Uncle John Dive Support

[david freeman]

Is this semi submersible still around offering dive support?

[john fraser]

Is this semi submersible still around offering dive support?

Still around as Uncle John,or was,a couple of years ago,owned by Caldive in the States.

[DenisM]

Still owned by CalDive, working in GOM full time. Crewed by C-MAR UK and C-MAR Canada, with now a few US nationals from Caldive in the marine crew compliment

[nav]

This may be of interest to you. As mentioned elsewhere on the forum, men of this calibre are very rare indeed.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9087320/Professor-John-Houlder.html

She was drydocked in Tyneside in two adjacent drydocks whose centrelines corresponded very closely with her hull centrelines. It was a bizarre sight to see her straddling the ground between the dock gates. An innovative solution for a great character of a vessel.

[RayJordandpo]

I worked on the 'Uncle John' in the GOM. I was working for C-Mar (UK) as was a lot of the marine crew. C-Mar (Canada) had a lot of guys on board. The rig was owned and operated by Caldive who also suppled the divers, construction workers, welders etc.

[Onzie]

Anyone know if Gordon the ETO still there?
He had been there since day 1 and was there around 5 years ago last time I was on it.

[RayJordandpo]

Anyone know if Gordon the ETO still there?
He had been there since day 1 and was there around 5 years ago last time I was on it.

He was there when I was on it, his back to back was a British guy who lived somewhere in Central America, owned a farm there as I recall . The Captains were Fred Dupoy and Bill Eslar. Dive Superintendants were both called John (Rey?)

[NINJA]

An old man was asked, "At your ripe old age, what would you prefer to get - Parkinson's or Alzheimer's?"
The wise one answered, "Definitely Parkinson's. Better to spill half an ounce of Whiskey, than to forget where you keep the bottle!!"

[telecaster]

Worked on the Uncle John when she was in for repair a Smiths dock (North Shields)in the 1970's...I was on the docking squad when she docked with a pontoon in No 4 dock and the other on in No 5 dock...Was a hair raising expierience for some of the young uns working on her as the means of boarding was a metal cage,vivid memories of a certain crane drive watering his plants in his cab as he was hoisting the cage....happy days.

My other memory is of the Rig Master,he was a dead ringer for John Cleese!

[john fraser]

Anyone know if Gordon the ETO still there?
He had been there since day 1 and was there around 5 years ago last time I was on it.

Don,t know about Uncle John but I know that last year Caldive paid off UK and other nationalities from DSVs Mystic Viking and Kestrel. One excuse given was that Obama was trying to create employment for US nationals and,Us owned ships had to have US crews.in the GoM
I reckon it was all down to costs.as they cut even the feeding rate.and I see their shares have dropped. I suppose they kept on the staff they couldn,t replace with US nationals. Gordon shaw on Uncle John was a cadet with me in the 70,s

[BOB.WHITTAKER]

Worked on the Uncle John when she was in for repair a Smiths dock (North Shields)in the 1970's...I was on the docking squad when she docked with a pontoon in No 4 dock and the other on in No 5 dock...Was a hair raising expierience for some of the young uns working on her as the means of boarding was a metal cage,vivid memories of a certain crane drive watering his plants in his cab as he was hoisting the cage....happy days.

My other memory is of the Rig Master,he was a dead ringer for John Cleese!



TELECASTER ,I think the "John Cleese" Rig Master you remember was not off the Uncle John but one of the Kigsnorth Rigs that went alongside at Smith's,I can (Probably with other ex Houlder personnel) put a name to him.I can assure you that none of the Bargemasters on the Uncle John around that era resembled John Cleese,who they did resemble is another matter though. Cheers Bob Whittaker

[George Simpson]

TELECASTER ,I think the "John Cleese" Rig Master you remember was not off the Uncle John but one of the Kigsnorth Rigs that went alongside at Smith's,I can (Probably with other ex Houlder personnel) put a name to him.I can assure you that none of the Bargemasters on the Uncle John around that era resembled John Cleese,who they did resemble is another matter though. Cheers Bob Whittaker

Bob I think John Cleese was in fact John Pickles he was Kingsnorths Marine super.

As for the smiths dock have a look at the photo I submitted a while ago, http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/251502/title/uj-in-refit/cat/500

George

PS I hope you and your family are well.

[BOB.WHITTAKER]

GEORGE, John Pickles AKA John Cleese, spoke to Mike Boland two days ago, he was of the same opinion. Everything ticking along nicely ,family extremely well,I've got the the standard problems of advancing years (70 next time) like a new knee-general arthritus-bad back-high blood pressure, but it is all under control with the right pills. Thank The Lord for " The N.H.S. "
The Pucketts called on Boland last week,albeit briefly,having also called at the Campbells.Things reported as AOKin all three households . Cheers BOB

[british hazel]

Hi There ....

I am just wondering if you remember the Treasure Finder...What happened to her... is she still in service... also is the Brent Delta still going...

Cheers Gents All The Best Dave...

[nav]

Hi There ....

I am just wondering if you remember the Treasure Finder...What happened to her... is she still in service... also is the Brent Delta still going...

Cheers Gents All The Best Dave...

Still going strong. She became the Polyconcord in 1992, and then sold by Rasmussen to Prosafe in 2001 and renamed Safe Hibernia in the Mexican Gulf where she remains to this day.

http://www.prosafe.com/safe-hibernia/category145.html

Brent Delta info here:

http://www.shell.co.uk/gbr/aboutshell/shell-businesses/e-and-p/decommissioning/brent-field-decomm-studies/status.html

[Blackal]

Polyconcord - Made the Norwegian headlines back in 1994, when she broke her moorings in Bergen Fjord. Drifted across the fjord and ran aground around the same time as it hit the bridge...........

Al :)