Tanker "Beechwood" 21 April 1952

[John Arton]

On this day the Wear built tanker "Beechwood" was in collision off the coast of Algeria, during the hours of darkness. After the collision she was listing heavily. After the collision she was contacted by radio from the French ship Jarama who asked if the Beechwood was the ship they had just "touched" and that she would stand by the Beechwood if required. The Beechwood replied that she was waiting for daylight to assess any damage but required no help.
Anyone on here on board at the time?
She was a John I Jacobs owned tanker built in 1947. No personal interest myself, its just a snippet from our local rag.
rgds
JA

[j.sabourn]

I worked for JIJ. When I was there however the Beechwood was an ore carrier. The tankers they had at that time were the Laurelwood and the Hollywood which I was on also. Plus one of the Goliath Oil Tankers of the times lying up one of the Norwegian Fiords, even built a special jetty for her, She never did a trip for JIJ, and other ships sold off to pay for this white elephant. However I must say on all the British Companies I was with JIJ was the best of the bunch, others might disagree but I found them trust worthy and honest. Cheers JS

[TIMOTHY DOYLE]

Re: Beechwood.
The last Beechwood with JIJ was indeed the old Bishopsgate an iron ore carrier built by Laing,s in 1960. I believe she was sold to the Greeks in 73? and became Capitano Franco.

[Doc Vernon]

Would this be the Ship in question!
Just wondering!
Cheers
Capture Beechwood.jpg

[Andy Logan]

I was first trip apprentice on the Beechwood when this collision occurred. A few years ago I wrote an account of the incident which was published in Sea Breezes.

Captain Andy Logan
Delta BC
Canada

[j.sabourn]

Hi Andy, I spent some time as mate on the Beechwood, but this was in the very early 70"s, she was also an ore carrier, don't know how many Beechwoods there were in between, as the ore carrier one was bought I believe second hand from someone else. Was also on the Cherrywood, and the Rosewood. J.I.J went belly up about 1975 or thereabouts. The only one I sailed with who could of been around your time would of been a Capt. Hort who may have been more than likely 2 or 1st mate about 1952, as he was a bloke about 67 in 1972. JIJ among the British shipowners I sailed with were about the best of the bunch, which shows they were good or I had a lousy bunch to choose from. I was also on the Laurelwood and the Hollywood the two clean products tankers they had at the time. All the best Regards John S

[j.sabourn]

#7... Richard don't know if you heard the story when you were with JIJ, and don't know if any truth in it, but was told he was taken prisoner by the Germans in Poland, and concealed that he was a Jew all during his incarceration. So one could say he concealed his incarceration of his circumcision. A lucky man indeed. However always found him pleasant to talk to. They had also when I was there that you could get your mortgage through then at 1.5 percent when the building Societys were about 7.5 percent, when they went to the wall they gave you 12 months to change your mortgage back to normal and made a big difference on ones living outlay. Cheers JS

[j.sabourn]

One master I knew there wont say his name in case still alive. Used the mortgage scheme to send his two daughters to a Swiss finishing school. Don't know if the company knew what he borrowed the money for that or thought it was a house. Same bloke was supt. for one of the London Greeks and was involved with their new buildings. Maybe why he finished up back at sea with JIJ. Cheers JS

[Sandra Drew]

My father captained the oil tanker I seem to remember, Captain Dunbavin, anyone recall him?

[Doc Vernon]

My father captained the oil tanker I seem to remember, Captain Dunbavin, anyone recall him?

Was he from Liverpool ?
Cheers