Auke Visser's MOBIL Tankers & Tugs Site | home
Mobil Pegasus (II) - (1969-1979)
"Mobil Pegasus", build in 1969 was the world's first double-bottomed tanker.
Mobil Pegasus
LOA 1069' 55", Beam 158' 14", Draught 65' 5", 211,579 SDWT
Built 1970 by Sasebo Heavy Industries, Sasebo, Japan, powered by a General Electric turbine developing 30,000 HP. This new breed of tanker had double bottom tanks throughout its entire length.
The vessel suffered a severe explosion on 22 May 1973 while in ballast, proceeding down the West African coast. She was abandoned but later reboarded when the fire had subsided. She proceeded under her own power towards Dakar, Senegal, to effect temporary repairs, escorted by the tug SEEFALCKE. She then went on to Lisnave, Portugal, where permanent repairs were carried out. During repairs in Lisnave a total of 6112 tons of steel were renewed. This was the fourth largest steel repair ever carried out at that time.
MOBIL PEGASUS was not a lucky vessel. In Lisnave 200 metres of the dock wall collapsed onto the ship due to erosion in the drydock foundations.
When the vessel sailed from Lisnave, the tail shaft seized in the stem tube bearings and the vessel had to be towed back to the yard for further repairs.
She resumed trading and in 1975 suffered major damage to the high pressure turbine when the seventh stage failed at full power. The high pressure rotor and most of the high pressure diaphragms had to be renewed and the entire steam system had to be chemically cleaned due to lube oil contamination caused by the turbine failure. These repairs were carried out in Marseilles, France.
MOBIL PEGASUS was eventually laid up at Labuan, Indonesia, from January 1978 to April 1979 and delivered to breakers at
Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in May 1979.
Some recall that her numerous problems were preceded by a tragic omen: when she was being built, a paint inspector was
electrocuted and killed in her number one port double-bottomed tank.
"Mobil Petroleum", "Mobil Pride", "Mobil Progress" and "Mobil Pinnacle" were all sisterships.
"Mobil Magnolia" was a larger version of same class.
|
"Mobil Pegasus".
"Mobil Pegasus".
"Mobil Pegasus".
"Mobil Pegasus".
"Mobil Pegasus".
"Mobil Pegasus".
( Photo Copyright Malacca Straits 1973 )
The "Mobil Pegasus" at Lisbon after it had a tank explosion.
"Mobil Pegasus (II)".
( Photo copyright Roy Strutt )
"Mobil Pegasus (II)".
"Mobil Pegasus (II)".
"Mobil Pegasus (II)".
"Mobil Pegasus (II)", showinga broken propellershaft at Lisnave dockyard, Lissabon, Portugal.
The consequence of failing to adequately lube the stern tube was evident by a bent prop shaft, and the tops of each of 5 blades sheared off.
This was early April 1974. She was 30 miles off Cape Sines when the shaft said ''enough''. That was 4pm on the 4th [I think], by the time
the tugs put a line aboard at 6 am the following morning, she was about 7 cables from the only rocky point along that stretch of coast. Close..!
The phrase ''half-a-crown - sixpence'' comes readily to mind.
The Captain was George Robertson, a great bloke and close friend of the C/Eng Norman Hall, who died.
( Photo Copyright Gary McDanielsen )
"Mobil Pegasus (II)".
The Miramar Ship Index for "MOBIL PEGASUS"
IDNo:
|
6922353
|
Year:
|
1969
|
Name:
|
MOBIL PEGASUS
|
Keel:
|
|
Type:
|
Tanker
|
Launch Date:
|
04.07.1969
|
Flag:
|
GBR
|
Date of completion:
|
10.1969
|
Tons:
|
112660
|
Link:
|
-
|
DWT:
|
215062
|
Yard No:
|
187
|
Length overall:
|
326.0
|
Ship Design:
|
|
LPP:
|
313.0
|
Country of build:
|
Japan
|
Beam:
|
48.2
|
Builder:
|
Sasebo H.I.
|
Material of build:
|
|
Location of yard:
|
Sasebo
|
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
|
1ST-16.5
|
|
|
Subsequent History:
-
Disposal Data:
Scrapped at Kaohsiung 14.05.1979.
History:
ON
|
LR/IMO
|
ID
|
Year
|
Name
|
Tons
|
Change
|
Owner
|
338028
|
6922353
|
6922353
|
1969
|
MOBIL PEGASUS
|
112660
|
-
|
Mobil Sg Co.
|