The SEISTAN disaster 1958

[kuzama]

A new book on the Seistan disaster is on the stocks in Bahrain and I have been asked to edit the draft. I have been involved with the ship and its history since the late 70s including diving the wreck numerous times and recently had the pleasure of taking two survivors of the disaster out to the wreck site for a memorial wreath laying.

There are a number of small issues which will help complete the book.
Can any one tell me the christian name/s of Captain W.A.Chappell ?
Does any one have any pix of the Master and or crew..
I look forward to hearing from anyone on the subject and all assistance will be acknowledged..

[Alan Bland]

Hi kuzama

fc strick line vessel seistan : Yard no 592 built at john readhead & son , south shields 1957,

lost due to fire /explosion up gulf ,superintendents ,tommy raye (engineering)
marine super capt stewart,
one of the fatalities was a junior engineer from north shields( sorry do not know name)

after leaving mn (ex ellerman city of exeter) i worked in electrical design office of readheads
from june 1958 to 1971) designing all elect,installation on fc strick vessels they were very fine ships built to a very high standard.


There is a web site giving history of readheads by a ex readheads designer john bage.

Hope you are successful in your search

alan bland (ex readheads)

[Doc Vernon]

Hi
Dont know if you have this site at all!??
Cheers

http://www.merchantnavyofficers.com/seistan.html

Just a guess but there are 2 Entries at the NA that show the name WA Chappell,one born 1920 Cornwall,and the other 1921Greenwich ,so after looking at the BDM Section in the UK the First name for both are William,but it doesnt give second name only the Initial A
So as said going by dates if they joined up at say max 20YOA this may be one of them?? But just a wild guess!

I am wondering when he was actually a Captian ?

There is this site that has listing of Captains up to 1948 but that may be too far off?
Anyway in case here it is!

http://www.mun.ca/mha/holdings/captains.php


Single Ship Report for "1187620"IDNo: 1187620 Year: 1957
Name: SEISTAN Keel:
Type: Cargo ship (ref) Launch Date: 15.5.57
Flag: GBR Date of completion: 27.7.57

Tons: 7440 Link: 1496
DWT: Yard No: 592
Length overall: Ship Design:
LPP: Country of build: GBR
Beam: Builder: Readhead
Material of build: Location of yard: South Shields
Number of
screws/Mchy/
Speed(kn):

Naval or paramilitary marking :
A:
End:
Subsequent History:

Disposal Data:
fire 17.2.58 & blew up 2nm E South Sitra Beacon, Bahrain 19.2.58 (57*)

Not what you want i know but interesting Article Published!

http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=6773,3314300

Cheers

[Doc Vernon]

Hi
I have today sent off for some info on this,and hope i may get some good reply!
If and when i do i will let you know! Heres hoping!
Cheers


Dear Mr Vernon MacDonald

This email is to confirm we have received your request for an estimate for document copying.

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Medium option: Paper copies
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1. Document Reference(s): BT 238/90
Instructions for Copying: Ships Name Seistan IDNo: 1187620

Merchany
Navy

Date 1958

Full names and Service Number of
Captain (Chappell)

Blew up South Sitra Beacon,
Bahrain 1958


Once completed, your estimate will be sent to the Email address given:


Thank you for your estimate request.

Regards

Record copying department
The National Archives


Also sent email to the following!



THE VERY REVEREND
CHRISTOPHER BUTT

DEAR REVEREND

Hello
I am wondering if by any chance you may know the first names of the Captain killed in the Seistan Ship Disaster in 1958 ?

I am of the idea that he is buried at this Cemetary ! NAMELY (Christian Cemetery at Bahrain )

All i know is his initials which are (CAPTAIN )W A CHAPPELL!

AS THERE IS A BOOK BEING COMPILED ABOUT THIS DISASTER,IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED IF YOU CAN SUPPLY ANY HELP!

THANKING YOU
VERNON

[Doc Vernon]

Received this reply from the Dean! Today so hope there may be some light somewhere!
Cheers

Dear Vernon

Thank you for your letter.

I am copying this to Nigel Preece the secretary of the Christian Cemetery committee, who will be able to check records and get back to you.

All best wishes,

Chris Butt

Dean
St Christopher's Cathedral

[Doc Vernon]

This is the Estimate i received back from the NA at Kew!

Whew!!

Your estimate is complete. Please review the details below, select any documents that you would like to have copied and click on the Continue button to proceed.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/c...llDetails=True

Estimate details
Estimate number E408244
Valid until 29 July 2010
Comments from staff

Document(s) to copy Copying cost
BT 238/90 £179.10

Your instructions Ships Name Seistan IDNo: 1187620 Merchany Navy Date 1958 Full names and Service Number of Captain (Chappell) Blew up South Sitra Beacon, Bahrain 1958
Comments from staff
Copying Process No. of Units Unit Cost Process Cost
A3 Mono. copies (from original documents) 398 £0.45 £179.10


Cheers

Leave it to you now !

[kuzama]

Gentlemen,
Firstly thank you all for the time taken to look into the Seistan details. I can now tell you that Captain William Chappell and a large number of other crew aboard the ship were never found. A few bodies were recovered and buried in the Old Christian Cemetery in Bahrain. There were a number of survivors and i have been priviledged to meet two recently.

One of the stranger aspects of the story is the bows and centre accommodation were salvaged and towed from Bahrain to Catania in Sicily for demolition. Which seems a lengthy undertaking when it would appear to have been easier to tow the hulk to Pakistan / India....Some years ago I met a C/E on a tanker who saw the remains under tow at sea off Aden. Does any one remember seeing this or have any ideas who scrapped the remains...

[jonathan jones]

My father, Stanley Watson Jones, was chief officer on board the MV Seistan at the time of the 1958 disaster. sadly passed away in 1992 but his widow, Valerie and his son Peter, who were also on board at the time are still living in Ashburton, Devon and Havant, Hampshire respectively.

Would like to hear from anyone who has anyu connection with the ship or its disaster.

I can confirm that there is a book about all disasters which occured in Bahrain, including that of the Seistan, one of which is in my mothers posession.

Both she and my brother Peter visited Bahrain recently and laid a wreath at the wreck site of the stricken ship...

In addition the bronze steering wheel pedestal of the ship is now for sale on ebay using the following link

Bronze Steering Wheel Pedestal From Wreck Of MV Seistan | eBay UK

Looking forward to hearing from anyone who has a connection with the MV Seistan

Regards,
Jonathan Jones

[Gulliver]

For those who wish to know more there is another thread on site entitled 'Dangerous Cargoes' ,or for an account of the Seistan tragedy see:-


Merchant Navy Officers site here(click)

[jonathan jones]

Good Morning.

My father, Capt Stanley Jones, was Chief Officer at the time of the disaster. This happened 4 yrs before I was born but have been told the stories and seen photos of the incident by both my father, mother and brother who were all on board at the time and who all survived...

The bronze steering wheel pedestal from the MV Seistan is for sale on eBay.... and can be viewed using the following link:

Bronze Steering Wheel Pedestal From Wreck Of MV Seistan | eBay UK

Would love to hear from anyone who has a connection with this vessel.

Regards,
Jonathan Jones