This is the SS [I]Adabelle Lykes[/I], a C-3 Break-Bulk steam cargo vessel, built by Bethlehem in 1963, scrapped in 2008. I took the 1st A/E job off the open board, MEBA Union Hall, New Orleans. She was on a four month African run. She steamed and ran well. Couldn’t believe the job went open board. Taking open board jobs was my style when I joined the MEBA, I wasn’t fussy, an engineer could advance rapidly from Group Three to Group One.
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[QUOTE=cmakin;83243]Both the CLEVELAND and her sister, the WILSON have been sent to the subcontinent for their disposal. The WILSON at Chittagong in 08 and the CLEVELAND at Alang in 09. It’s kind of hard not to wax a little nostalgic about seeing these grand ships end their careers.[/QUOTE
We made a tandem tow with the SEATRAIN GEORGIA and the APA NAPA from James River to Andy International. It was sad watching these ships demolished.
[QUOTE=Sweat-n-Grease;83251]This is the SS [I]Adabelle Lykes[/I], a C-3 Break-Bulk steam cargo vessel, built by Bethlehem in 1963, scrapped in 2008. I took the 1st A/E job off the open board, MEBA Union Hall, New Orleans. She was on a four month African run. She steamed and ran well. Couldn’t believe the job went open board. Taking open board jobs was my style when I joined the MEBA, I wasn’t fussy, an engineer could advance rapidly from Group Three to Group One.
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The Adabelle was one of the old Gulf Pride Class, I think. If I am not mistaken, 9 of those were stretched by adding a cargo hold forward of the deckhouse that could hold either containers, or like we carried when I was on the LESLIE LYKES, bulk grain. I liked the plant and learned quite a bit when I was onboard. Oh, that and learned about hand cleaning the firesides of the superheaters. . . .
The lay out with the cargo hold in the middle of the deckhouse was a real throw back design to the old British tramp steamers of the 20s and 30s.
Here is an old American Export ship being scrapped in Brownsville, back in '01. I was down across the water from the scrapyard at AMFELS for a jack up rig repair.
[QUOTE=cmakin;83266]Here is an old American Export ship being scrapped in Brownsville, back in '01. I was down across the water from the scrapyard at AMFELS for a jack up rig repair.
P1180012 by cmakin, on Flickr[/QUOTE]
I about fell off my chair, I was 2nd A/E aboard her, that’s the SS [I]Export Banner[/I].
Here is an interesting site to visit, however please respect Michael Martin’s wish and do not lift pictures from his site without asking.
[QUOTE=cmakin;83257]The Adabelle was one of the old Gulf Pride Class, I think. If I am not mistaken, 9 of those were stretched by adding a cargo hold forward of the deckhouse that could hold either containers, or like we carried when I was on the LESLIE LYKES, bulk grain.[/QUOTE]
You are correct.
[QUOTE=cmakin;83257] I liked the plant and learned quite a bit when I was onboard. Oh, that and learned about hand cleaning the firesides of the superheaters.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I cleaned many superheater firesides as a Cadet on the SS [I]Examiner[/I].
[QUOTE=cmakin;83257]The lay out with the cargo hold in the middle of the deckhouse was a real throw back design to the old British tramp steamers of the 20s and 30s.[/QUOTE]
And I liked it that way - There is a tramp merchant seaman in me - I knew it as a cadet.
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[QUOTE=injunear;83256]We made a tandem tow with the SEATRAIN GEORGIA and the APA NAPA from James River to Andy International. It was sad watching these ships demolished.[/QUOTE]
I wouldn’t do it. I was asked to take the SS Prudhoe Bay from Portland to India, there to steam her full throttle on the beach. This same nut job had the balls to say to me that I would “have so much fun driving her into the sand.” No need to post my response but it was short and he made a rapid retreat. I split too, never to sail again.
[QUOTE=Sweat-n-Grease;83278]I wouldn’t do it. I was asked to take the SS Prudhoe Bay from Portland to India, there to steam her full throttle on the beach. This same nut job had the balls to say to me that I would “have so much fun driving her into the sand.” No need to post my response but it was short and he made a rapid retreat. I split too, never to sail again.[/QUOTE]
30 years later, I fully understand you stance. Big difference between towing 2 dead ships that you never sailed and taking a living and breathing plant to it’s demise.
