The ESSO Petroleum Company Fleet History

In 1855, at the age of sixteen years, the American John D. Rockefeller moved into an office of commission brokers in Cleveland, Ohio, and soon after became a partner in his own firm, Clark & Rockefeller.  In 1859, oil was discovered in Pennsylvania and the visionary Rockefeller took an early interest in these developments, travelling to Pennsylvania to see for himself what this new industry might have to offer.  Although the industry was highly unstable in these early days, Rockefeller saw the great potential of oil.  In 1863, in partnership with a British engineer named Samuel Andrews, Rockefeller invested $4,000 in the construction of a refinery in Cleveland, Ohio, and took the first steps to becoming one of the richest men in the world.  Within two years, Rockefeller bought out his partner (Clark) and the firm became known as Rockefeller & Andrews.  By 1870 the business had expanded rapidly and in June of that year all their interests were incorporated as the Standard Oil Company (Ohio).  The business continued to grow rapidly and on 27 April 1888 acquired their first foreign affiliate which was named the Anglo-American Oil Company, destined to become one of the largest companies in Great Britain involved in the bulk transportation of oil products.  The Company opened offices at 16 Great St. Helens, London, later moving to Dock House, Billiter Street, and later 22 Billiter Street.

The first ships of the Anglo-American Oil Company were both Clyde-built.  The first was the 1889-built BAYONNE, from the yard of A. & J. Inglis Ltd., and the second was the 1889-built MANHATTAN, from the yard of D. J. Dunlop & Coy., each with a carrying capacity of 4,000 tons, equivalent to about 28,000 barrels of oil per vessel, arranged in nine pairs of tanks that could be pumped out in ten hours using the two ship’s own cargo pumps.  These were followed over the next few years by the steamers WEEHAUKEN (1891- Armstrong Mitchell & Coy), DELAWARE (1893 – D. J. Dunlop), POTOMAC (1893 – A. & J. Inglis Ltd) LACKAWANNA (1894 – D. J. Dunlop & Coy) CHESAPEAKE (1895 – D. J. Dunlop & Coy)

To accommodate the growing fleet, Anglo-American Oil constructed the large storage wharf at Purfleet on the Thames from where smaller vessels transhipped the commodity to various ports around the British Isles and Dublin, Ireland.  By the turn of the century, the ships were increasing in size, up to 8,400 DWT.  In 1903 the Company took delivery of its largest ship until then, the 9,196 GRT NARRAGANSETT, at that time the largest oil tanker in the world and the largest vessel to be built in the lower reaches of the Clyde, from the Yard of Scott & Coy of Greenock. And you can also give your business a new address if you’d like using a service like this Virtual office in Bristol so that way you get a top Bristol address and added privacy for your business.

 

OIL CARRIERS OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN OIL COMPANY OF LONDON  :  1889-1914

VESSEL  NAMES

GRT

BUILDER  IDENTITY

L   x   B

PROPULSION  TYPE

ULTIMATE  FATE

Bayonne 3,294 A & J Inglis Ltd

330 x  42

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1924

Manhattan 3,284 D J Dunlop & Coy

330 x  42

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Posted missing in 1929

Weehauken 2,784 Armstrong, Mitchell & Coy

310 x  40

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1937

Delaware 3,855 D J Dunlop & Coy

345 x  44

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1929

Potomac 3,868 A & J Inglis Ltd

345 x  44

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Wrecked in 1929

Lackawanna 3,855 D J Dunlop & Coy

345 x  44

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Submarine Loss in 1941

Chesapeake 4,521 D J Dunlop & Coy

370 x  47

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Lost by fire in 1911

Tuscarora 6,117 Sir James Laing

420 x  53

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Submarine Loss in 1917

Genesee 2,767 Armstrong, Mitchell & Coy

310 x  40

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1924

Suwanee 2,736 Armstrong, Mitchell & Coy

310 x  40

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1925

Hudson 3,679 Sunderland Shipbuilding Coy

356 x  45

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Submarine Loss in 1944

Seneca 4,848 Russell & Coy

390 x  52

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1934

Appalachee 3.767 Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Coy

340 x  44

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Scuttled in 1944

Tonawanda 3.416 Armstrong, Mitchell & Coy

330 x  43

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1923

Ottawa 2,742 Armstrong, Mitchell & Coy

309 x  40

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Posted missing in 1921

Housatonic 3.893 Armstrong, Mitchell & Coy

347 x  46

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Wrecked in 1908

Tioga 2,292 Burmeister & Wain

281 x  37

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Stranding loss in 1913

Kennebec 5,077 Russell & Coy

405 x  52

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Wrecked in 1916

Narragansett 9,196 Scott & Coy

531 x  63

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Submarine Loss in 1917

Schuylkill 5,176 Russell & Coy

412 x  52

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Lost due to mine in 1944

Dakotah 4,006 Armstrong, Whitworth & Coy

350 x  47

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Lost by fire in 1915

Seminole 5,864 Furness Withy & Coy

414 x  52

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1932

Winnebago 4,534 Armstrong, Whitworth & Coy

359 x  50

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Scuttled in 1944

Ashtabula 7,025 Palmers S.B. & Iron Coy

442 x  54

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1947

Cuyahoga 4,507 Armstrong, Whitworth & Coy

369 x  49

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1933

Iroquois 9,202 Harland & Wolff

467 x  60

Quad/Exp Stm Recip

B/U in 1946

Navahoe 7,718 Harland & Wolff

450 x  58

A 4-Masted Barge

Scuttled in 1936

Tamarac 5,169 Napier & Miller Ltd

395 x  52

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1949

Saranac 5,316 William Gray & Coy

386 x  52

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1932

Cheyenne 4,987 Swan Hunter Wigham Richd

389 x  51

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Stranded & B/U in 1924

Cadillac 5,251 Napier & Miller Ltd

385 x  51

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Submarine Loss in 1918

Impoco 1,683 Greenock & Grangemouth

242 x  40

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Submarine Loss in 1918

Lackawanna 4,125 J.C. Tecklenborg AG

353 x  45

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1931

Comanchee 5,601 Armstrong Whitworth & Coy

395 x  52

Quad/Exp Stm Recip

B/U in 1949

Tacoma 6,838 Flensburgher Schiffsbau Ges.

