Anecdote
Captain W.C. Loughlin, Chief Officer O.R. Townsend, 2nd officer J.E. Palmer, Radio Officer R. Denton, 3rd Engineer J. Cowdill, 5th Engineer G. Boyter, 5th Engineer B. Johnston, 4th Engineer P. Hitchen? 3rd Officer H.Heckett, 5th engineer J.W. Duncan, 2nd Engineer A. Martin, Chief engineer John Armstrong.
This was on a voyage departing from Falmouth on the 16th January to Gibraltar 12th April 1948. Charles Loughlin (sun Captain)
Hello Marty! Long time since you posted this, but I stumbled across it today. Hope you're both doing well.
Richard Bagnall
Hi Charles, did you get anywhere with your search for the grave of Arthur George Patrick please? I believe we must be related as he is also my Grandfather. Thank you.
I have many photos from the San Cirilo 1954 / 55 that my father and his crew mates took including the day of the boiler explosion .
nickybangor@hotmail.co.uk
40 years ago this year my family and I were rescued by a ship, which was called the Gadinia in the South China seas in August 1983. We were taken to Brunei and after that to England, London where we now live.
My family and I are so grateful to the kindness of the angels who rescued us that day and would like to meet them and personally thank them for saving us.
I am on a mission to track down the crew of the ship at the time of the rescue.
If you are or know of the crew that worked on the ship that time, please do get in touch.
I was able to locate a newspaper article detailing the rescue with the name of Michael Bailey and his wife Elaine. Michael if you do read this forum, I'd love to hear from you.
Thank you - S Nguyen
The Darina was my favourite ship. Those lovely twin funnels atop the beautiful superstructure, and the lovely staircase inside the accommodation. The engine room was superb and I used to love manoeuvring with the hydraulic manoeuvring controls. Fantastic memories.
I was on watch down below on 22/09/1980 when we ran aground on entry to Mombasa. Capt Mcdermott was on the bridge and threatened to throw the pilot over the ship's side!
I was on the Lyria in 1978 when we went into Brest for a propellor change.
Engineer cadet 1978
1975 served as Deck Cadet
I was the Executive Officer of the USS Safeguard (ARS-25) which rendered salvage assistance to SS Helisoma in the harbor at Nha Trang, Vietnam during the period 26 December 1968 to 2 January 1969. Helisoma had been mined while at anchor by suspected Viet Cong swimmers from an island in the harbor. I have numerous photos during the operation as well as articles that were written and unclassified portions of the salvage report. The Commanding Officer of Safeguard was LCDR Charles H. Billings (deceased).
Upon arrival, Safeguard moored portside to Helisoma's port bow. An initial survey revealed two holes in the skin of the ship - a hole 10'8" by 11'7" existed on the port side 16 feet from the bow and 3.5 feet below the waterline; a small blown out hole 10" by 17" was found on the starboard side 56 feet from the bow and 12 feet below the water line. Helisoma's draft at this time was 36' forward and 27'5" aft. The hole in the port side penetrated the port bunker tank, foreword dry cargo hold, forward cofferdam, and the number one port cargo tank which contained JP-4 fuel. An estimated 1000 tons of JP-4/bunker fuel remained on top of water in damaged tanks and spaces. To prevent this mixture from being discharged into the harbor, the mixture was pumped to the Dutch Shell tanker SS Korenia.
A 16' square wooden frame, steel reinforced American type patch was built and fitted by 28 December over the hole on the port side. Pumping of uncontaminated cargo, approximately19,000 tons of JP-4 to Korenia and saltwater to Helisoma's midships tanks by 31 December. A great New Years Eve celebration occurred, a story unto itself.
The job was completed on 2 January and Helisoma got underway for Singapore at 1430 hours for permanent repairs.