Anyone out there on the British Patience around 83????
She also had one of the shortest lives, being scrapped after only 8 years trading.I was on the British Patience from 11.04.76 to 01.09.76.
I joined her in Ras Al Khaimah and paid off off of Taranto.
As I recall "Gabby" King did the trip from the Gulf to Taranto with us.
110662.91 NRT & 32,000 SHP according to the rubber stamp in my Discharge Book.
A big bugger, but there were bigger tankers than her. I don't think she was ever the largest in the world. (Thumb)
Dickyboy,I never knew about her short trading life. I wonder why it was so short? She was a steam Ship as I recall, perhaps that was the reason?
I wonder if Gabby Kings "Tanker Practice" is still the essential literature for Tanker Men.
I'm trying to remember if his wife came with him on the Patience, I have a feeling that she did, and as she launched her then I would imagine that it is quite likely that she did.
I may be wrong, but I don't think the Pride was a sister-ship of the other four, although she may have had the same General Electric turbines. Can anyone confirm?Dickyboy,
Apparently, according to Middlemiss, (The British Tankers) the 5 P class (Patience, Promise, Progress, Purpose & Pride) suffered constant gearing problems on their turbines & none of them lasted long with the Company.
I think Tanker Practice was updated several times but I don't know whether it is a tanker man's bible today.
In Gabby's book (A Love of Ships) he states that they tried to visit her every year, if possible. He actually mentions the Taranto voyage.
Kind regards,
John.