[QUOTE=injunear;83316]30 years later, I fully understand you stance. Big difference between towing 2 dead ships that you never sailed and taking a living and breathing plant to it’s demise.[/QUOTE]
Thank you, injunear, yes, a big difference, one of which those who never sailed, or those who barely sailed, could ever imagine.
[QUOTE=Sweat-n-Grease;83322]Thank you, injunear, yes, a big difference, one of which those who never sailed, or those who barely sailed, could ever imagine.[/QUOTE]
The closest I came to doing something like that was back in the mid 90s when the LESLIE LYKES made her last trip to Galveston. I did all the annual surveys, but she was making that one way trip to East Africa with bulk grain, and then on to the breakers. Lots of stuff was being removed before she left. All of that bad old Freon 12 for the reefer plant ended up in a couple of pick ups. Somehow, the clock from the Chief Engineer’s office ended up on my possession where it remains, with a bit of age and tarnish.
[QUOTE=Sweat-n-Grease;83273]I about fell off my chair, I was 2nd A/E aboard her, that’s the SS [I]Export Banner[/I].
Here is an interesting site to visit, however please respect Michael Martin’s wish and do not lift pictures from his site without asking.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92437775[/QUOTE]
Nice stuff. From that, however, I can see that the ship in my photo isn’t the BANNER. Same class, but I took that shot in 2001 and the BANNER didn’t get scrapped until 07. Still gut wrenching, though.
A replica of the GOLDEN HIND in Brixham, England. Built by the same shipyard that built the original. Taken in 1981.
[QUOTE=cmakin;83329] Lots of stuff was being removed before she left. All of that bad old Freon 12 for the reefer plant ended up in a couple of pick ups[/QUOTE].
Good thinking
[QUOTE=cmakin;83329] Somehow, the clock from the Chief Engineer’s office ended up on my possession where it remains, with a bit of age and tarnish.[/QUOTE]
Must be a miracle
Funny thing about stuff, we spend half of our lives collecting, the other have giving it all away.
The most valuable items I have from my ships are my memories.
[QUOTE=cmakin;83330]Nice stuff. From that, however, I can see that the ship in my photo isn’t the BANNER. Same class, but I took that shot in 2001 and the BANNER didn’t get scrapped until 07. Still gut wrenching, though.[/QUOTE]
Yea, after reading Michael Martin’s write-up and seeing the paint job on the two pictures I came to the same conclusion. Still - it was a neat jog down memory lane.
[QUOTE=Sweat-n-Grease;83353].
Funny thing about stuff, we spend half of our lives collecting, the other have giving it all away.
The most valuable items I have from my ships are my memories.[/QUOTE]
Same here. Well, memories and a few odd pictures; although not nearly enough.
[QUOTE=Sweat-n-Grease;83353].Funny thing about stuff, we spend half of our lives collecting, the other have giving it all away.
The most valuable items I have from my ships are my memories.[/QUOTE]
I carried the EOT up what seemed like 9 flights of stairs on the SEATRAIN GEORGIA. It weighed about 150 lbs. I also got the meat cutting block off the NAPA which weighed even more. It dawned on me a few days later that I was recently divorced and living out of my seabag. I gave the EOT to a friend for safe keeping. He made the Sabine Pilots a few months later. The next time I saw the EOT, it was mounted on a mahogany display in his office, brightly polished. Another friend cleaned up and refinished the chopping block. I still have a few relics.
[QUOTE=injunear;83430]I carried the EOT up what seemed like 9 flights of stairs on the SEATRAIN GEORGIA. It weighed about 150 lbs. I also got the meat cutting block off the NAPA which weighed even more. It dawned on me a few days later that I was recently divorced and living out of my seabag. I gave the EOT to a friend for safe keeping. He made the Sabine Pilots a few months later. The next time I saw the EOT, it was mounted on a mahogany display in his office, brightly polished. Another friend cleaned up and refinished the chopping block. I still have a few relics.[/QUOTE]
There are several goodies I managed not to give away. I still have my Lionel Berkshire 736 train set my parents gave me back in Christmas 1949. The engine and tender sit on the top shelf of my computer desk. Also, I maintained to keep my boyhood Hopalong Cassidy Arvin AM Radio. I bought it in 1950 with the money I made as a paper boy. It still works.
BTW, I think you friend should have returned the EOT to you. I would have if it was me.
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