Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by Norman Dunn on May 11, 2022, 20:26:24

A friend worked in Hebburn Palmers and he once mentioned to me that a ship came in after a fire onboard and the Shipyard men that had to go onboard to recover bodies were given a bonus because of the conditions eg recovering bodies.
Maybe our Peter Cook might remember this?

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by Joseph on May 11, 2022, 20:37:13, in reply to "Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

Was that not the kelly, Hawthorne Leslie. Donnelly undertaker, comes to mind.

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by Joseph on May 11, 2022, 20:38:37, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

My mistake, dates miles out, sorry.

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by Davy on May 11, 2022, 21:02:01, in reply to "Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

First I've ever heard of it. H.M.S. Glasgow at the neptune yard is the only one I can think of.

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by Davy on May 12, 2022, 0:50:10, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

Wasn't really a leak, someone had not turned the oxygen off at the source after taking his burner off. And the pipes were not pulled up at the end of the shift filling the compartments with oxygen when the next shift started and lit their tabs up they burnt as fast as fuse on dynamite but nobody realised the danger and kept trying it.

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by peter cook on May 12, 2022, 7:17:38, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

I was there from 1965-70 and there was nothing like that in that time. After it was bought by Swans they used the dock to build ships. Will see if i can find anything out.

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by John Shearer on May 12, 2022, 9:11:11, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

Was it not the Esso Portsmouth? Did something not happen when they were cleclean and descaling the tanks.

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by peter cook on May 12, 2022, 9:16:25, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

On 8th July, 1960, the ESSO Portsmouth arrived at Milford Haven dressed overall, for she was the first
ocean-going tanker to berth at the marine terminal of the new Esso refinery. She had 32,000 tons of crude
oil to discharge from Kuwait. Early next morning while the ship was discharging, a structural failure of an
unloading arm on the jetty caused a spillage of oil. This quickly ignited and there was a massive explosion.
Fire and rescue services managed to extinguish the flames but not before the ship's hull structure was heavily
buckled and her midships accommodation completely gutted. Fortunately the bulk of the cargo was saved
and after its discharge the ship was placed on buoys in the harbour for survey. This revealed that the shell
plating was damaged over the whole length of the ship. Deck plating, tanks and bulkheads were ripped open
and the midship superstructure damaged beyond repair; even its aluminium panelling having melted in
the intense heat. Nevertheless, it was decided that the Esso Portsmouth could be repaired and at the
same time modernised and enlarged, reforming her to the modern "bridge and accommodation aft"
configuration.
After temporary repairs to make her seaworthy, the Esso Portsmouth left Milford Haven in tow on 26th July,
arriving in the Tyne on 6th August where she went into Palmers, Hebburn drydock for examination by Swan,
Hunter. Eventually, a new midship section, 200 feet in length, was built by Vickers-Armstrongs, Walker, who
were her builders, and after the damaged centre part of the ship had been cut away, the new midbody was
grafted into the two remaining end sections, this work done by Swan, Hunter. Riveters and welders fitted
new longitudinal frames, stiffeners and shell plating, with the outfitting work carried out by Palmers, Hebburn.
In December, 1961, the ship was ready for service and in the second week of the month, with her new "all
aft" profile, put to sea, bound for the Persian Gulf. It had taken a year, and more than 4,000 tons
of steel, to rebuild a "new" ship from the old casualty.

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by Norman Dunn on May 12, 2022, 10:15:34, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

Thanks Peter,
That could be what my old friend remembers except he'd heard of bodies/body parts amongst the debris.

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by peter cook on May 12, 2022, 10:18:05, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

There was only one fatality.

hi

Posted by hi on May 31, 2022, 4:05:02, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

I am not sure where you are getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for great info I was looking for this information for my mission.|

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by John Shearer on May 12, 2022, 10:27:14, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

Somehow I don't think that's the full story Peter, There was a fire while on the Tyne for modification work. The blame was put on the chemist, in not carrying out adequate gas testing which caused the fire. I think it may have been pockets of gas behind rust blisters. Could be wrong as it was so long ago.

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by geordieboy NS on May 12, 2022, 11:05:58, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

Esso Portsmouth : Peter & John interesting details on the fire & Repairs to the ship . Do you know when/where she was. Built and how long she was in-service after such massive repairs ? Amazing they thought it worth the cost to repair her .

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by peter cook on May 12, 2022, 14:40:48, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

She was built by Vickers-Armstrong, High Walker in 1959. She grounded in the South China sea in 21st of January 1975 was refloated but sank under tow.

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by John Niven on May 12, 2022, 15:35:51, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

23rd of September 1976 I was a 2nd year apprentice in Wallsend yard at the time just out of the training school a few weeks when the Glasgow caught fire, eight men died tragically that day. It opened my eyes to the environment I would spend my working life in. I have a reminder In my phone now so at least once a year I remember these lads who were just like me but were so unlucky to lose there life that day. The very next day another man died in the Neptune taking the loss of life to nine.

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by Norman Dunn on May 12, 2022, 16:30:35, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

I remember a Hebburn lad called Burdis who died in a fire on a ship (I think in Leslies. He went to St Aloysius and I can still picture him.
His brother the late Eddie Burdis was a electician and did a couple of wiring jobs for me in my house in the 70s

Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s

Posted by Lilian on May 20, 2022, 17:24:43, in reply to "Re: Did you work in Palmers 1960s into the 70s"

My teenage boyfriend was an apprentice plater about 1950/1 I remember he had to work what was called staggered hours,in the evenings,which he hated,can anyone else recall that time. in Palmers.

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No party Politics,swearing,derogatory remarks or we delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.