| IMO number | 5027235 |
|---|---|
| Call sign | GCKE |
| Construction number | 1077 |
| Tonnage | 18.225 ton |
| Beam | 21m |
| Length overall | 170m |
| Year of construction | 1959 |
| Year of renaming/broken up | 1982 |
| Service for Shell | 1959 to 1982 |
| Cargo | |
| Class | |
| Flag state | |
| Home port | |
| Manager | |
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| Status |
ASPRELLA (1)
Sailors
Anecdotes
| Date | Visitor | Anecdote |
|---|---|---|
| 02/28/2017 - 12:54 | Geoffrey Philip... |
I remember when we ran her up the beach in kirachi the captain told the engine room to give it all and clear the pit... i helped sparkie crate up all the radio gear as ithas to go back to marconi...i asked him what about the clock all by itself now on the bulkhead..he said take it if you want..so i did and its here in front of me..lovly |
| 07/12/2015 - 22:00 | Ginger Thomson |
joined her at grangemouth , handy as train from Aberdeen , all other trips London, or fly out to join . out to aruba , chemical carrier steady run back to europort , then uk . |
| 01/31/2015 - 20:43 | Alistai Montgomery |
With regard to Mike Carter's anecdote: I was the Chief Engineer the only bachelor onboard running a G.P. Crew with two of the four engineers wives fighting over the washing machine. We had numerous problems with the two boilers which required repairs every time we went to Swansea. so no shore leave for the Engineers which was not welcomed by the wives.The Yugoslave Pumpman had a girl friend who was an Inspector in the Metropolitan Police and received his mail in Scotland Yard envelopes. |
| 04/28/2014 - 20:48 | Kevan Corcoran 2 |
I was a cadet on Asprella when Jimmy Brittain joined for his final trip. Like Robert, I too found him far easier to get on with than the old man he replaced. Despite all the stories prior to his arrival, I have a great deal of respect for him and a great deal to thank him for as he helped me tremendously at the start of my seagoing career. |
| 12/05/2013 - 15:13 | Robert Ian Fletcher |
I served on the SS Asprella as 2nd Eng I am sure Jimmy Britain was skipper. Every one seem to be scared of him but I found him very easy to get on with. |
| 08/11/2013 - 15:37 | Richard Tomlinson |
Further to my previous anecdote about this voyage I want to mention an incident that happened on Monday 20th January, 1964. We were approaching Port Philip Bay after sailing from Whangarei in New Zealand. At first the Gyro compass alarm sounded which meant we had to steer by Magnetic compass. Then the engines stopped and the lights went out. We were then informed by the engineroom that an Alternator was on fire. After 15 minutes we were told that the fire had been extinguished and the other Alternator started. Meanwhile the vessel had been drifting towards the coast in a high wind and swell. After nearly an hour the engines were restarted and we headed west to get as far from the coast as possible should there be a further break down. About four and a half hours later we arrived off Port Lonsdale where we took a pilot on board and headed towards our destination port of Geelong. Two days later the port Alternator was hoisted out in three parts by a large floating crane which came from Melbourne. After that we just continued with cargo operations and departed Geelong on the evening of the 25th bound for Brisbane. |
| 09/29/2012 - 20:03 | Richard Tomlinson |
I joined Asprella in Rotterdam in May 1963 and sailed as a Deck Apprentice on this ship for the lengthy period of fifteen months, paying off again in Rotterdam in August 1964. We covered a large part of the world in this voyage from Europe (including Sweden) to Curacao, South Africa, Mocambique, Gulf ports, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Guinea and many ports in Australia and New Zealand. It was my final voyage as Deck Apprentice as on returning home I studied and sat for my Second Mates certificate. |
| 07/07/2012 - 05:35 | Richard Banford |
I served on her in the 60's, don't have access to my discharge book unfortunately so date approx. Food was good as was accommodation & crew. Recall the blood tests we were subjected too???? Trip was Puerto Rico-Texas & back several times, then back to Leith where she paid off. Saw Sound of Music whilst awaiting night train Edinburgh to London, how was that for being in control? Man some stories there on that train trip, am sure no sleeping done (: I recall one of the engineers had his wife aboard & she had to come back aboard in Puerto Rico via the pilots ladder as we were anchored off, ship was light ship too. Anyway she was ahead of me & froze halfway up. Crikey was that a scary situation. She should not have been expected to climb a pilots ladder we all felt for her as she was beyond scared, thank God she did not fall due to the calm way the guy above & maybe I spoke to her to assure her all would be well. Reckon husband when have copped a mouth full over that & he also from the skipper. Anyone out there on that trip & feels like getting in touch would enjoy hearing from you. We now live in Shanghai which is interesting. Richard |
| 02/02/2012 - 22:35 | Mike Carter |
The Asprella /GCKE was a cracking ship to be on, with a very friendly atmosphere. Entering the Caribbean as we said then at the top right hand corner one evening, a |
| 11/08/2011 - 14:16 | Pieter Koops |
Whilst I was on the 'Asprella' she was a chemical tanker carrying benxene, toluene & xylene. Under the manifold connections were test plates for different paints. |
| 03/17/2011 - 20:20 | Chris Johnson |
Joined July 74 in Curacao.Left New York Jan 75.First trip as 3rd Mate.Captain Simon Darroch in charge. |
| 06/19/2010 - 17:09 | Patrick Johnston |
I joined the Asprella in Cardiff dry dock in 1969 i think and we sailed to curacao in the carribean,when we arrived it was very hot and all the catering staff were summond to take the laundry ashore, however i stayed in the galley peeling spuds which did not amuse the second steward, heb told me exactly what he thought and i just gave him a load of cheek to which he bashed me with a soup ladle AH! happy days |
| 05/27/2009 - 22:29 | John Bernard |
I joined the Asprella at Grangmouth on 11 10 66 singhed off 18 October 1966 at swansea singhed back on again 19 October 1966 at swansea we set sail for the carabean we went to a good few islands ie virgin islands trinadad venizwalla and a few athers the worst was when we were in the hurricans it was all dull and big swells it was bit fritning we got a load oil for Rotterdam the crossing was very rough we spent two days at Rotterdam, it was very cold we headed back two swansea with a load of oil where i singhed off 1 December 1966 that was my last shell tanker I wenton smaller tanker MV PASSOGLENCLUNIE,AND BRITISH HOLLY BP TANKER then after that a few cargo ships BOLTIC ARROW BOLTIC SWIFT AND THE FIRTH FISHER I did my training at leith, TS DOLPHINE |
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