 19/1/1967.

ESSO GLASGOW was the last of the nine wartime T2 tankers acquired by Esso to remain in the fleet, the others having been disposed of in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

[Keith Tindell]

thats the one Rob, i was on the jetty for the second explosion, a real trouser browner. My booze damaged brain was not too far with recall there, means i can have a glass of vino tonight, thanks for the facts KT

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, In wales they have been making diesel out of chip fat for a few years, and the cars/vans are still running, stolen diesel could make the engines run with less smoke some days the valleys smells like barry island long ago... I dont drive anymore my eyes are not too good ... still have my lincence 40 years no points...

[robpage]

I remember one HFR Station officer commenting he had been at one Fawley incident in his service , and next time he was going to the toilet before getting on the appliance . I remember one big exercise in the 1980s I think and it involved appliances from four counties . I had the impression that the Exxon Chemical part of Fawley was a bigger risk than the refinery itself

[Captain Kong]

I worked for ESSO for several years, I was there in Fawley in the 1980s when a Bolt of Lightening hit one of the storage tanks and it blew up in flames, The Refinery was shut down and all loading and discharging stopped.
I was also on the ESSO Caernarvon when we had an engine room fire, the Refinery was shut down again around 1983ish.
The pub outside of the gate in Fawley Village is the Falcon,
By Ashlett Creek is a pub , the name of which slips my mind at the moment and then there is the ESSO Social Club.

Regarding the theft of the oil from the Pipeline, I hope it does not bring down the share price as I have a few.
When I was leaving ESSO I was offered a job as an Observer flying in the Helicopter that flies along the line everyday to make sure no one is digging/constructing etc near the pipeline.
I went for traning, I had had previous Helicopter experience flying with Court Helicopters in Cape Town The week before I took up the job, voices in my head kept telling me not to do it, and reluctantly I turned down the job, they went mad with me after all the training etc.
Six months later the Helicopterv came down alongside the M6 motorway and killed the Pilot and observer. I guess I was lucky again.
Cheers
Brian.

[robpage]

Jolly Sailor Ashlett creek.jpg


OR you might remember it better like this

JollySailor.jpg

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates was at Fawley many times for Esso on the Esso hythe 1970 to 1971 then on the Esso brixham lovely ships and crew Southampton on the big ships All of them and the scottish isles, and Ireland lovely round the coast in winter... weather all day long sunshine never any big waves or strong wind in port....