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Captain lan David Smith : Master Mariner
Below are 2 Local News-paper articles; send in by Ian Smith.
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Captain lan David Smith: Master Mariner.
THE FUNERAL took place at Dundee Crematorium on Monday of a master mariner who, in his day, commanded
some of the largest vessels in the world. Captain lan David Smith, who was 76, died in Ninewella Hospital last
Wednesday.
Although he was bom in Broughty Ferry, he lived most of his life in Monifieth.
Educated at Grove Academy, he started his career in 1945 as an apprentice with the British Tanker Company.
He studied at the Dundee School of Navigation and won the Captain Murdo McLeod prize for top marks for his
examination for second mate. He was awarded a master's certificate in 1955.
Captain Smith joined the Esso Company as third officer in 1949 and, in 1962, was appointed chief officer of the
77,000-ton Esso Pembrokeshire. The following year he became relief master of the 94,000-ton Esso Yorkshire.
In 1967 he was given his first permanent command, the Esso Milford Haven and in 1969 he took command of
the 253,000-ton Esso Scotia, the largest tanker in the world at that time and the biggest vessel ever to dock at
a British port. The maiden voyage lasted two months to Meria Al Ahmadi, in the Persian Gulf and back with the
largest cargo ever discharged in UK, 245,560 tons of crude oil, equivalent to 76,750,000 gallons. He later took
command of the Esso Cambria, the other Very Large Crude Carrier in the Esso fleet.
His next charge was the newly-built supertanker the Esso Dalriada in 1973, in which he sailed around the
world, rising to the post of senior master of the Esso fleet, until his retirement in 1983.
During that time Captain Smith was part of a team which assessed the suitability of supertankers to dock at
Sullorn Voe, Shetland, and he also worked on the introduction of satellite navigation systems.
Following his retirement, he assisted the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in piloting ornithologists out
to observe sea birds in the North Sea in a project on sea bird migration sponsored by Esso. He was also a
keen member of Bamhill Bowling Club and an elder of St Rules Church. For some years he helped in an
administrative capacity with the Further Education classes held at Monifieth High School.
Captain Smith is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, his children Lesley, lan and Gill, and 10 grandchildren.
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Death of Captain lan David Smith
A FORMER Broughty Ferry ship's master who commanded one of the world's first and largest supertankers,
the Esso Scotia, during the 1960s, has died in Ninewells Hospital.
Captain lan David Smith, who was 76, was born in Broughty Ferry and lived most of his life in Monifieth.
Educated at Grove Academy, he started his career in 1945 as an apprentice with the British Tanker Company.
He studied at the Dundee School of Navigation and won the Captain Murdo McLeod prize for top marks for
his examination for second mate. He was awarded a master's certificate in 1955.
After joining the Esso Company in the early 1950s Capt Smith was appointed chief officer of the 77,000-ton
Esso Pembrokeshire in 1962, before becoming relief master on the Esso Yorkshire the following year.
After becoming a permanent master in 1965, he was given his first permanent command, the 94,000-ton
Esso Milford Haven, two years later,
In 1969 he took command of the 253.000-ton Esso Scotia, one of the largest tankers in the world, and the
biggest vessel ever to dock at a British port.
He then took command of newly-built supertanker the Esso Dalriada in 1973, in which he sailed around
the world, rising to the post of senior master of the Esso fleet, until his retirement in 1983.
During that time Capt Smith was part of a team who assessed the suitability of supertankers to dock at
Sullom Voe in Shetland, and also worked on the introduction of satellite navigation systems.
Following his retirement, he assisted the RSPB in piloting ornithologists out to observe sea birds in the
North Sea.
He was also a keen member of Barnhill Bowling Ctub and an elder of St Rules Church.
Capt Smith is survived by his wife Elizabeth, his children Lesley, lan and Gill, and 10 grandchildren.
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