Shell A Class

[AJ Hawker]

Anybody sail on any of Shells A class, I was on the ANADARA 1964-65.

[Captain Kong]

I was on the AURIS, she was an Experimental Pure Gas Turbine tanker. no engineers only scientists.

Just went to Curacao stayed there for over two months alongside then came home.1961

[Red Lead Ted]

Achatina, 74 A,J, Relieved a Philippine crew boy was that ship in a state lifeboats seized to the chocks don't think they ever had boat drill. I very nearly walked away from the job. Shell new what they where doing we signed articles in Mann Island pool. Joined her the next morning on the shell birth Liverpool. Only one I was in never again Terry.

[Tony Taylor]

Achatina, 74 A,J, Relieved a Philippine crew boy was that ship in a state lifeboats seized to the chocks don't think they ever had boat drill. I very nearly walked away from the job. Shell new what they where doing we signed articles in Mann Island pool. Joined her the next morning on the shell birth Liverpool. Only one I was in never again Terry.

I did two trips on the Achatina and I can confirm that we did boat and fire drills weekly

[Mike Gray]

Yup, the Axina for almost nine months from November 8, 1965 until July 27, 1966. Had a great time.

[Carl Ainsley]

Sailed on Aulica & Amastra as engineer cadet in the 80's. Amastra was a bit of a shock for me as I had been sold the dream of control rooms with ac by the recruiting bumpf but after a couple of days had a great. Ran aground in the Panama Canal, spilling half the cargo, went to Curacao for two weeks repairs which was just after two weeks of being on board. Then went across the Atlantic and caught the tail end of a hurricane.

[AJ Hawker]

Plus the Amastra was mined and partially sunk Nhatrang harbour Vietnam in 1967.

[Rob Cumbes]

I did my first trip as uncert. third mate on the Amoria at the tender age of 19. The Old Man ran me ragged but I learnt more practical navigation from him than anyone else in a 48 year career. Apart from the loading drop valves, for deck officers, it was just like an H boat.

[Roy Williams]

I was second trip Engineer cadet on Axina in 1977. Joined her in Rotterdam at 0300hr on a freezing cold night, after travelling from Rosyth Glasgow. She was falling apart at that stage, engineers alarm was sounded on a very regular basis, almost daily! Did UK coasting and Med runs, so standby nearly all the time too! A very hard vessel to work on, but gave me a great foundation for the rest of my working life. However, did take me a month to stop jumping when the phone rang when I got home!!
Next trip was to SE Asia to join SS Gadinia in the brand new LNG fleet! Like going from Dr Who's Tardis to the Starship Enterprise!

[Tony Taylor]

I was second trip Engineer cadet on Axina in 1977. Joined her in Rotterdam at 0300hr on a freezing cold night, after travelling from Rosyth Glasgow. She was falling apart at that stage, engineers alarm was sounded on a very regular basis, almost daily! Did UK coasting and Med runs, so standby nearly all the time too! A very hard vessel to work on, but gave me a great foundation for the rest of my working life. However, did take me a month to stop jumping when the phone rang when I got home!!
Next trip was to SE Asia to join SS Gadinia in the brand new LNG fleet! Like going from Dr Who's Tardis to the Starship Enterprise!

Lucky you didnt get an H boat first trip then!