Ships and Harbours Photos

I remember that there was an explosion on board the Mactra in early 1970. Two (??) crew members were killed. She called in at Durban and temporary repairs were effected to enable here to go on to the far east for final repairs. I think the ship repair yard in Durban was Dorman Long, more latterly Dorbyl.

Added by John Smith on 11 February 2007.

The ship that was first on the scene after the explosion was HMS Chichester, a Type 61 diesel frigate. We were on Beira patrol at the time (it was early January 1970) and undergoing a RAS (replenishment at sea) when the distress call was received. After an emergency break away we proceeded at full speed to her location. As we approached Mactra I always remember seeing the whole midships portion bent upwards by the explosion, like a banana - a dramatic site. We were led to believe that the explosion may have been caused by static electricity igniting fumes during tank cleaning.

We sent an emergency team over with our PO medic to render first aid and provide emergency supplies. I do recall there were some injuries and fatalities (I think one was a women sunbathing on the uppper deck and caught in the explosion). After rendering aid we resumed our patrol before sailing to Mombasa for a well earned break.

Added by Mike Doyle on 23 February 2007.

I joined the vessel as a steward in January 1970. We carried out temporary repairs which enabled the vessel to proceed to Japan for permanent repairs.She sailed from Durban on the 23rd of June 1970 escorted by the german salvage tug Atlantic

Added by John Pegden on 07 September 2007.

i was a galley boy on mactra from durban to yokahama my first trip at sea was quite an experience at 16 thanks to all the crew on that amazing journey i will never forget it cheers guys.

Added by Will Hitchcock on 28 September 2007.

I sailed on this ship 3 times as Cheif cook in my with career with Shell Tankers - Bringing it out new from Keil in 1969 - joining it again in 1971 and 1973. I left this ship early to be bestman for my brothers marriage just before the explosion, it was rather a sobering thought as every day we use to go for a walk around the deck at midday and again in the evening -- so I might not now be here to tell the tail today.

Added by David Nesom on 03 November 2007.

I'm surprised at how little there seems to be on the web about the Mactra explosion. She was one of three supertankers that blew up in quick succession around that time, and was the only one to stay afloat. As I recall, the investigations did conclude that the cause was static electricity generated by tank cleaning water jets. This effectively created mini-thunderstorms in the tanks, and the vapours from the oil residues ignited when they reached an explosive concentration and a discharge occurred. My uncle, Capt. Jim Palmer, was the ship's master at the time of the explosion, and he had a superb collection of photos of the aftermath and the temporary repairs. Unfortunately I don't know what became of them.

Added by Tenlad on 05 May 2009.

Capt Palmer (Known as Peddler palmer) was captain when she sailed from Durban to Japan for permanent repairs.

Added by John Pegden on 28 September 2009.

At the time of the disaster I was the Radio Officer o/b of the shell tanker Capisteria. The explosion occurred approx 15:00 local time and our distance to the vessel was approx 7 miles. We rushed to the scene and were appointed by Shell International to keep as close as possible to the ship. There were two more vessel at the that time. Two people were killed (3rd off. in the lifeboat and one sailor on his way to the accommodation aft ship) en 3 man jumped overboard because between the accommodation and the forecastle a blazing inferno took place. They were picked up by the other 2 vessels. We transferred two serious wounded crew members. They were 2 ladies sunbathing on the monkey island and hit by the flames. On request of London we contact the hms Chichester were arrived 1.5 day later on the scene and transferred the wounded crew members. We accompanied the MACTRA to Beira where we arrived January 1st 1980 and were relieved by London to proceed on our voyage to Lands End for orders. I had some contact with the Sparks and one of the engineers afterwards.

People interested to get more info pls contact me (vanderploeg@home.nl)

Regards


Radio Officer ms CAPISTERIA Shell Tankers

Added by Cor van der Ploeg on 07 October 2009.

remember seeing her in durban about a month after it happened couldnt believe what we were looking at.what a mess,i believe these tanker explosions brought about the use of inert gas use during discharge.
don taylor

Added by Don Taylor on 25 October 2009.

I was a traine deckhand on her in 1972. I signed on for6 months it was a great ship with a cracking bunch of guys. They often mentioned the explosion. But when I was on her you wouldn't have known it by the look of her. They fixed her up real good. By the way all the super tankers were named after seashells.

Added by Tony murrell on 15 February 2010.

I surveyed the vessel in Yokohama at a Taifun mooring in August 1970 after that she had arrive from Durban's temporary repair. It was a scary sight with the strengthening web-frames welded across the deck but HDW Kiel were building strong vessels. I had been sent out on a mission from Shell to establish the damage done to the tank cleaning system in order to enabling them to order replacement equipment. It was a lot of investigations carried out. Much of it at Shell Thornton but also around the world by various maritime bodies. Despite the very tragic accident, it was no doubt that the fixed installed tank cleaning equipment had come to stay and so also Shell believed. As I remember, later after all the extensive investigations, Lloyds List had a frontpage where the system was cleared and OK to be used again. Inert gas system was the solution the then IMCO (now IMO) established that all tankers for oil above 20,000dwt must be fitted with an inert gas system.

