Edinburgh Clipper

I was 2/O on her when taken over by Cunard - we changed her name to Alsatia. What an example of how not to build a ship. If you filled up the forward upper tweeendecks she went down by the bow, the forepeak was the biggest fuel tank and the bilgewells for #2 hold were accesed via the engineroom. To say the least the stability was interesting. Glad I only did one contract on her!

One of the well known Drammen design Reefers built in 1972 by Smiths Dock, Middlesbrough, built for my old Company Maritime Fruit and were nearly new when Cunard snapped them at a "Basement" price when M.F. collapsed 76/77, b/u Chittagong in'94

Cant imagine that she came out with FO in the fore peak, I thought this practise had been forbidden for years.

regards
Dave

I was C/O on the Cardiff Clipper in 1977.
Cork-Savannah-Immingham-Vigo-Las Palmas-Dakar-Buenos Aires-Kobe-Osaka-Nightmare!

The Tuscan Star (Blue Star Line) was, I think, the Labrador Clipper.
The fore peak was indeed a fuel oil tank all 275tonne of it and the last tank to bunker. The lid was removed and we watched it filling up, gauges and sounding hopeless.
The engine was a Swiss Sulzer and never sailed on a better engine.

Brian

J. Scott, it was quite the norm for the Maritime Groups new build ship's to have "unusual feature's" at that time, some were built in when new and some where retro-fitted.

Good to see the photo of the Edinburgh Clipper, sailed as R/O in 1976, Corinto, LongBeach Japan, HK, busiest radio traffic ever!
Tom

I was third engineer when she went to Dover after the IFR collapse. A great couple of weeks then off to anchor Margate where Vesty came down to buy it. Everyone joined Blue Star with her as the Tuscan Star except me, went shore side for a couple of years. I remember reading Lloyd's about a fire where the Chief steward, Peter was killed, a lovely chap. Although a lot of hassle with mutinies and odd captains, one of the best trips I ever did in the Merch. Ah the memories.

There was a fire on the Trojan Star, possibly in the West Indies, and the Third Engineer lost his life.
The diesel oil double bottoms were in the engine room. Sounding pipe under a generator exhaust, the tank overflowed and the resultant fire cost the Third Engineer his life.

Remember seeing her drifting with engine trouble in the South Atlantic I think sometime in 1974. Rolling heavily. Had a massive streak of oil down one side where it was suggested she had rolled in the swell and a sounding pie had been left open? We asked if she needed assistance but were assured that all was under control.