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Tankers in Charter for the Standard Oil Co.
Steens Mountain
One of a number of Panama registered T2s, wich sailed in Bare-Boat Charter for the  Standard Oil Co.

"Steens Mountains" in 1957 at Punta Delgado, Azores.
"I attach a photograph of the Steens Mountain T" Class tanker, taken by me in Punta Delgado in the
Azores in January 1957. I was Radio Officer aboard her at the time, having
joined her at Fawley oil terminal in September 1956. While returning from a trip to the Gulf we were
nearly caught in Suez by the 1956 Suez debacle. As a result of this the scheduled Dry Dock for
maintenance was deferred and we did two more trips across the Atlantic. On the second of these,
while returning from Venezuela we developed boiler leaks, ant put into Punta Delgado for repairs,
which is when this Photo was taken. From Punta Delgado we proceeded to Falmouth where I left her on
6th February.
I do not know who her owners were at the time, but she was under the Panamanian flag, with a call
sign of HPZJ. She was on a long term charter to ESSO in the UK".
( Text and photo by Peter Sherdley )
"Steens Mountains".
"Steens Mountains".
"Steens Mountains".
"Steens Mountains".

T2-SE-A1
Built June1945 by The Kaiser Company, Swan Island Yard, Portland, Oregon,
as "Steens Mountain" # 2422, for U.M.S.C.
1947 - Lanmore Co., Inc., Panama  (New York), PA
1948 - Panama Transoceanic Co., S.A., Panama  [Cosmopolitan Shipping Co., Inc., New York]
1960 - MARY ELLEN CONWAY, s/o, lengthened by replacement of bow and cargo section with
new forebody built by Schlieker Werft, Hamburg, resulting vessel 14,456 grt,  
548.4 x 78.6', delivered. 08/1960
Caught fire 13 March 1972, while discharging gasoline at Manzanillo, Mexico, towed out and
drifted aground, fire put out and refloated next day, declared CTL, sold,  
Broken up at Kaohsiung 1972 by Ta Yung Steel Corp.,
arrived 23.12.1972.

 The Miramar Ship Index for "STEENS MOUNTAIN"
IDNo:
2247996
Year:
1945
Name:
STEENS MOUNTAIN
Launch Date:
05.06.1945
Type:
Tanker
Date of completion:
06.1945
Flag:
USA
Keel:

Tons:
10448
Link:
-
DWT:
16613
Yard No:
139
Length overall:
159.6
Ship Design:
T2-SE-A1
LPP:
153.3
Country of build:
USA
Beam:
20.7
Builder:
Kaiser
Material of build:
Location of yard:
Swan Island
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
1TE-15

Subsequent History:
[ 1960 Lg & widened 14456 grt ] - 1960 MARY ELLEN CONWAY

Disposal Data:
Fire at Manzanillo (MEX) 13.03.1972 & scrapped at Kaohsiung 23.12.1972.

History:
ON
LR/IMO
ID
Year
Name
Tons
Change
Main Owner
247996
2247996
1945
STEENS MOUNTAIN
10448
U.S. Govt.
2247996
1945
MARY ELLEN CONWAY
14456
1960
Cosmopolitan Sg Co.

History and Notes:

Sold commercial (same name) 1947. August 1960 new fore and midship sections built by Schlieker
Werft, Hamburg (measurements: 575 ft os x 78 ft 6 in, 14,456 GRT, 23,573 DWT). Renamed
MARY ELLEN CONWAY. 13 March 1972 was severely damaged by fire while discharging at Manzanillo,
Mexico. Abandoned and towed from quay by port tug ESCORPION, which also caught fire. Vessel
cast adrift in harbor, then grounded, still afire. Later refloated by Mexican Navy tug, fires extinguished
and ship anchored Manzanillo Bay. Repairs uneconomic. Sold for scrapping. December 1972 arrived
Kaohsiung in tow for scrapping.

Source: Victory Ships and Tankers

Source : Report of Captain J.H. Palmer-Felgate.

Grounding of Steens Mountain in River Schelde

On the 20th November 1953 whilst proceeding outward from Antwerp to Teneriffe in a fully loaded condition, “Steens Mountain” grounded just outside the fairway.

The Masters report stated;-
“After leaving the dock with pilot on board and tide on the flood, we proceeded down the river on the starboard side of the channel. The ss “City of Hull” followed by ss”Arima Maru” were proceeding up river. The “City of Hull moved out to the port side of the fairway and dropped her anchor, but the tide swung her stern into the fairway causing the “Arima Maru” to swing sharply to port in order to avoid collision. “Steens Mountain” went full astern and swung to starboard to avoid collision with “Arima Maru”.

During a subsequent drydocking in Amsterdam damage was found to a number of keel strake plates and internals.
This resulted in a claim on underwriters by Esso Petroleum Co.Ltd.
The average Adjusters – Clancy & Sons & Co. – wrote ( in April 1956) to the Master asking whether he considered that in altering course to avoid a collision he considered it probable that the vessel would ground, or, did he consider the possibility of grounding very remote and that he would be able to return to the fairway as soon as danger of collision had passed without sustaining any damage?

Notes;-
1/ I have no record of how the claim was settled
2/ The fact that the claim was handled on behalf of Esso Petroleum Co.Ltd. indicates that “Steens Mountain” although registered in Panama and owned by Panama Transoceanic Co (?? Was this a Niarchos Company) she was almost certainly Bareboat chartered to Esso.
The Master was an employee of Esso.