440 x  58

Quad/Exp Stm Recip

B/U in 1933

Tuscarora 6,828 Flensburgher Schiffsbau Ges

440 x  58

Quad/Exp Stm Recip

Wrecked in 1932

Wapello 5,576 Armstrong Whitworth & Coy

396 x  52

Quad/Exp Stm Recip

Submarine Loss in 1917

Uncas 4,722 Greenock & Grangemouth

375 x  51

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1962

Winamac 5,767 Craig, Taylor & Coy Ltd

412 x  53

Quad/Exp Stm Recip

B/U in 1934

Shabonee 5,167 Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd

380 x  51

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1932

Tascalusa 6,499 Sir R. Dixon & Co Ltd

420 x  54

Quad/Exp Stm Recip

Bombed & B/U in 1940

Tamaha 6,496 Sir R. Dixon & Co Ltd

420 x  54

Quad/Exp Stm Recip

B/U in 1953

Tachee 6,508 Sir R. Dixon & Co Ltd

420 x  54

Quad/Exp Stm Recip

B/U in 1950

Tatarrax 6,216 Scotts S.B. & Eng. Coy Ltd

420 x  55

Quad/Exp Stm Recip

Submarine Loss in 1918

Purfleet oil terminal expanded over the years to become the largest unloading and storage depot in Great Britain, and remained in operation day and night throughout the First World War, by the end of which there were fifty-eight large storage tanks at the Site.  Previously the facility had been in the ownership of the Purfleet Tank Storage Company but it was absorbed into the Anglo-American Oil Company who also went on to acquire the adjacent oil plant that had been owned by the Anglo-Russian Oil Company.

The Company’s fleet of oil carriers flew the Anglo-American houseflag portraying a black eagle astride a white ball, with navy blue and deep red diagonal sections as its background colours. During the Great War of 1914-1918, many of the Company’s vessels were taken over by the Government for war duties and during this war the Purfleet facility received the unwelcome attention of German Gotha bombers and Zeppelins, but no serious damage was sustained.  The facility was enlarged again in 1938, to provide further storage capacity in preparation for the war that was foreseen as inevitable.

During the Second World War, the Purfleet terminal did not escape as lightly from enemy attention as was the case in the previous War.  Twenty direct hits were recorded in 1940 and further hits during 1941 caused much devastation and destruction.  Ships alongside were hit and caught fire, ashore there were many fires and resulting explosions, some of these fires burning for over a week.  Inevitably some lives were lost during this difficult time.

 

 COASTERS/RIVER CRAFT OF ANGLO-AMERICAN OIL COMPANY OF LONDON  :   1856-1912

VESSEL  NAMES

G.R.T.

BUILDER  IDENTITY

L   X    B

PROPULSION  TYPE

ULTIMATE  FATE

Osceola

393

D. J. Dunlop & Coy

141 x  26

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1934

Imperial

796

Tyne Iron & S.B. Co Ltd

200 x  32

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1939

Oneida

698

Greenock & Grangemouth

165 x  32

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

B/U in 1947

Tioga

742

Greenock & Grangemouth

180 x  31

T/E 3-Cyl Stm Recip

Collision loss -1943

Queen of the Avon

162

J. Vernon

101 x  20

Snow-rigged S.V.

Not known

Morning Star

65

R. M. Shrubsall

85  x  18

Ketch-Barge

Disposed of in 1921

White Rose

49

D. J. Dunlop & Coy

63  x  15

Tug

B/U in 1954

Royal Daylight

83

J. Stewart & Sons

75  x  17

Tug

B/U in 1955

Royal Daylight

53

Gordon Alison & Coy

72  x  15

Tank Barge

Not Known

White Rose

44

Gordon Alison & Coy

69  x  14

S.V.

Not Known

 

ACQUISITIONS OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN OIL COMPANY OF LONDON  :   1897-1917

VESSEL  NAMES

GRT

BUILDER  IDENTITY

L   X    B

PROPULSION  TYPE

ULTIMATE  FATE

Alcides 2,704 Greenock & Grangemouth 312 x  43 4-Masted Barque

Submarine Loss – 1917

Calcutta 1,694 Naval Constns. & Armts. 240 x  40 3-Masted Barque

B/U in 1923

Colonial Empire 2,436 John Reid & Coy 302 x  43 4-Masted Barque

Foundered in 1917

Drumeltan 1,908 Russell & Coy 267 x  40 4-Masted Barque Became a barge 1931
Falls of Ettrick 2,264 Russell & Coy 278 x  42 4-Masted Barque

Sold at auction – 1903

Glendoon 1,981 A. Rodger & Coy 266 x  40 Full Rigged S.V.

Submarine Loss – 1917

Hainaut 1,783 Barrow Shipbuilding Coy 249 x  40 Full Rigged S.V.

Was still afloat in 1950

Johanna 1,756 J. Smit 240 x  37 Full Rigged S.V.

Foundered in 1909

Juteopolis 2,842 W.B. Thompson & Coy 310 x  45 4-Masted Barque

Wrecked in 1929

Kentmere 2,520 W.H. Potter & Sons 300 x  42 Full Rigged S.V.

Disposed of in 1924

King George 2,242 Russell & Coy 278 x  42 Full Rigged S.V.

Stranding loss in 1909

Lawhill 2,942 W.B. Thompson & Coy 333 x  45 4-Masted Barque

B/U Matola in 1955

Lyndhurst 2,311 A. McMillan & Son 295 x  42 4-Masted Barque

Lost by fire in 1911

Sindia 3,068 Harland & Wolff Ltd 329 x  45 4-Masted Barque

Stranding loss in 1901

 

BRITISH-BUILT SHIPS OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN OIL COMPANY OF LONDON  :  1901-1903

VESSEL  NAMES

G.R.T.

BUILDER  IDENTITY

L   X    B

PROPULSION  TYPE

ULTIMATE  FATE

Nonpareil 3,414 A. Hamilton & Coy 323 x  46 4-Masted Barque

Capsized in 1900

Comet 3,414 A. Hamilton & Coy 323 x  46 4-Masted Barque

Became barge in 1928

Brilliant 3,765 Russell & Coy 352 x  49 4-Masted Barque

Submarine loss in 1916

Daylight 3,756 Russell & Coy 353 x 49 4-Masted Barque

B/U in 1953

Eclipse 3,090 A. Rodger & Coy. 327 x  46 4-Masted Barque

Hulked China in 1928

Arrow 3,090 A. Rodger & Coy. 327 x  46 4-Masted Barque

B/U London in 1938

Radiant 1,974 A. Rodger & Coy. 265 x  40 4-Masted Barque

B/U Italy in 1923

Alacrita 1,974 A. Rodger & Coy. 265 x  40 4-Masted Barque

Foundered in 1907

 

AMERICAN-BUILT SHIPS OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN OIL COMPANY OF LONDON  :  1900-1902

VESSEL  NAMES

G.R.T.

