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Zapata/Offshore Marine

73K views 94 replies 49 participants last post by  Minimalist Baker 
#1 ·
After I left deep sea I ventured into the oil rig support industry. I was very fortunate to be posted to the Gabon where the sea is almost always calm. Do you know if there any photos of these supply boats in the gallery? I had a happy time on these vessels. I once remember having lunch and thinking I was in Kings Cross Station but one of the Offshore Marine boats had come alongside, she was fitted with a twin crankshaft English Electric diesel, same as railway locos.
 
#3 ·
Zapata

hi CA, I only did 2 four month trips which I thoroughly enjoyed, (Soverign and Dominion Service). I didn't meet Angus Maclean though. I met Peter Harrison in Port Gentile and sailed with a super skipper, Mark Priddie. These Canadian boats were really good but didn't like the warm sea water.
 
#4 ·
Offshore Marine

Hi Guys,

I was on the "Striat Shore" in Port Gentil for two trips in"79 then on the "Pacific Shore" and "Viking Shore" '80 then back to the "Pacific Shore/Service" as it was Zapped. I was 3rd Engieer. I still Remember the beer "REGAB" I think Hell it was awful.

Cheers, from JollyJack

Aka. Kiwi also Geoff Chowles(Jester)
 
#9 ·
(Thumb)
Hi Guys,

I was on the "Striat Shore" in Port Gentil for two trips in"79 then on the "Pacific Shore" and "Viking Shore" '80 then back to the "Pacific Shore/Service" as it was Zapped. I was 3rd Engieer. I still Remember the beer "REGAB" I think Hell it was awful.

Cheers, from JollyJack

Aka. Kiwi also Geoff Chowles(Jester)
Hello Kiwi, I well remember your name but for the life of me just can't put a face to it !
I was cook on the Pacific and we took her from Gt.Yarmouth to Gabon and I can't remember when that was either . My discharge book is buried under mountains of new kitchen units that we are storing for our son. Anyway, Lennie Gillings was skipper and Dave Thomas was chief engineer, Henry Dalton was 2nd Eng I think. I remember taking stores for 3 other ships and feel pretty sure the Strait was 1 of them. Had a big BBQ the night we arrived ,on board one of the OSA boats down there. My mate was bosun on her at the time and the whole ship was invited to the the party. Didn't remember much about it at all but my mate said I had a good time and my head was able to confirm that. We would be at sea for a week and in port for a week. Never went ashore except to buy fishing hooks and that was only once.
I caught a Hammerhead shark while sitting on the hook at the J.W.Bates. Everybody was panicking to haul all the other lines in and then we got a call to go alongside. Lennie gave us all the time we needed to get the brute onboard and it was thrashing about the deck like crazy. By this time all the other lines were a birds nest . Dave Thomas came sauntering down the deck with a 28lb maul and soon took care of that. Both eyes went screaming up and down the deck like someone teeing off from 1st green. It tasted great on the Barbie. It lasted several days. The fishing was great and you could'nt move in our freezers for fish . The locals soon found out we had fish for sale and once alongside they would swarm aboard and and stick their names on those they wanted, they'd then return with cash in the evening and go home happy as Larry.It was a great 3 months and I enjoyed every minute.I sailed with you once or twice after that. Maybe it was the Cromarty as I was a long time on her but the old grey cells are in decay now and I don't remember too well .As soon as I can find my Disharge book I'll have a better idea. (Thumb)
Best regards Kiwi.
Gino.
 
#6 ·
I was Marine Super for Atlantic Richfield in Darwin and we had Zapata's "Navigator" drilling Timor Sea targets. I'd previously been Master of SL34 servicing this rig and Sedco 135G which I also looked after and moved. Navigator was a "rust bucket". Wayne xxxxx was the Zapata Manager and he seemed to enhance his income by buying/selling Timor Oil shares in bulk. When Elf-Aquitaine turned up as another JV partner they threw their hands in the air "mon dieu" was the most common shout from their hut.
Lotsa fun drilling offshore in the '70's.
 
#85 ·
Gabon

Hi Gino,

yes we all had a great time with the Fishing down there.


I now have a page on "FaceBook" thanks to one of my Ex Chief Eng"s
Take a look as it has a photo of me on it. But don't forget that30 or so years have passed. here's the link. Log into Facebook

Cheers and thanks for the memories.
Kiwi
Web site www.modelboats.co.nz to see a model of the "Lundy Shore"
(Jester)
hello there, this is my FB page who are you exactly? I'm Richard Spencer LCDR RAN B.Eng FIMarEST Chartered Engineer and Merchant Navy Engineer Class 1.
 
#7 ·
Punter are you aware of any photo's of Smit Lloyd 34 and the other similar vessels? I was on SL34 for a short while before moving down to Bass Strait. I enjoyed my time on Rig Tenders but should have gone to the P&O Company when I had the chance. Have never been able to find photo's of the Smit Lloyds that were here. I was also on Sedco 135G for a while, didnt enjoy it one bit! That was my last job at sea.
 
#11 ·
#16 · (Edited)
Anyone remember me in Offshore Marine or Zapata?

Ch Mate on Viking Shore, Skipper on North Shore, Fastnet Shore, Orkney Shore, Paramount Service.

