Mahanada and Lucigen

[Tony Selman]

A couple more slides from the missing set recently found. The first is obviously of true Brock's vintage and was taken when I coasted Mahanada in September 1966. I am fairly sure it was taken in Tilbury but not totally certain. I think Nigel James was the coasting 2/0 and the 3/0 was Peter Steele, can't remember anyone else I'm afraid.

The second is not truly Brock's as such although Lucigen, along with Lucellum and Luxor, came under Brocklebank management in 1965 and many Brock's men subsequently sailed on Moss Tankers. This was my first trip on my own, coincidentally along with another active user of the board Donald Macleod, also in his first trip on his own. This was good news for me as Don had been the very first person I met in the MN when joining Matra on my first trip and we had already done 2 voyages together. We joined in Cammel Lairds in July 1965 and this photo was taken at Pulau Bukom just off the Shell berths later that year. Lucigen was without doubt the worst ship I sailed on in my career and I remember that voyage with little affection. Don can speak for himself but I don't think he would have had a great trip either as Lucigen broke down frequently and had a lot of engineering and electrical problems. The only other Brock's man on board that I can remember was 3/0 Dave Tracey.

[skymaster]

Tony ,great picture of the Mahanada my last ship in 1958!

Mike

[ken carr]

Wonderful picture of the MAHANADA, do you, by any chance have any more photo's of her????? have lots of very good memories after spending nearly 3 years aboard her

Stay Happy

Regards
Ken Carr

[Tony Selman]

Ken, from memory this is my only picture because unlike you I was only on her for 3 weeks, not 3 years. I will have a look but I am not very optimistic.

[Don A.Macleod]

"Lucigen" (Please Tony,no swearing on this site!) Remember(forget,no way!) her well, yes! there were just the three of us from Brocks present as you say. She was a nightmare really, 52 breakdowns in under 6 months,many of them serious. I could write the proverbial book on that trip(from memory!) Do you remember when homeward bound and about half an hour from Port Said .(you and I were sitting in the ch. stewards cabin-Bill Jones-) when the 5th eng appeared in the doorway and advised me the "blower" had stopped, meaning the main engine was inoperable. I had taken precautions early in the voyage in the highly unlikely event of this ever happening and took remedial action on the way down. Imagine my surprise when appearing on the plates the "old man" John Murray was there before me. There were good blokes in Moss Tankers and I take my hat off to them for ther dedication.Went to LUCELLUM a couple of years later to help put her back together after salvaging .That was a Brocks job again ( Don. Clarke, Jake Donnelly, myself) but thats another story.

Don

[Tony Selman]

I do remember the incident Don, although I had forgotten the C/S name. I recall I don't think I have ever seen you move so fast in your life. Lucigen really was a pile of junk but I agree some of the Moss men were good. I thought John Murray was a very good Captain and I got on very well with C/O Ken Edwards. 2/O Stan Patterson and I never got on much. Was the C/E John McArdle? - another very friendly bloke but I always remember being intrigued by him saying "in my era" instead of "in my time" in a broad Geordie accent and it never sounded right. Funny the things you remember isn't it?

[john g]

I thought the Luminous was bad enough (a 6 month old nightmare in the late 60's) you guys certainly came across worse. Don I will get in touch with you buy e-mail I'd love to know if you can throw any light on what happened to the guys on the Mahout (your "best trip" ) which I reckon was my best time with Brocks.

[S Fraser]

Great pictures of Mahanada. Spent nearly 18 months on her in 62/3 when I was a deck apprentice. .
Stan

[Cunarder]

I remember the Lucigen/GKGE very well - she was only my second solo trip as R/O. Joined her in Ras from where we took on a full cargo of naptha for a Mobil charter to South Africa. Spent the next 4 to 5 months based in Durban alternately going south all ports to Capetown and return and then north to what was then Lourenco Marques (LM Radio was standard!). We did a one-off trip to Beira at the time of the Rhodesian blockade and ran the gauntlet of the Royal Navy at the river mouth. Am still convinced that our cargo was ultimately destined for Salisbury! Yes, the ship was not the best - I can still recall the woeful radio room and the Oceanspan 100W main TX - but I remember some great evenings in the wardy listening to some unknown Scottish comedian called Billy Connolly - I think we all knew the script of "The Crucifixion" off by heart. And who was the lecky who joined the ship and within 24hrs, after a martial arts demonstration in the wardy, ended up in Durban hospital with a steel pin through his broken knee??

Hmm - a crappy ship to be sure but I'd join her today if that rail warrant dropped through my letter box.....

Alan Marsden

[Portred]

Was there another "Lucigen", built around 1975-6?

In 1976 I was on a Moss Tanker up the River Fal at King Harry Ferry for several months.

I recall that this "Lucigen'' had just been delivered from Davie shipyard, Quebec, Canada.

