[meechingman]

We all know Esso tankers frequently (always?) had names starting "Esso" and then followed by a place name. Now here's the question.

What's the smallest vessel to bear the Esso name like this? Pics would be great as well as answers!

I think (I HOPE!!) I know the answer, but I'll have to dig out a photo as proof sometime this weekend. However, some of you may know better.....

Andy G

[Thamesphil]

Are we talking just tankers or other vessels too? I've a feeling that there were some "Esso" tugs around at one time.

[Peter4447]

Hi Andy
Francunian, Inveritchen, Inverpool, Invertest and Invertyne were all bunkering vessels and like the tankers Caldergate, Southgate and Stourgate that operated mainly on inland waterways did not carry the Esso xxxx prefix. There was a bunkering barge moored in the Pool of London (near Westminster bridge) but I do not know if this carried the Esso xxxx prefix.
Working purely on tankers I will have to go, therefore, for Esso Suwanee built 1941 298 Grt or Esso Ottawa built 1943 299 Grt.
Peter4447

[gdynia]

Andy
Esso owned a very small tanker years ago called Vistula which ran up and down the River Vistula in Poland. I believe she was less than 100 grt

[meechingman]

No, I'm not looking at just tankers, though maybe we should split this question into two then. 1) Smallest tanker and 2) smallest 'Esso' vessel.

I had a couple of others in mind for the smallest tanker, Peter, but I think the Ottawa beats mine, which were slightly later.

[Bruce Carson]

Originally Posted by Peter4447

Hi Andy
Working purely on tankers I will have to go, therefore, for Esso Suwanee built 1941 298 Grt or Esso Ottawa built 1943 299 Grt.
Peter4447

Pictures of both may be found here:


http://visseraa.piranho.com/uktankers/id313.htm

Bruce C

[John Rogers]

I sailed on the Esso Saranac in November of 1952,five week trip. The official number in my Book is #164847 NT 4676 GT 8031, fine little tanker.
John.

[JoK]

Imperial Dartmouth
http://www.wellandcanal.ca/shiparc/i.../dartmouth.htm

[awateah2]

The smallest I believe was the 'Esso Jersey' that was able to sail up to Exeter and I believe Exeter City Council ordered a similar vessel the 'SW 2' carrying effluent from Exeter to the sea. Both built by Bolsons in Poole? I think around 300 tons G.R.T.

[Peter4447]

Originally Posted by awateah2

The smallest I believe was the 'Esso Jersey' that was able to sail up to Exeter and I believe Exeter City Council ordered a similar vessel the 'SW 2' carrying effluent from Exeter to the sea. Both built by Bolsons in Poole? I think around 300 tons G.R.T.

Sorry awateah but small as she may have been she was 2 tons heavier than the Esso Suwanee and one ton heavier than the Esso Ottawa. Sadly, the effluent carrier has long since disappeared.
Peter4447

[paul0510]

the smallest ones I sailed on were the Hythe & Woolston both 855 GRT.

[meechingman]

Now I was thinking Esso Jersey as well, but that 2 tons got me too!

Any smaller tankers with the Esso prefix, and what about non-tankers?

Andy

[Brumlebass]

I have just loaded up a photo of "Esso Føroyar" in the gallery. She really was small! She was faroese, and about 92 br. tons. She unfortunately sank a couple of years ago. You can also find her at www.faroeyard.fo

Brumlebass

[awateah2]

I remember the 'Esso Jersey's G.R.T. was reduced after she had her superstructure cut down due to stability problems. As built she was very similar to 'Esso Dover'. Interesting site, go to sw maritime history-articles-topsham quay mentions 'Esso Jersey'

[meechingman]

And Esso Dover was the second one I was thinking of, but it looks like we've all been beaten by Brumlebass's Esso Foroyar at 92 tons. Unless anyone knows better... and what about the non-tankers??

[awateah2]

I remember a tug on the Thames, 'Esso Reading' ?

[meechingman]

OK, then. Having established that the smallest Esso tanker is the one from the Faroes at 92 tons, here's the smallest non-tanker bearing thes Esso name.

It's the Esso Seaford Bay, a refuelling barge stationed at Newhaven's Cresta Marina from the early 1960's. It carried no fuel on board itself, but there was a large tank about 50 yards away on the West Quay, just north of the old lifeboat house. Alas, it's all long gone, but nostalgia is what this site's about.

Here are a couple of pix, courtesy of Newhaven Museum.

Andy

[A.G.Greenwood]

What about the Esso Abingdon,a small tanker that used to trade between Fawley and the Isle of Wight.
Tony Greenwood

[robandbarbara]

Try Esso Greenwich ...Thames Tug. 77 tons/1953. Became Silvergilt then Kitavia.

[meechingman]

Keep them coming please. I didn't know of the Abingdon - any pix of her? Robandbarbara - do you perhaps mean Kitava - of JP Knight? I have a pic of her in my gallery berthing the Newhaven ferry Falaise - she was an occasional stand-in for my father's tug Meeching when she was on refit.

As for the tonnage of the Esso Seaford Bay, it's got to be very little. There's nothing much of her and she only draws a foot or two. Less than 50 tons, I'd guess.

Andy

[gil mayes]

As a tanker try ESSO PARKGATE 52grt/Northwich 1925

Gil

[Bob S]

Saw Norwegian bunkering barges ESSO 11, 12 & 13 in Oslo during September 1971 and tug ESSO OSLO. No idea of tonnage though. Will see if I have any photos.

Bob

[robandbarbara]

Yes, I think the Kitavia was the own owned by Knights. The Esso Reading
(77/1953), like the Esso Greenwich, (als0 77/1953) became the Silverclad --Silvertown Services London. The Esso Abingdon (446/1952) was a regular visitor to the Thames up as far as Chelsea in 1952 - 1954. It was sold to Bowker & KIngs and became the Babingdon and was broken up about 1976.

[John Baird]

Would the ESSO POOLE qualify.?

[gil mayes]

ESSO POOLE (186337) was 754grt/Hessle 1955 188.8ft
ESSO PARKGATE (147333) Yarwood (353) was 71.0 ft. South Coast members would remember her as Southern Tanker & Bunkering PARKSTAN. She ended her days at Hayle in 1985 having been employed as a sand dredger, although her registration was not closed until 23.11.1999.