Who is Howardang? We must have been together in Pauillac - I saw your post mentioning your year on the Gironde with Fastnet Shore & Cromarty Shore - I was skipper on Fastnet for the rig move out of there to Gijon, Spain (it was my first rigmove)
 
#45 ·
Ch Mate on Viking Shore, Skipper on North Shore, Fastnet Shore, Orkney Shore, Paramount Service.

Who is Howardang? We must have been together in Pauillac - I saw your post mentioning your year on the Gironde with Fastnet Shore & Cromarty Shore - I was skipper on Fastnet for the rig move out of there to Gijon, Spain (it was my first rigmove)
Hi there . The rig move at Gijon, was that rig the MEDUSA . The tow was through the straights to Barcelona. My name Stewart Abbott A.B.

(Thumb)

Regards and Best Wishes
 
#17 ·
Zapata Marine Offshore, US

I don't know what made me think of it, but I worked on The Liberty Service, one of several @ 210' Offshore supply boats built for the planned New England offshore drilling @ 1978.

Captains were from other supply boat companies , like Euro-Pirates, Tidewater, Seahorse... Dutch Smeal, Curtis Miller. They were characters and very good boat handlers.

We worked in and out of Davisville, RI, Halifax, NS and St Johns, Newfoundland.
Great Gig! while it lasted.
When drilling was prohibited for the Georges Banks fisheries areas, the supply boats packed it in and headed to Europe (Tunisia) and were re-crewed.

Best Regards,
ADC
 
#18 ·
Memories!
I sailed with Zapata '79 to '83, Mate on Regal and Royal Service, and sailed as Mate on run job from St. John's Newfoundland to Tunisia on one of the US flagged Liberty class. I remember Curtis Miller well, when he was sailing out of St. John's, in the early eighties there wete at least four of this class working offshore Newfoundland
 
#24 ·
Memories!
I sailed with Zapata '79 to '83, Mate on Regal and Royal Service, and sailed as Mate on run job from St. John's Newfoundland to Tunisia on one of the US flagged Liberty class. I remember Curtis Miller well, when he was sailing out of St. John's, in the early eighties there wete at least four f this class working offshore Newfoundland
Hi DenisM, I was also with Zapata 1975/79 as AB/2ND Mate my 1st V/L was the Valiant Service/Titan & Milano, I was no the Valiant when she catch fire in the Baycay & abandoned ship homeward bound from Barcelona. I see that you where on both Regal/Royal Service, I was C/O on the Ocean Service 91 in Onne Port 91 she was an maintainers V/L then, unfortunately I did forget to take my camera with me hench I did not get any photos of the ship,I do remember the Regal & Royal both in Gt Yarmouth in the 70's as pipe-Carrier's,& I am wondering if u can help me with photos of the V/L. Thank you
jj b
 
#23 ·
Zapata crew

I sailed with Cutiss Miller coming out of Canada in '83. Did ten more years in Alaska and the oil field, then Curtiss ended up on Casino Riverboats in Chicago. Dutch Smeal, Don Robb, Gary johnson and Farmer all coming up to work. Its been a good job. Cutiss is back out working on Seacor boats he is still one of the best.
 
#89 ·
Zapata crew

I sailed with Cutiss Miller coming out of Canada in '83. Did ten more years in Alaska and the oil field, then Curtiss ended up on Casino Riverboats in Chicago. Dutch Smeal, Don Robb, Gary johnson and Farmer all coming up to work. Its been a good job. Cutiss is back out working on Seacor boats he is still one of the best.
Don Robb and I spent a year together in Port Harcourt and Buruto, Nigeria back in 1965. Back when MARINE SERVICE was Known as Henderson Marine Service, just prior to Zapata taking over ................ dumb ass young kids having a good time. This was all before the Biafran War. My name is Mike Broyhill, from Lousiana
 
#29 ·
25 years ago flew to Doula to do a job for Zapata the job was to make some rig moorings from a Reel of 52mm wire, with the help of the crew of the ship that the reel was on we measured various lenths of wire cut then had to put sockets on the ends 30 sockets in all.
From photo's I have I can make out Lavica Seahorse,Laguna Sea???,the finished wire moorings was taking away by the Cape Service.
 
#30 ·
steamship?



Are you sure it was Douala? The Lavaca,Laguna and Trinity were all
ex Charlie Slater Europirate boats and were identical almost with MWM engines. They were all based in Cabinda. Maybe Zapata moved them after I left. They were getting pretty much worn out then. Was
Harry Harrison the Port Captain there where you were?
 
#33 · (Edited)
My name is Mike Broyhill, I guess I go way back, I started was with Henderson Marine Service, out of Morgan City, LA in 1964. Henderson Marine Service was shortly there after aquired by Zapata. I worked Port Harcourt, Escavos, Burutu, Warri, and Alexandria, Eygpt (just after the 6 day war). I notice Don Robb's name mentioned he and I worked to gether for about a year in Port Harcourt. Don was Tee Totaler, so I had to make up for his lack of consumption. We were just kids at the time, I think I was 23, and Don was about the same. Great times long ago. I was Mate on Rio Service. and Engineer on the following: Eastern Service, M/V Margery. M/V William Hollis, Coastal Service, Gulf Service.............Seriously doubt if any of these are still in service. Also did a stint with Western Geo. in Port Gentile and the Camarroons.....This was on the Western Beacon....recorder boat........
 
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