BUILDER  IDENTITY

L   X    B

PROPULSION  TYPE

ULTIMATE  FATE

Acme 3,288 A. Sewall & Coy Unknown 4-Masted Barque

Stranded in 1919

Astral 3,292 A. Sewall & Coy Unknown 4-Masted Barque

B/U Yawata in 1936

Atlas 3,381 A. Sewall & Coy Unknown 4-Masted Barque

B/U Osaka in 1936

Thomas W. Lawson 5,218 Fore River Ship & Eng 395 x  50 7-Masted Schooner

Foundered in 1907

 

THE FLEET OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN OIL COMPANY OF LONDON IN 1910

VESSELS

YEAR  OF  BUILD

S.S. APPALACHEE

1894

S.S. ASHTABULA

1903

S.S. CADILLAC

1909

S.S. CHESAPEAKE

1895

S.S  CHEYENNE

1908

S.S. CUYABOGA

1902

S.S. DAKOTAH

1902

S.S. DELAWARE

1893

S.S. GENESEE

1899

S.S. HUDSON

1900

S.S. IMPOCO

1910

S.S. IROQUOIS

1907

S.S. KENNEBEC

1902

S.S. LACKAWANNA

1894

S.S. NARRAGANSETT

1903

S.S. OTTAWA

1888

S.S. POTOMAC

1893

S.S. SARANAC

1908

S.S. SCHUYLKILL

1903

S.S. SEMINOLE

1903

S.S. SENECA

1901

S.S. SUWANEE

1888

S.S. TAMARAC

1908

S.S. TIOGA

1890

S.S. TONAWANDA

1893

S.S. TUSCARORA

1898

S.S. WEEHAUKEN

1891

S.S. WINNEBAGO

1901

S.V. ALCIDES

1892

S.V. ARROW

1902

S.V.BRILLIANT

1901

S.V. CALCUTTA

1892

S.V. COMET

1901

S.V. DAYLIGHT

1902

S.V. DRUMELTAN

1883

S.V. ECLIPSE

1902

S.V. GLANDOON

1894

S.V. JUTEOPOLIS

1891

S.V. LAWHILL

1892

S.V. LYNDHURST

1886

S.V. RADIANT

1903

S.V. NAVAHOE

1908

OIL TANKERS ACQUIRED BY ANGLO-AMERICAN OIL DURING THE 1914-1918 WAR

VESSEL NAME

YEAR

GRT

BUILDER IDENTITY

ULTIMATE FATE

Cuyaboga

1914

  4,586

Greenock & Grangemouth Sunk by enemy torpedo on 05-07-1917
Earl of Elgin

1909

  4,448

Russell & Coy Sunk by enemy torpedo on 07-12-1917
Mimosa

1905

  3,466

Short Brothers Sunk by enemy torpedo on 04-09-1915
Winnebago

1915

  4,666

Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd Broken up at Spezia in 1949
Spiraea

1900

  3,620

William Pickersgill & Sons Broken up at Morecambe in1916
Tamarac

1916

  5,042

A. McMillan & Sons Broken up in 1935 by UK shipbreakers
Silvertown

1873

  5,046

C. Mitchell & Coy Broken up in 1935 by Italian shipbreakers
Strathfillan

1906

  4,353

William Hamilton & Coy Broken up in 1947 by Indian shipbreakers
Tuscarora

1917

  7,106

Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd Broken up in 1935 at Queenstown
Cadillac

1917

12,074

Palmers S. B. & Iron Coy Sunk by enemy torpedo on 01-03-1941
Saranac

1918

12,070

Palmers S. B. & Iron Coy Sunk by enemy gunfire on 25-06-1940

Following the First World War, a new British company was formed by the New York based Atlantic, Gulf and West Indies S.S. Lines, a company involved in shipping since 1844, but also owning properties and oilfields in Mexico.  The new British company was called A.G.W.I. Petroleum Corporation Limited and was incorporated in 1920.  On its formation, the Company acquired 406 acres in Hampshire that was to become the new Fawley refinery and oil storage depot.  The first of the Company’s vessels, the newly built S.S. Agwilake, landed the first oil at Fawley on 18 June 1921, discharging 1,398 tons of Mexican crude oil, 5,843 tons of fuel oil and 2,677 tons of gas oil.  In 1921 the facility had storage capacity of 99,000 tons.  In 1923, A.G.W.I. Petroleum Corporation was taken over by the British Mexican Petroleum Company.  In 1925 the Anglo-American Oil Company acquired the British Mexican Petroleum Company and its fleet of eight oil tankers of 10,000 DWT.

OCEAN TANKERS OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN OIL COMPANY  IN THE 1920’s

VESSEL NAME

BUILT

ACQUIRED

GRT

PROPULSION

ULTIMATE  FATE

Strathearn

1906

1920

4,419

T/E Steam Recip. Bombed and sunk in September 1941
Housatonic

1919

1920

5,519

T/E Steam Recip Bombed and sunk in February 1941
Kennebec

1919

1920

5,548

T/E Steam Recip Submarine loss in September 1939
Narragansett

1920

1920

6,889

Twin Oil Engines Sold off for breaking up in 1933
Seminole

1921

1921

6,923

Twin Oil Engines Sold off for breaking up in 1936
Chesapeake

1928

1928

8,955

Oil Engine Broken up at Faslane in 1953
Schuylkill

1928

1928

8,964

Oil Engine Sold off for breaking up in 1947

 

OCEAN TANKERS OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN OIL COMPANY IN THE 1930’s

VESSEL NAME

BUILT

BUILDERS

GRT

PROPULSION

ULTIMATE  FATE

Cheyenne

1930

Palmers Coy Ltd

8,825

Oil Engine Submarine loss in September1939
Appalachee

1930

Palmers Coy Ltd

8,826

Oil Engine Submarine loss in December 1940
Comanchee

1936

John Brown & Coy

6,837

Oil Engine B/U Grimstad 1962 as Esso Plymouth

 

DISTRIBUTING SHIPS OF ANGLO-AMERICAN OIL COMPANY FROM 1915 TO 1939

VESSEL

YEAR

BUILDERS

GRT

PROPULSION

ULTIMATE  FATE

Juniata

1918

Short Brothers Ltd 1,137 Twin Oil Engines Sunk as blockship in 1940
Osage

1914

Devonport Dockyard 1,010 Oil Engine Bombed & Sunk in Dec 1940
Luffworth

1911

J.T. Eltringham & Coy    279 Gas Engine Scuttled at Brest in June 1940
Luffwell

1912

Van Damme Freres    274 Compound 2-Cyl Broken up in 1935
Southwick

1917

Swan Hunter Wigham    443 T/Exp 3-Cyl Stm. Foundered in December 1948
Nuorla

1918

Gebr. van der Windt    364 T/Exp 3-Cyl Stm. Broken up at Llanelly in 1953
Eastwick

1920

Swan Hunter Wigham    518 T/Exp 3-Cyl Stm. Broken up at Essex in 1948
Allegheny

1921

J. Crichton & Coy Ltd    822 T/Exp 3-Cyl Stm. Broken up in Belgium in 1962
Bargate

1916

Chester      66 Oil Engine Broken up in 1972
Perfection

1916

P. McGregor      73 Oil Engine Sold to Admiralty in 1956
Tetney

1909

Cook Welton Gemmel      47 Oil Engine Broken up Gateshead in 1956
Silver Queen

1912

H. & C. Grayson Ltd    165 Oil Engine Converted to barge in 1927
Crown Diamond

1912

C. H. Walker & Coy    103 T/Exp 3-Cyl Stm. Broken up at Essex in 1950
Tensas

1911

Union Normande    643 None – Barge Not Known
Atoka

1914

Rouen in France    581 None – Barge Broken up in 1950
Angloco

1921

Rennie,Ritchie Newprt.      73 Oil Engine Broken up Gateshead in 1956
Clydegate

1923

Greenock/Grangemth.      66 Oil Engine Alden Shipping Coy. in 1956
Stourgate

1924

J. Pollock & Sons    115 Oil Engine W.G.S. Crouch Ltd. in 1963
Southgate

1925

Amble S. B. Coy Ltd    143 Oil Engine Foundered in May 1960
Fossgate

1925

Henry Scarr Ltd      49 Oil Engine Broken up Gateshead in 1956
Parkgate

1925

W. J. Yarwood & Son      52 Paraffin Motor Broken up in 1985
Lowgate

1925

Henry Scarr Ltd      75 Oil Engine Not Known
Caldergate

1926

Amble S. B. Coy Ltd    138 Oil Engine Hulked in 1959
Castlegate

1928

W. J. Yarwood & Son      87 Paraffin Motor Broken up in 1956
Queensgate

1928

W. J. Yarwood & Son      87 Paraffin Motor Sold to H.G. Pounds in 1958
Westgate

1928

Goole S. B. & Repair      48 Oil Engine Sold to Bowker King in 1966

 