Added by K-G Lewerth on 12 March 2010.

My father, Capt JV Thistlethwaite, was Shell's Marine Superintendent in SA at the time of the explosion. I remember him spending a lot of time in Beira, and I remember when Mactra came to Durban, and my Daddy was interviewed on the radio.

Added by Janet Thistlethwaite on 25 September 2010.

The third Officer who died was Russ Gardiner from Tadley in Hampshire. I didnt know him but was friendly with his sister Val. I was at the time 5th Engineer on Hindsia, later sailed with the 2nd Eng when I was 3rd on Gadinia. I may have more info if anyone is interested

Added by Chris Wallace on 10 February 2011.

I was third engineer on the 'Clan Ranald'at the time. We drydocked in Durban when the 'Mactra' was in port and the hole in the fore deck of the Mactra was almost large enough to fit the 'Ranald' in. We were there about a month after the explosion occured and at that time 'they' were still finding cleaning up. Not a nice thought.
I later became a 'Lloyd's Surveyor' and know of the resulting Inert Gas regulations that came about as a direct result of the three explosions (2 to sister vessels). In addition to IG earthing arrangements to butterworth (tank cleaning) hoses also came about.

Added by David (Fred) Field on 24 March 2011.

I've posted shots of OCEAN BRIDGE which was involved in a similar incident.
See picture #16914, picture #16915 and picture #16916

Added by Paul Strathdee on 25 March 2011.

I sailed with the pumpman later on who was then the bosun on the Opalia, couple of corrections the Mactra was one of three ships to explode while tank cleaning, at the time they were amongst the biggest ships in the world. The explosions were caused by static electrical discharges akin to lightning strikes, it was the research after into cause that led to the introduction of inert gas systems on VLCC and ULCC. I heard an apocryphal story that the bosun on the Mactra rejoined his next ship and as he boarded there was a lightning strike on a gas riser which caught fire, he turned around and never went back to sea again.

Added by Chris Warlow on 17 July 2011.

Mike Doyle's account is very much as I remember it, except the ship was HMS EURYALUS, F15, Captain James Pertwee, on route to Australia to escort HMY Britannia on her Capt Cooke celebration tour.
We took casualties on board, at least one was female, and I think the Captain, s wife, who although badly burnt, survived.

Added by Paul Tucker ex leading Stores Accountant on 21 January 2012.

Interesting comment from Paul Tucker. Don't recall HMS Eurylaus being there (she may have been at the same time or shortly afterwards and I missed that)

But HMS Chichester certainly was there and responded to the SOS. I know because I was serving on the ship at the time. We were on Beira patrol and somewhere I have the dramatic pictures of MACTRA's twisted shape to prove it!!Two things stay with me - the devastation of the ship as we arrived on the scene and the shocked face of the PO Medic when he returned on board after rendering first aid to the crew. He just couldn't speak about it for a time. Can just imagine the scenes the poor man must have witnessed.

Added by Dr Mike Doyle, ex Shipwright apprentice

Added by Mike Doyle on 22 January 2012.

Re:Paul Tucker's post, it definately wasn't the captain's wife (my aunt Molly, who was safely at home in the UK at the time.

Added by Tenlad on 26 January 2012.

I don't know about the Chichester being around but HMS Euryalus certainly was. We were on Beira Patrol ( we had to do extra time due to our relief having broke down ) and we just missed out on a salvage payout.
John Cherrington
now in Switzerland


Added by John Cherrington on 27 January 2012.

I agree with Mike, Chichester was involved, we were half way through a fuelling RAS and had to do an emergency break away in response to the SOS could not believe the damage to the Mactra when we finaly arrived at her position.

Added by Pete Kearsey on 29 January 2012.

Thanks to Paul, John and Pete for clarifying things. It would now appear that both HMS Eurylaus and Chichester were involved in assisting MACTRA, but in different ways, and at slightly different times in that period immediately following the explosion.

Thankfully, such incidents now appear to very rare (if at all)- mainly due to the 'wake-up call' that MACTRA and the other tankers which suffered similar explosions around that time - gave to the industry.

However, it might be cruise ships that are the next type of ship needing assistance - assuming that there is still a Royal Navy with enough ships to do the rescuing!


Added by Mike Doyle on 30 January 2012.

Yes both ships were involved as we were the beira patrol ships at the time Chi was on the 'Hope Line' whilst Eurylaus was on 'Joy Line' as you say Mike thankfully these occurances are now few and far between

Added by Pete Kearsey on 30 January 2012.

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