LATIA (1)

About

Completed 1946 as "LATIA" for STUK. 5-1963 scrapped Inverkeithing.

IMO number
1180859
Call sign
GLCF
Construction number
684
Tonnage
9.240 ton
Beam
17m
Length overall
135m
Year of construction
1946
Year of renaming/broken up
1963
Service for Shell
1946 to 1963
Cargo
Class
Flag state
Home port
Manager
Shipyard
Status
Photo(s)

Comments

Sailors

Anecdotes

Date Visitor Anecdote
12/11/2011 - 09:05 Mike J Kirlew

Latia Shell 1

I sailed on the Latia Shell 1 from new (the River Tyne 1946) with Captain Paddy Dove; I believe this his first ship after his adventures on the Graf Spee.(Film ?I was a prisoner on the Graf Spee?)
One aspect of the fitting out of the vessel with almost a full crew on board was Paddy trying to persuade the dockyard to supply a few wedges to be used to stop rattles particularly on the bridge. Every day someone was despatched to find the foreman shipwright to ask for some wedges.
On sea trials the rattles on the bridge were horrendous! And Paddy?s appeals were heard far and wide!
Then came the vessel?s handover ceremony. The biggest bunch of keys I had ever seen and a beautifully painted box that was used as the desk for the signing. While the toasts were being poured the foreman shipwright invited Paddy to open the box to reveal about 100 most beautifully painted wedges in all sizes!
The Carpenter had already been despatched to mark each and every key and lock with an identifying spot of paint was called back to take charge of the box of wedges And Paddy was a very proud Master of what was to become a ?silent ship?.
Where a wooden wedge would not fit a rolled up wedge of cancelled chart would!

06/30/2010 - 01:44 Mike J Kirlew

I think the first Master of this ship was the famous Captain Paddy Dove of Africa Shell and Graff Spey(SP?)fame. I think it was his first ship after his adventures.