NON-PROPELLED DISTRIBUTING BARGES FOR USE ON THE RIVER THAMES IN SAME PERIOD

VESSEL

YEAR

BUILDERS

GRT

Length x  Breadth

ULTIMATE  FATE

Northampton

1920

R. Colby of Lowestoft

46

78 ft.   x   14 ft.

Not Known

Radnor

1920

R. Colby of Lowestoft

46

78 ft.  x   14 ft

Not Known

Montgomery

1921

R. Colby of Lowestoft

46

78 ft.  x   14 ft

Not Known

Anglesea

1921

R. Colby of Lowestoft

46

78 ft.  x   14 ft

Not Known

Glamorgan

1921

R. Colby of Lowestoft

46

78 ft.  x   14 ft

Not Known

Merioneth

1921

R. Colby of Lowestoft

46

78 ft.  x   14 ft

Not Known

Berks

1927

Goole S. B. & Repair Coy

57

75 ft.  x   14 ft.

Not Known

Shropshire

1926

Goole S. B. & Repair Coy

96

80 ft.  x   22 ft

Not Known

Kent

1934

Goole S. B. & Repair Coy

96

80 ft.  x   22 ft

Not Known

Cumberland

1921

F. Braby of Deptford, London

102

83 ft.  x   21 ft

Not Known

Northumberland

1921

F. Braby of Deptford, London

102

83 ft.  x   21 ft

Not Known

Westmorland

1922

F. Braby of Deptford, London

102

83 ft.  x   21 ft

Not Known

Sutherland

1922

F. Braby of Deptford, London

102

83 ft.  x   21 ft

Not Known

Leicester

1922

F. Braby of Deptford, London

69

69 ft.  x   20 ft

Not Known

Worcester

1922

F. Braby of Deptford, London

69

69 ft.  x   20 ft

Not Known

Hereford

1922

F. Braby of Deptford, London

69

69 ft.  x   20 ft

Not Known

Monmouth

1923

F. Braby of Deptford, London

69

69 ft.  x   20 ft

Not Known

 

The Anglo-American Oil Company lost nine of its vessels through enemy action during the 1939-1945 War, leaving ten of its pre-war vessels in the fleet in 1946.  From 1947, with the formation of the Esso Transportation Company Limited, formed by renaming the Lago Shipping Company Limited, a new funnel emblem was introduced in place of the red black-topped Anglo-American funnel.  It took the form of the ESSO oval on a white band on a black funnel.  The ‘oval’, edged in blue, had the word ‘Esso’ in red.  Gradually the vessels from this time were renamed with the Esso prefix.

 

VESSEL NAME

YEAR

GRT

BUILDER  NAME

SUBSEQUENT NAMES

ULTIMATE  FATE

Robert E. Hand

1933

12,197

Fr. Krupp AG Esso Newcastle : Oligisto Broken up at Vado in 1966
F. J. Wolfe

1932

11,244

Bremer Vulkan Locarno :  Morchella Broken up in 1960
D. L. Harper

1933

11,210

Deutsche Werft Hanseat :  Aristid Broken up at Spezia in 1960
Geo. W. McKnight

1933

12,502

Fr. Krupp AG Esso Edinburgh Broken up at Blyth in 1954
Beaconstreet

1927

 7,467

Palmers S. B. & Iron Esso Dublin Broken up at Blyth in 1953
Seminole

1936

10,389

Blohm und Voss Esso Hull Broken up at Trieste in 1958
W. C. Teagle

1917

 9,552

Bethlehem S.B. C’pn. None Submarine loss in Oct 1941
Geo. H. Jones

1919

 6,914

Sun  S. B. Company None Submarine loss in June 1942
T. J. Williams

1921

8,212

Oscar Daniels Coy None Submarine loss in Sept 1941
Beaconoil

1919

6,983

Bethlehem S.B. C’pn. None Broken up at Baltimore – 1950
Elisha Walker

1920

7,007

Sun  S. B. Company None Broken up at Baltimore – 1949

 

SHIPS MANAGED BY ANGLO-AMERICAN OIL COMPANY FOR M.O.W.T.  :   1939  –  1946

VESSEL NAME

YEAR

GRT

BUILDER

PROPULSION

ULTIMATE FATE

Leon Martin

1936

1,951

Ch & At de St. Nazaire

Oil Engine

Mined/Sunk near Falmouth – 1940
Petrophalt

1930

2,627

Harland & Wolff

T/E Steam Recip

B/U at Spain in 1953
Christian Holm

1927

9,119

Burmeister & Wain

Oil Engines (2)

B/U at Istanbul in 1960
Empire Mica

1941

8,032

Furness S. B. Coy.

T/E Steam Recip

Sunk Atlantic by U-67 –  June 1942
Empire Oil

1941

8,029

Furness S. B. Coy.

T/E Steam Recip

Sunk Atlantic by U-659 – Sept 1942
Empire Sapphire

1941

8,031

Furness S. B. Coy

T/E Steam Recip

Renamed Esso Saranac in 1946
Scandia

1918

8,571

Newport News S.B.

T/E Steam Recip

B/U at Savona in 1959
Bulkoil

1942

8,071

Welding Shipyards Inc

2 x Steam Turbs

B/U at Burght, Belgium in 1961
Empire Coleridge

1942

9,813

Sir James Laing & Son

T/E Steam Recip

Esso Cheyenne in 1945
Kentucky

1942

9,308

Sun S. B. & D. D. Coy.

2 x  Steam Turbs

Bombed/Sunk Mediterranean – 1940
Empire Bronze

1940

8,142

Hawthorn, Leslie & Co

Oil Engine

Renamed Esso Cadillac in 1946
Empire Dickens

1942

9,819

Furness S. B. Coy

T/E Steam Recip

Renamed Esso Appalachee in 1946
Empire Pike

1905

1,854

Govmt. Yard, Canada

2 x T/E Stm. Rec.

