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Auke Visser´s Esso UK Tanker's site | home
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Esso Durham - (1958-1967)
![]() ![]() "ESSO DURHAM".
( Photo thanks to Humber Maritime )
Esso Durham - 9.1958 - 23,862 GT, Registered in London Esso Petroleum Co.
Built: by Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd., Newcastle
Measurements: 733 feet (loa) X 90 feet breadth. 25,673 gt. 40,929 tdw.
1967: Durham (Petroleum Transport Inc. (Liberian)).
1971: Pyrgos (same).
1972: Courier (Helmos Shipping Inc., (Liberian)).
31.7.1975: Arrived Kaohsiung for breaking up.
"Esso Durham".
"Esso Durham", after explosion.
"Esso Durham", after explosion.
On 26th January, 1961, the Esso Durham left Fawley for Mena al Ahmadi but before reaching Gibraltar suffered a serious
explosion which blew a hole in her side. The Esso Durham was escorted to Gibraltar by the Esso tanker
Esso Oxford at a speed of 4 knots and anchored in Gibraltar Bay on 30th of January.
It had been thought that the accident was a boiler blow-out but it was later identified as a gas explosion while cleaning
tanks. Such was the force that the ship's sides in way of No. 4 tank were blown out between decks and below the waterline.
After drydocking, the Esso Durham lay at Gibraltar pending a decision as to her future and it was decided that as
the damage was so extensive she would be reconstructed on somewhat similar lines to the Esso Portsmouth. The
reconstruction plans included an insertion of two additional tank sections - a length of 40 feet - and increasing the
deadweight capacity by 2,000 tons. The bridge and accommodation were also moved aft from the midships position.
The ship was then cut in two at Gibraltar, the after part leaving there in tow on 30th September, 1961, and the forepart
on 3rd October, both for Cadiz where they were pined with the additional tank section by Astilleros de Cadiz.
Photo taken at Gibraltar.
( All photos Copyright George Gaskin )
Tony Lane wrote :
Your entry on the Esso Durham explosion has one error; the ship escorting the Esso Durham to Gibraltar was the Esso Oxford,
of which I was 3rd mate at the time. The Esso Oxford was about ten hours steaming astern when we heard news of the explosion.
The hole in the Durhams side at No 4 tank just forward of the bridge was bigh enough for a pair of double-decker buses.
The front end of the ship was connected to the back end by not much more than her deck and bottom plating.
( Thanks AV. )
"Esso Durham", photo taken in Gibraltar 1961,while she was in two halves.
( Photo Copyright Mike Pen )
"Esso Durham", passing Suez Canal.
"Esso Durham".
![]() "Esso Durham".
"Esso Durham".
"Esso Durham" being lengthened in 1962, with 40 feet.
![]() "Esso Durham" after been lengthened in 1962, with 40 feet and with removed midships and rebuil aftship.
"Esso Durham".
"Esso Durham".
( Photo by Hans-Joachim Reinecke )
"Esso Durham".
( Photo by Hans-Joachim Reinecke )
![]() "Esso Durham".
![]() "Esso Durham" in Valetta Grand Harbour, Malta.
"Esso Durham".
![]() The Miramar Ship Index for "ESSO DURHAM"
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![]() Subsequent History:
[ 1962 Lg 223.4 / 213.4 mtr, 25673 grt / 40283 dwt ] -
1969 DURHAM - 1971 PYRGOS - 1972 COURIER
Disposal Data:
Scrapped at Kaohsiung 31.07.1975.
History :
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