NINETY SIX

About

Completed 1945 as "NINETY SIX" for U.S.M.C. 1947 purchased by Anglo-Saxon. 1947 sold to Southern Trading and renamed Atlantic Transporter. 1953 sold to Pan Ocean. 1956 renamed Panoceanic Transporter. 1958 sold to Penn Nav. and renamed Penn Transporter. 1960 converted to dry cargo ship. 1971 sold to Overseas Bulkshipping and renamed Henna. 1971 hull cracked and sunk.

Also known as
Atlantic Transporter
Pan Ocean
Panocean Transporter
Penn Transporter
Henna
IMO number
2238437
Call sign
G...
Construction number
347
Tonnage
10.277 ton
Beam
21m
Length overall
160m
Year of construction
1945
Year of renaming/broken up
1971
Service for Shell
1947
Cargo
Class
Flag state
Home port
Manager
Shipyard
Status
Photo(s)

Comments

Sailors

Name Job Period Details
Mike Chemel ordinary seaman 1966

Anecdotes

Date Visitor Anecdote
06/30/2010 - 22:15 Mike Chemel

The Penn Transporter was my "first ship" as a seaman. I signed on in 1966 from the SIU office in Houston for a trip to Algeria with a load of grain. We discharged the cargo in Algiers, Philippeville (Skikda) and Bone (Annaba).
After we tied up the Bos'n told me to collect all the brass nozzles from the fire hoses and put them (I believe) in the forecastle. While doing this I noticed a jeep pulling a small artillery piece parked at a spot across the harbor from us. Okay, whatever. I went for another nozzle.
KA-BOOM! I grabbed the bulwark and waited for the blast. None came. I then peaked at the artillery crew who were busy reloading. Their piece was pointing out into the bay where a military vessel, smoke pouring off it's deck, was bringing a three gun turret to bear on the three or four man artillery crew who continued to prepare to fire again.
KA-BOOMS times three, said the vessel.
I watched. I had never seen 3 or 4 men, an artillery piece, and a jeep, blown to smithereens before. After a couple of minutes it became obvious I wouldn't see it today either. Turns out the whole shebang was a show to demonstrate to the Americans (us) how they were prepared to defend their port.
All in all it was a hell of a show to put on for the crew of a cargo ship that was bringing grain. I still don't understand why they did it, and I'm glad.

Another exciting memory from that trip involves my first ever visit to a whorehouse.
But I think I'll keep that one to myself.

Mike