B/U at Dunston in 1949
Empire Tagalam

1936

10,401

F. Schichau, Danzig

Oil Engine

B/U at Split in 1960
Empire Maldon

1946

3,734

Sir James Laing & Son

Oil Engine

B/U in 1977

 

The following twelve small Type T1-M-A1 oil tankers, all built by the Barnes-Duluth Shipbuilding Company of Minnesota, USA between May 1943 and October 1943, were operated for a period during WWII by the Anglo-Amercian Oil Company under the Red Ensign as part of the Lease/Lend Agreement.  All these vessels were built to the same design, measuring 210 feet in length x 37 feet in breadth, 1,600 DWT, with oil engines giving a speed of 10 knots.

VESSEL NAMES

OTHER NAMES

SUBSEQUENT MANAGERS

ULTIMATE FATE

Tarentum Yung Huai USA then Chinese Owners Scuttled in the Whangpoo River –  May 1949
Mannington Yung Siang USA then Chinese Owners Not Known
Titusville Yung Han USA then Chinese Owners Scuttled in the Whangpoo River –  May 1949
Glen Pool Yung Fei USA then Chinese Owners B/U at Formosa in November 1959
Jennings Yung Loo USA then Chinese Owners Scuttled in the Whangpoo River –  May 1949
Salt Creek Punta Rasa USA then Argentinian Navy Deleted from the Argentinian Navy List in 1971
Tonkawa Yung Luan USA then Chinese Owners B/U at Formosa in 1965
Benton Field Yung Lu USA then Chinese Owners B/U at Formosa in 1959
Cromwell Yung Chang USA then Chinese Owners B/U at Formosa in 1963
Rio Bravo None None Torpedoed/Sunk by E-Boat  –  November 1944
Walnut Bend Yung Wei USA then Chinese Owners Not Known
Loma Novia Yung Fu USA then Chinese Owners B/U at Formosa in 1962

 

In addition to the above small oil tanker wartime fleet, Anglo-American Oil Company also operated a 1920-built 3-cylinder triple-expansion steam engined vessel built by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation of Alameda, California, for Standard Transportation Company Incorporated of New York (Socony Vacuum Oil Company).

NAME OF VESSEL

OTHER NAMES

SUBSEQUENT MANAGERS

ULTIMATE FATE

Algonquin

None

Returned to Owners in 1946 B/U in Japan in 1953

 

POST-WAR FLEET ACQUISITION / REBUILDING PROGRAMME

VESSEL  NAME

YEAR

GRT

BUILDER  NAME

PREVIOUS  NAME

ULTIMATE  FATE

Esso Cadillac

1940

  8,149

Hawthorn Leslie & Coy Empire Bronze B/U Osaka in 1959
Esso Saranac

1941

  8,031

Furness S. B. Coy Ltd Empire Sapphire B/U Antwerp in 1959
Esso Cheyenne

1942

  9,798

Sir James Laing & Sons Empire Coleridge B/U Belgium in 1961
Esso Appalachee

1942

  9,819

Furness S. B. Coy Ltd Empire Dickens B/U Faslane in 1960
Esso Dakotah

1942

     797

Grangemouth Dockyard Empire Gawain B/U Belgium in 1962
Esso Genesee

1943

     797

Grangemouth Dockyard Empire Harbour B/U Belgium in 1961
Esso Juniata

1941

     797

Grangemouth Dockyard Empire Lass B/U Belgium in 1969
Esso Tioga

1943

     797

Grangemouth Dockyard Empire Wrestler B/U Forth in 1963
Esso Suwanee

1941

     300

Rowhedge Ironworks Ltd Empire Lad Sold off in 1963
Esso Ottawa

1943

     300

I. Pimblott & Sons Ltd Empire Coast B/U Belgium in 1967
Esso Manchester

1944

10,448

Sun  S. B. & D. D. Coy Santiago B/U/ Faslane in 1963
Esso Purfleet

1944

10,448

Sun  S. B. & D. D. Coy Ridgefield B/U Belgium in 1963
Esso Fawley

1944

10,448

Sun  S. B. & D. D. Coy Turkey Island B/U Aioi in 1963
Esso Cardiff

1945

10,448

Kaiser Company Halls of Montezuma B/U Castellon in 1965
Esso Bristol

1944

10,448

Sun  S. B. & D. D. Coy Sandy Creek B/U Vado in 1963
Esso Birmingham

1944

10,448

Sun  S. B. & D. D. Coy Mauvilla B/U Split in 1963
Esso Glasgow

1944

10,448

Sun  S. B. & D. D. Coy Wauhatchie B/U Bilbao in 1971
Esso London

1944

10,448

Sun  S. B. & D. D. Coy Champion’s Hill B/U Split in 1958
Cleveland

1944

10,448

Kaiser Company Forbes Road Sold off in 1953
Esso Avonmouth

1945

10,729

Sun  S. B. & D. D. Coy Fort Massiac B/U Bilbao in 1975
Esso Liverpool

1921

12,590

Newport News S.B. Coy John D. Archbold B/U Genoa in 1962
Esso Belfast

1930

11,752

Federal S.B. & D.D. Coy G. Harrison Smith B/U La Seyne in 1958
Esso Southampton

1930

11,787

Federal S.B. & D.D. Coy W. S. Farish B/U Split in 1958
Esso Bedford

1930

10,844

Furness S. B. Coy Ltd F. H. Bedford Jr. B/U Bremerhaven 1954

 

In 1951 the Anglo-American Oil Company was primarily a marketing organisation dealing with distribution and sales, whereas responsibility for the provision of tonnage and management of the tanker fleet had been covered by the Esso Transportation Company Limited from 1947.  In 1951, with the new refinery at Fawley about to begin production, the Anglo-American Oil Company became a major producer of petroleum products and its whole scope of activities changed.  The transportation aspect also greatly increased at this time with increased distribution and requirements to feed the new refinery.  Consequently it was decided to re-assume control of the tanker fleet and set up a Marine Department to take responsibility for the management and operation of the fleet, maintenance and repairs of the ships, new construction, and the chartering of vessels.  With these changes came a change of Company name, from the Anglo-American Oil Company to the Esso Petroleum Company Limited.  In a similar manner, the parent Company in the USA, the Standard Oil Company (New Jersey), had been transferred to a new subsidiary Company in 1950, the Esso Shipping Company.

