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Sea -Trials Esso Bermuda
Below photos taken at sea trials in 1950.
( See at bottom for result sea trial )
"Esso Bermuda".
TRIAL TRIP OF “ESSO BERMUDA”
At 6 a.m.,on January 24, all was in readiness for the trial trip of the super tanker "Esso Bermuda", lying at the per 10 of the
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Va. The vessel, launched on November 22, 1949, was the
seventh of her type built at the Newport News yard in conjunction with the Company's super tanker construction program.
Captain F. D. Edwards, of the Virginia Pilots' Association, was in charge of the "Esso Bermuda" for the day. Present aboard
the vessel during the trial trip were Captain A. Mackay, Captain F. I. Shaw, J. A. Woodhatn, H. H. Gang, H. 0. Laffitte, Chief
Engineer T. P. Smith, S. Wire, H. L. Cornell, T. A. Levey, A. E. Biondi, W. Z. Gardner, J. F. Stoveken, J. E. Hoagland and M. Kin.
The program for the day included the following trials:
magnetic compass adjustment and radio direction finder calibration off Chesapeake Light Vessel, anchor windlass test, hand
steering test, four-hour endurance, ahead steering test at overload power, crash astern, normal astern power run,
astern steering test and crash ahead.
THE TESTS
The following is the log covering the trial run of the ship from the builder's yard out to sea and return:
0604-All clear of `berth, Pier No. 10, Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company.
0630-Half speed ahead.
0750-Cape Henry Light Vessel abeam.
0900-Commenced calibration of compasses.
1006-Finished calibration of compasses.
1013-Commenced anchor windlass test. Let go port anchor.
1014-Let go starboard anchor.
1017-Brought up to 2 fathoms of chain.
1021-Commenced weighing anchor; 2 m. 09 s. 15 fathoms on each anchor aboard.
1026-Both anchors aweigh.
1027-Anchors secured. Test completed.
1040-Commenced steering gear test (hand)
Rudder from 150 L. to 150 R. in 60 seconds.
Rudder from 150 R. to 150 L. in 42 seconds.
1100-Chesapeake Light Vessel, bearing 270-2'/2 miles off. Set course to 90', 75 ft. of water.
1115-Commenced four-hour nonnal power endurance test-110 rpm.
1200--111.6 rpm; weather-SSW breeze, temperature 520, mostly overcast, slight sea, barometer 30.12.
1330-112.1rpm.
1515-Chesapeake Light Vessel abeam. Run completed.
1522-Started ahead steering test-114 rpm.
Starboard pump-unit in use-held rudder position for 10 seconds.
Move rudder from center to 350 R. 16 seconds
Move rudder from 350 R. to 350 L. 27 seconds
Move rudder from 350 L . to 350 R. 27 seconds
Move rudder from 350 R. to center 16 seconds
Change to port pump-unit
Move rudder from center to 350 L. 16 seconds
Move rudder from 350 L. to 350 R. 27 seconds
Move rudder from 350 R. to 350 L. 27 seconds
Move rudder from 350 L. to center 15 seconds
1532-Crash astern, steering 2660, wind southerly, Force 2.
Ship dead in water 7 m. 01 s.-head reach 2,050 yds.
In the crash ahead test the ship went from dead in the water to full ahead at 98 rpm in 4 minutes and 4 seconds-stern
reach 400 yds. In the anchor windlass sea test both anchors were lowered to the water's edge under the control of the windlass;
each anchor was lowered to 30 fathoms under control of the hand brake and both anchors were hoisted simultaneously at full
spead to the water's edge. Fifteen fathoms of chain were hoisted in 2 minutes, 9 seconds.
Fuel oil consumption (corr. to 18,500 btu/lb) was .498 lbs shp/hr at endurance-run power of 13,500 shp and 111.8 rpm.
About 5:30 pm. the "Esso Bermuda" steamed in past Cape Henry and at 7:30 was being berthed at the shipyard, her
sea trials successfully completed.