There was a bolt missing from the engine bed somewhere and that allowed bilge water to contaminate the ME lub oil en-route from the builders.

Consequently, the crankshaft had to be polished to remove the rust on the journals.

Please refer to my other post regarding Rob Pescott, Chief lecky ''Lucerna'', sister ship.

[Derek Roger]

I thought that was Lucerna up the Fal . I had left Brocks and was working for Davies at that time and visited the vessel to confirm the Missing bolt . Visited her with Dennis Royale who was the Super at the time . Ian May or Davie Meek was the Chief Engineer on board at the time .
Cunard were not very pleased at me being the Shipyard Rep as half the time I was given to replying to my own letters re defects etc.
The sump had filled up with Bilge water and when the engine was turned of course lubricated the thing with salt !
I told them they should have paid attention to the sump high level alarm and investigated as to why it was high before starting the pumps and we would not pay for the engine overhaul as it was the ships fault for ignoring the alarm . London office got very excited over this for some reason !!! ( No sense of humor at all ) Davie of course paid for the repairs .
Also the rather nice lunch time session we had at the Pub by the Ferry with the old man who I was Dave Wolfenden if my memory serves me well .
Derek

PS For my experiences with the Lucy see my threads in the post "worst ships " She really was awful .

[R798780]

I thought that was Lucerna up the Fal . .

In '76 couldn't be Lucigen, I recall hearing the story 2nd hand, could only be Lucerna or Lucellum. Never saw Lucellum but put in a lot of seatime on Lucerna.

[Derek Roger]

Agreed Hugh ;
Lucerna and Lucellum were the ships built at Davies ( hulls 684 and 685 )

Derek

[Portred]

Thanks Guys!

I've no record of it because it was considered a ''Coastal Voyage'', the years have ''Blurred'' things a wee bit.

You are of course correct and that explains the picture of Rob Pescott on the ''Lucerna'' in the engine & mechanics section!

I sailed with him on a Brock's ship as well.

I now think that the name ''Lucigen'' embeded itself in my memory because I sailed with an engineer who was always telling yarns about it.

He came from liverpool, but unfortunately, I can't recall his name right now.

It will come to me later.

Thanks again!

regards.

[Tony Selman]

Anyone who was unfortunate enough to have sailed on Lucigen in any capacity will have the voyage indelibly imprinted on their memory. Regrettably.:(

[Tony Sprigings]

Tony,
Put in Bore tide Moorings in your search section and it will lead you to Markhor. Under that heading you will find what you asked. Cheers.

[Derek Roger]

Tony ;
I eventualy got my copy of your book ; I ordered it "Sea Mail " ( to try and keep some seamen in a Job ! )
It took 54 days ??? They must wait until there is a container load before shipping ??
Enjoyable reading ; thanks . Also a nice picture of " Mickey Spillane and his Good Lady " pass on my regards if you are in contact although I doubt he remembers me .
Alan Atack also passes on his regards to Dennis ; i think the last time they met was when Dennis attended the Mahsud in Hong Kong ?? to repair the bow damage from the incident in Colombo .

Regards Derek

PS.
There is some Brocklebank "stuff " coming up on E bay quite a bit ; hat badge is up for grabs now ; I still have mine so wont be bidding .
Missed a set of Brock Cards in a box recently which I would love to have bought but missed the closing of the bidding .

[Portred]

Anyone who was unfortunate enough to have sailed on Lucigen in any capacity will have the voyage indelibly imprinted on their memory. Regrettably.:(

Yes, Tony, I now remember that engineers name, his name is Syd Fenemore, Fennemore or Fenimore.

Anyway, he was J/2/E on the Mahout in 1974.

He was always telling us about the hardships he suffered on the ''Lucigen''.

That's why after 31 years, I incorrectly named the MOSS Tanker that I was ''Coasting on'', the ''Lucigen'', when it really was the ''Lucerna''.

Thanks for your understanding.

Best regards,

Adrian Boyce

[Peterhr]

Yes the sister ship was Lucellum - I was on the Lucerna and there was quite a lot of 'borrowing' of radio kit from Lucellum to make Lucerna read to sail from Falmouth. I have got some photos from the Lucerna maiden voyage (I was Junior R/O) and will post them in my gallery.

Cheers

Peter Harper-Roberts

[Cunarder]

Was anybody else here on Lucigen for the Mobil charter on the South African coast? I think it would have been around the 1969/70 timeframe.

Alan Marsden

[Tony Sprigings]

Was that when Dave Woolfenden was the Master?

[Cunarder]

Yes, that's right - think he relieved Wally Flett....

[Tony Sprigings]

I am still in regular touch with Dave Woolfenden but I don't think he is participating in this site.Can give you his details if you are interested.

[Derek Roger]

Tony;
Last saw Dave in Canada standing bye at Davies in Lauzon before I left Brocks and emigrated in 76 ; give him my regards .
Derek