 

COASTAL, CANAL AND RIVER VESSELS IN THE 1950’s  –  1960’s

VESSEL NAME

YEAR

GRT

BUILDER

PROPULSION

ULTIMATE FATE

Esso Abingdon

1952

  446

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine B/U Kent in 1975
Esso Poole

1955

  754

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine B/U Haulbowline in 1984
Esso Preston

1956

1,965

Hall, Russell & Coy T/E 3-Cyl Steam Recip B/U Aviles in 1975
Esso Brixham

1957

  758

Philip & Son Ltd Oil Engine B/U Middlesbrough in 1980
Esso Tilbury

1957

   15

Thames Launch Oil Engine Not Known  (Tugboat)
Esso Woolston

1958

 856

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine B/U Santander in 1985
Esso Lyndhurst

1958

 856

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine Sold in 1981 to Saudi Arabia
Esso Hythe

1959

 856

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine Sold in 1981 to Lebanon
Esso Leeds

1956

170

R. Dunston Ltd Oil Engine Sold in 1964 to Whitaker Ltd
Esso Nottingham

1956

170

R. Dunston Ltd Oil Engine Sold in 1964 to Whitaker Ltd
Esso Saltend

1956

170

R. Dunston Ltd Oil Engine Sold in 1964 to Whitaker Ltd
Esso Hertford

1951

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Swim-Headed Barge Not Known
Esso Oxford

1951

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Swim-Headed Barge (Esso Hampshire from 1953)
Esso Middlesex

1951

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Swim-Headed Barge Not Known
Esso Cambridge

1951

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Swim-Headed Barge (Esso Dorset from 1953)
Esso Essex

1951

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Swim-Headed Barge Not Known
Esso Sussex

1951

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Swim-Headed Barge Not Known
Esso Kent

1951

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Swim-Headed Barge Not Known
Esso Surrey

1951

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Swim-Headed Barge Not Known
Esso Buckingham

1951

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Swim-Headed Barge Not Known
Esso Norfolk

1951

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Swim-Headed Barge Not Known
Esso Greenwich

1953

 77

W. J. Yarwood Oil Engine   (Tugboat) Not Known
Esso Reading

1954

 77

W. J. Yarwood Oil Engine   (Tugboat) Not Known
Esso Humber

1961

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine Not Known
Esso Avon

1961

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine Not Known
Esso Tees

1961

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine Not Known
Esso Trent

1961

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine Not Known
Esso Tyne

1961

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine Not Known
Esso Severn

1961

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine Not Known
Esso Forth

1961

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine Not Known
Esso Thames

1961

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine Not Known
Esso Mersey

1961

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine Not Known
Esso Clyde

1961

131

Henry Scarr Ltd Oil Engine Not Known
Esso Recovery II

1960

  8

Mechans Limited Oil Reclamation Boat Not Known

 

EX-MARCAIBO SHALLOW-DRAUGHT TANKERS FROM THE CREOLE PETROLEUM CORPORATION

During the Second World War, ten special shallow-draught oil tankers were built for the newly-formed Creole Petroleum Corporation of Panama, a subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey.  Four of these vessels were transferred from the Panamanian flag to the British flag and Esso Petroleum Company in 1956.  These were trunk-decked twin-screw triple expansion engine vessels of 5,500 DWT and on arrival in UK waters from Venezuela they were fitted out for UK coastal service by Brigham & Cowan Limited and Palmers of Hebburn.  Their primary purpose was the carriage of oil between Fawley Refinery and the various power stations of the CEGB.  The four vessels were:

VESSEL NAME

YEAR

GRT

PREVIOUSLY

BUILDER            PROPULSION

ULTIMATE FATE

Esso Lambeth

1943

3,401

Caripito

Barnes-Duluth      Tw. Sc. T/E B/U at Hamburg in 1965
Esso Wandsworth

1943

3,401

Guarico

Barnes-Duluth      Tw. Sc. T/E B/U at Essex in 1966
Esso Chelsea

1945

3,401

Amacuro

Bethlehem            Tw. Sc. T/E B/U at Bruges in 1969
Esso Fulham

1945

3,401

Trujillo

Bethlehem            Tw. Sc. T/E B/U at Bilbao in 1970

 

The Esso Wandsworth was in collision with a large Dutch vessel (Moerdyk) in fog on the night of 23 September 1965, in the vicinity of the Ovens Buoy, Lower Hope Reach, and was beached on nearby mudflats.  Subsequently refloated, she discharged her cargo at Purfleet then proceeded to Gravesend to undergo repairs.  On 12 October 1965, whilst this work was in progress, there was a massive explosion on board and subsequent drydocking at Tilbury indicated that the vessel could not be economically repaired.  In December of that year, she was delivered to Grays of Essex for scrapping.

The histories of the other six Maracaibo tankers are varied – as shown in the Table below :

VESSEL NAMES

YEAR

RE-NAMED

BUILDER

ULTIMATE  FATE

San Joaquin

1943

Esso Joaquin Barnes-Duluth Sank in the Gulf of Campeche in January 1960
San Cristobal

1943

Esso San Cristobal Barnes-Duluth Broke in two, off Colon, in December 1968
Temblador

1943

No name change Barnes-Duluth To Canadian owners in 1960  :   Barge in 1978
Guiria

1943

Esso Guiria Barnes-Duluth Arrived Hamburg for scrapping – October 1961
Valera

1943

No name change Barnes-Duluth Sunk in Caribbean, by U-518, in March 1944
Mara

1945

Esso Mara Bethlehem Arrived Valencia for scrapping – February 1965

 

THE ‘OXFORD’ CLASS OF 1953  –  1955

A class of handy-sized tankers brought out in the early 1950’s.  Constructed to a specially adapted American design of all-welded construction and thirty cargo tanks.  With a crude oil capacity of 26,700 tons, a feature of that time was the unusually high rate of discharge at around 3,000 tons per hour.  Two steam turbines geared to a single shaft provided a speed on about 17 knots.  The vessels were 630 feet in length and breadth was 83 feet.  GRT was about 17,500 tons.

VESSEL NAME

YEAR

GRT

BUILDER

DISPOSAL

ULTIMATE FATE

Esso Oxford

1953

17,539

Cammell Laird & Co Sold in 1972 B/U at Castellton in 1974
Esso Cambridge

1954

17,551

Cammell Laird & Co Sold in 1968 B/U at Piraeus in 1976
Esso Westminster

1954

17,554

Vickers-Armstrongs Sold in 1972 B/U at Santander in 1975
Esso Canterbury

1954

17,543

Vickers-Armstrongs Sold in 1968 Sank following an explosion in 1972
Esso York

1955

17,570

Vickers-Armstrongs Lighter 1969 B/U at Bombay in 1981
Esso Exeter

1955

17,554

Vickers-Armstrongs Sold in 1968 B/U at Kaohsiung in 1982

 

The 1954-built Esso Cambridge of the Esso Petroleum Company was one of the first oil tankers affected by the Suez crisis of 1956.  At 21:30 hours on 31st October 1956 the Esso Cambridge was in a position 110 miles East of Gibraltar bound for Mena Al Ahmadi in the Persian Gulf via the Suez Canal, to load crude oil for the refinery at Fawley.  A radio message came through to the Master from Esso instructing the vessel to proceed to the Gulf via the Cape of Good Hope calling in Cape Town for bunkers due to the expiry of the Anglo-French ultimatum to Egypt earlier that day without result.  The impact of the non-navigable Suez Canal for over five months, until early April 1957, had a profound effect on the marine operations of Esso and all other oil majors.

 

THE ‘CITY’ CLASS OF 1957  –  1960

There were twelve vessels of this class built between 1957 and 1960.  These vessels were of around 36,000 TDW and propulsion was by means of two steam turbines geared to a single shaft, providing a speed of around 16.5 knots.  The vessels had an overall length of 696 feet and breadth of 90 feet.  The vessels details are shown in the Table below :

VESSEL NAME

YEAR

GRT

BUILDER

DISPOSAL

ULTIMATE  FATE

Esso Guildford

1957

23,960

AG Weser of Bremen Sold in 1969 B/U Bilbao in 1976
Esso Winchester

1958

24,026

AG Weser of Bremen Sold in 1969 B/U Kaohsiung in 1979
Esso Salisbury

1957

24,008

Howaldtswerke AG Sold in 1972 B/U Kaohsiung in 1975
Esso Bristol

1958

23,972

Howaldtswerke AG Esso Nicaragua in 1964 B/U Kaohsiung in 1977
Esso Norwich

1959

23,997

Arsenal de Brest Esso Balboa in 1962 B/U Kaohsiung in 1975
Esso Durham

1958

23,862

Vickers-Armstrongs Sold in 1967 B/U Kaohsiung in 1975
Esso Portsmouth

1959

24,125

Vickers-Armstrongs Sold in 1972 Foundered August 1975
Esso Southampton

1958

23,457

Cantieri Riuniti d’Ad Esso Jamaica in 1962 B/U Kaohsiung in 1977
Esso Coventry

1959

23,275

Cantieri Riuniti d’Ad Esso Trieste in 1963 B/U Masan in 1975
Esso Windsor

1958

23,581

Cantieri Riuniti d’Ad Esso Genova in 1963 B/U Kaohsiung in 1978
Esso Liverpool

1959

23,720

Cantieri Riuniti d’Ad Esso El Salvador in 1964 B/U Kaohsiung in 1977
Esso Dublin

1960

21,627

Cantieri Riuniti d’Ad Esso Honduras in 1964 B/U Kaohsiung in 1976

 

The Esso Portsmouth and Esso Durham both suffered major damage, in July 1960 and January 1961 respectively, due to serious explosions and fire.  Both ships were subsequently salvaged and new mid-sections pieced in, together with other major modifications including modernisation to accommodation.  The Esso Portsmouth, with an additional 4,000 tons of steel increasing her size to 40,300 DWT and length to 733 feet, was later sold to Winson Tankers Limited of Panama in 1972.  On a voyage from Galveston to India in January 1975, carrying wheat, the vessel went aground on North Danger Reef in the South China Sea, remaining there until refloated on 6th August 1975.  However, two days later she foundered in heavy weather whilst under tow.

 

THE ‘ESSO FAWLEY’ CLASS OF 1967 / 1968

When built in Sweden, the ‘Esso Fawley’ class at just over 18,000 TDW were the largest vessels in Esso’s coastal fleet and were designed for distributing refined products from the Fawley and Milford Haven refineries.  They became frequent users of the Dingle tanker buoy berth in the River Mersey, completed in August 1967, and connected to the onshore Dingle Bank Oil Storage Facility adjacent to the Herculaneum Branch Dock, where importation of oil first began in 1892.  Two oil engines, geared to a single controllable-pitch propeller, giving the vessels a speed of 16.25 knots powered these ships.  (A third vessel of the same class, the Esso Slagen, was completed by A/B Lindholmens, in October of 1968, for Esso Norske of Oslo).

VESSEL  NAME

BUILT

GRT

BUILDERS  NAME

ULTIMATE  FATE
Esso Fawley

Sep 1967

11,064

A/B Lindholmens Varv

Renamed Petro Fawleyin 1994
Esso Milford Haven

Jan 1968

10,902

A/B Lindholmens Varv

Renamed Petro Milford Havenin 1994

 

COASTAL SHIPS OF THE 1960’s

VESSEL  NAME

BUILT

GRT

BUILDERS  NAME

PROPULSION

ULTIMATE  FATE

Esso Tynemouth

Feb   1960

  525

J. Bolson & Sons Ltd

Oil Engine

Sold in 1978

Esso Ipswich

Nov  1960

1,103

J. L. Thompson & Sons

Oil Engine

Sold in 1981

Esso Dover

Mar  1961

  490

J. Bolson & Sons Ltd

Oil Engine

Sold in 1980

Esso Jersey

May  1961

  313

Scott & Sons of Bowling

Oil Engine

Sold in 1973

Esso Caernarvon

Jul    1962

1,103

J. L. Thompson & Sons

Oil Engine

Sold in 1985

Esso Purfleet

Jan   1967

2,838

Furness S. B. Coy Ltd

Oil Engine

Sold in 1983

 

THE ‘ESSO LINCOLN’ 52,000 TDW CLASS OF 1962 / 1963

VESSEL  NAME

BUILT

GRT

BUILDERS  NAME

PROPULSION

ULTIMATE  FATE

Esso Lincoln Sep  1962 31,720 Nederlandsche Dok Steam Turbines B/U at Kaohsiung in 1976
Esso Edinburgh Feb  1963 30,981 Vickers-Armstrongs Steam Turbines B/U at Kaohsiung in 1976
Esso Cardiff May 1963 31,720 Nederlandsche Dok Steam Turbines B/U at Ulsan in 1983
Esso Newcastle Dec  1963 31,200 Vickers-Armstrongs Steam Turbines Renamed Exxon Santa Ynez

 

In July of 1964, the S.S. Esso Cardiff was sent to the Tyneside Yard of Palmers of Hebburn to become the first of the Company’s ships to have the new bulbous bow fitted.

On 22 February 1965, the S.S. Esso Lincoln struck the Avocet Rock in the Red Sea, at speed, during a passage from Jabbal Dhanna to Milford Haven, sustaining severe damage, which was later repaired in Italy.

In 1977, the S.S. Esso Newcastle was converted by a Japanese shipyard to become a ‘floating separation/gas-treating/storage facility’ for crude oil production, and renamed W.P. No. 1.  Her deckhouse, funnel and engines were removed for this new purpose.  In 1980, she was renamed Exxon Santa Ynez and moored some 3-4 miles offshore at the Hondo Field, off Santa Barbara, California, attached to a single anchor leg mooring system about 1-2 miles from the production platform.

 

THE ‘COUNTY’ CLASS OF THE 1960’s

VESSEL  NAME

BUILT

GRT

BUILDERS  NAME

PROPULSION

ULTIMATE  FATE

Esso Pembrokeshire

1961

48,898

A. G. Weser, Bremen Steam Turbines B/U at Kaohsiung in 1975
Esso Hampshire

1962

48,141

Verolme Dok en Sch. Steam Turbines B/U at Kaohsiung in 1975
Esso Warwickshire

1962

48,049

A. G. Weser, Bremen Steam Turbines B/U at Dongsham in 1988
Esso Lancashire

1962

49,397

Kockums Mekaniska Steam Turbines B/U at Barcelona in 1977
Esso Yorkshire

1963

52,544

Kockums Mekaniska Steam Turbines B/U at Kaohsiung in 1975
Esso London

1964

52,342

A. G. Weser, Bremen Steam Turbines B/U at Split in 1982

 

THE ADVENT OF THE VLCC CLASS OF THE LATE 1960’s / EARLY 1970’s

VESSEL  NAME YEAR

GRT

DWT

BUILDER

PROPULSION

ULTIMATE  FATE

Esso Mercia

1967

  87,002

169,496

A. G. Weser

Steam Turbine

B/U at Kaohsiung in 1984
Esso Anglia

1968

  97,082

193,361

Chantiers de l’A

Steam Turbine

B/U at Kaohsiung in 1978
Esso Bernicia

1968

  96,903

193,658

Howaldtswerke

Steam Turbine

B/U at Kaohsiung in 1979
Esso Scotia

1969

127,158

253,962

A. G. Weser

Steam Turbine

B/U at Kaohsiung in 1981
Esso Cambria

1969

127,158

253,962

Verolme Dok en Sch.

Steam Turbine

B/U at Kaohsiung in 1982
Esso Northumbria

1970

126,543

254,277

Swan Hunter S. B. Ltd.

Steam Turbine

B/U at Kaohsiung in 1982
Esso Hibernia

1970

126,539

254,277

Swan Hunter S. B. Ltd

Steam Turbine

B/U at Kaohsiung in 1984
Esso Ulidia

1970

126,538

254,011

Harland & Wolff Ltd

Steam Turbine

Laid up 1983. B/U in 1983
Esso Caledonia

1971

126,535

250,011

Harland & Wolff Ltd

Steam Turbine

B/U at Masan in 1982
Esso Demetia

1973

125,293

258,979

Kockums Mekaniska

Steam Turbine

B/U in 1994 after E.R. fire
Esso Dalriada

1973

125,331

259,042

Kockums Mekaniska

Steam Turbine

Sold to Liberia in 1984

 

OTHER ESSO VLCC’s AND ULCC’s OF THE 1970’s  –  UNDER OTHER NATIONAL FLAGS

VESSEL NAMES AND COUNTRIES

YEAR

GRT

DWT

ULTIMATE FATE

Esso Soc. Anon. Francaise (France)

Esso Bretagne

1971

127,777

259,210

B/U Kaohsiung in 1982
Esso Provence

1971

127,777

259,210

B/U Inchon, Korea in 1984
Esso Flandre

1972

127,502

253,557

B/U Masan, Korea in 1982  (ex-Esso Rotterdam)
Esso Gascogne

1972

126,188

256,740

B/U Masan, Korea in 1982
Esso Languedoc

1973

126,186

256,999

Was still in service in 1986
Esso Normandie

1974

137,578

273,999

Was still in service in 1986
Esso Picardie

1976

137,578

279,467

Was still in service in 1986
Esso Tankschiff Reederei GmbH (Germany)

Esso Europa

1969

126,321

257,995

B/U Kaohsiung in 1982
Esso Bonn

1974

126,192

256,962

Was still in service in 1986   (ex-Esso Bahamas)
Esso Hamburg

1974

126,192

256,702

Was still in service in 1986   (ex-Esso Bermuda)
Esso Deutschland

1976

203,869

421,681

Laid up in 1983.    Sold off in 1985 to USA
Esso Tankvaart Nederlande Antillen (Holland)

Esso Europoort

1970

127,176

253,962

B/U Kaohsiung in 1982
Esso Nederland

1970

127,176

253,962

B/U Kaohsiung in 1982
Esso Bonaire

1973

127,502

255,027

B/U Kaohsiung in 1983
Esso Saba

1974

126,943

260,831

Laid up in Brunei Bay in 1983
Esso Oceanic Inc. (Liberia)

Al Duriyah

1975

150,622

307,233

Laid up in Brunei Bay in 1985

ex-Esso Geneva, Esso Al Duriyah, Esso Geneva

Esso Tankers Inc. (Liberia)

Esso Copenhagen

1970

112,763

253,300

B/U Busan in 1982
Esso Skandia

1970

112,763

254,011

B/U Kaohsiung in 1983
Esso Wilhelmshaven

1970

113,752

253,873

B/U Kaohsiung in 1982
Esso Rotterdam

1972

127,502

253,557

B/U Masan in 1982 (as Esso Flandre)
Esso Kagoshima

1973

114,797

261,158

B/U Kaohsiung in 1986
Esso Okinawa

1973

114,797

260,910

B/U Kaohsiung in 1986
Esso Osaka

1973

146,312

283,154

B/U Kaohsiung in 1985
Esso Singapore

1973

114,633

256,715

B/U Ulsan in 1984
Esso Honolulu

1974

146,309

283,397

Laid up in Phuket, Thailand in 1984
Esso Indonesia

1974

114,797

261,230

B/U Kaohsiung in 1986
Esso Kawasaki

1974

150,622

307,431

Was still in service in 1986
Esso Africa

1975

137,166

274,467

Was still in service in 1986
Esso Bilbao

1975

146,309

283,271

Damaged by Exocet missile 50 miles South of Kharg Island in Oct 1986.  Sold to Greece 1986
Esso Geneva

1975

150,622

307,233

Esso Al Duriyah in 1983. Laid up in 1985.

 

 

Esso Hawaii

1975

146,309

283,274

Laid up in Brunei Bay in 1984
Esso Italia

1972

117,260

253,714

B/U Kaohsiung in 1983
Esso Japan

1976

192,673

406,640

Laid up at Aalesund 1982. Sold for storage 1986.
Esso Madrid

1976

188,634

388,119

Laid up at Vestnes 1983.   Sold to USA in 1985.
Esso Tokyo

1976

192,673

406,258

Sold to Gibraltar 1985.      Sold for storage1985.
Esso Atlantic

1977

259,532

516,893

Laid up at Aalesund 1983
Esso Caribbean

1976

208,060

395,156

Laid up at Aalesund 1983
Esso Mediterranean

1976

202,798

395,367

Laid up at Vestnes   1983
Esso Pacific

1977

234,626

516,423

Laid up at Vestnes   1983
Esso Le Havre

1977

173,086

387,936

Laid up at Brunei Bay 1983.   Sold to USA 1986.

In late 1972, the Standard Oil Company (New Jersey) changed its name to the Exxon Corporation.  One of the main reasons for the name change was the long-standing confusion there had been between Standard Oil (New Jersey) and other competing companies in the USA that used the ‘Standard Oil’ name.  The decision to change came about following a court ruling that the Esso trademark could not be used nationwide.

The change in title was initially intended for use as a primary trademark in the United Staes only.  Thus, it only affected the existing names on 26,000 petrol station outlets and countless road tankers of the domestic Humble Oil and Refining Company and the names of the ships of the Humble Transportation Company of Houston, Texas, which flew the flag of the USA and were registered in Wilmington, Delaware.

The name of the Humble Transportation Company became the Exxon Transportation Company, Houston, and from around mid-1973 all the ships of the Company were renamed with the prefix ‘Exxon’ to their place names.

Although the name ‘Esso’ offered no such problems to international affiliates, the new name, ‘Exxon’, was registered in virtually every country in the world where trademark registration is available in order to protect its possible future use worldwide.  In May 1983, all ships of the Exxon Transportation Company were transferred to Exxon Shipping Company of Houston.

Angus MacKinnon (deceased)

 

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