Document XRygerarOO7ZM1eGLL50eN6zG

COFIF.IJ FIUJM THE COLLECTIONS IN THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN HISTOI THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN ' Vol 12, No, 14 ___July 20, 1970 Humble Tankers Sail to All Six Continents Until a few years ago, it was ago loaded crude in Las Pied- below, two others are trading predicted that tankers in the ras, Venezuela foreign. The Esso Jamesfcormi Humble fleet would never Our ships, particulary those arrives in Madras, India, on leave the continental United States, But time changes things. For example, the Esso Hous ton within the past seven months has been to every con in grain trade, have been espe cially well represented in the ports of Europe and Asia. A look at Esso ships currently in offshore service is enough to July 28 to discharge grain and the Esso Seattle is due to arrive at Subic Bay, Luzon, Philip pines, on July 27 to discharge jet fuel, tinent except South America. But the fleet has been repre sented even there because the convince anyone that we're truly an ocean-going fleet. In addition to tankers in overseas Waldorf Named Assistant To Repair Superintendent Esso Boston .just a few days services described in the article Ken Waldorf, formerly an World-Wide Demand lor Ships Bleaches New High economic analyst in Marine Logistics and A closed down Trans Arab ian Pipeline (Tapline) has con tributed to the world-wide de mand for tankers that has risen sharply during the past few weeks. Six Humble tankers have been chartered by Jersey affiliates and others for single voyages to help meet the need for tonnage in international trade. The tankers are the Esso New will sail to the Persian Gulf to load crude for the US. West Coast, In addition to the Glou cester, several of the above ships were previously in grain trade, but the recent heavy de mand for tankers in the Per sian Gulf makes the shift to crude oil more attractive. 'Seattle'Changes Coarse The Esso Seattle, which left Planning, has been named to the position of assistant to the repair superin tendent in Ma rine Opera tions. He will be conferring with officers of ships and ship yard representatives on re quired repair work, He obtained a BS degree from the Naval York and the Esso Boston, both Beaumont, Texas, on June 28 Academy, served six years as a enroute to the Caribbean to load crude for the US. East Coast; the Esso Miami which has just discharged a load of with jet fuel for delivery to Subic Bay, changed her course a few days after leaving the Panama Canal and proceeded submarine officer in the Navy, and then attended the Univer sity of California where he received a master's degree in heavy fuel carried to Miami to San Diego to discharge an Business Administration. He from Aruba; the Esso Lexing officer who had become ill joined Humble April 1, 1969 ton, enroute to the U S East Coast with crude from Escravos, Nigeria; the Esso Houston 7 Miss the Sea,' Says Frank Ritrhie which is currently enroute to Savona, Italy, to discharge Shopping trips in Tampa, the open highways And that's crude, after which she will probably return to the Persian Gulf to load crude for North Florida, sometimes become day-long jaunts that take Frank Ritchie and his wife 200 fine because the Ritchies keep a couple of fishing rods in the trunk of their car. Europe; and the Enco Glorr- miles or so from home. This "I spent 40 years at sea and cester which is currently dis happens whenever a seizure of my wife, Paula, lived in the charging grain in Chittagong, wanderlust overwhelms the city, so we had little opportun- East Pakistan, after which she shopping bit and they turn to Contirmed on page 5 i L EXX-MOR-003828 Her mighty heart stilled, the United States is tugged to her "moth ball" berth. Future of the $7Q-million, 51,000-gross-ton ship is uncertain. The End of An Era The luxury passenger ship SS United States held the coveted blue ribbon as the fastest liner on the Atlantic Her 240,000 horsepower propulsion plant could send the 990-foot vessel sail ing through the ocean at 34 knots. Now she is going nowhere. She's tied up at the Newport News Shipyard slowly gathering rust, marking what well may be the end of regularly scheduled trans-Atlantic service by American passenger ships The 17-yearold United States, which could accommodate about 2,000 passen gers, is the latest passenger liner which has been laid up during the past 2% years because of economic problems, including astro nomical operating costs and airline competition. The others are the Constitution,, Independence, Atlantic, Brasil, Argentina, Lurline, and President Roosevelt. Besides denoting the end of an era for America's queens of the seas, one of the saddest things about the loss of the eight liners is that their retirement wiped out jobs for between 8,000 and 9,000 seagoing personnel. Unlicensed ciews in all but two of the tied-up liners were represented by the National Maritime Union. Court Refuses to Review NMU Decision The Supreme Court has re fused to review a decision re quiring return to the National Maritime Union (NMU) treas ury hundreds of thousands of dollars in pension payments for the benefit of nonelected officials, the New York Times repoited The decision was handed down in March by the 2nd U S, Court of Appeals. The payments were chal Page 2 lenged in Federal District Court in New York by three NMU members who said the of ficials' pension plan was in tended solely for persons elect ed by the membership. The three claimed that the assistant to the president of NMU, recently retired, re ceived a lump sum payment of well over $100,000 from the fund. The plan was established in 1952 with only elected officials covered. In 1961, the NMU na tional office, which administers the union's international af fairs, extended the coverage to non-elected persons such as as sistant to the president, or ganizer, executive secretary, publicity director, and super visors over maintenance, book keeping, records and supplies The question was whether a 1960 revision in the union con stitution authorized expansion of the coverage. The 2nd circuit court agreed with the com plaining members that it did not.. The circuit court affirmed an order by a federal district judge requiring restoration of the funds with interest and barring future outlays for nonelected officers If the defendants are unable to recoup the money, "they may be held personally liable," the opinion said. New Leading Regard Set The crew of the Esso San Francisco set a new cargo load ing record on June 25 for ships in the Esso Fleet when they look aboard some 572,152 bar rels of product at Baytown Re finery. The cargo consisted of motor, aviation, and diesel fuel and varsol and kerosine It was delivered to Norfolk, Virginia The previous record was set by this same ship which on May 6 loaded about 556,000 barrels of product at Baytown. ESSO FLEET NEWS y< UJ 31 < C f< 2: u14 x< - >* ts-. h O a: t> LU 2* UJ 'O X U! H a. U EXX-MOR-003829 CUP1DJ FROM THE CflU.Ef'TlONS iN THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN HISfON THE UNI VERSITY OF TEXAS a t a i istin Various Phases of Marine Operations Aired at Two-Day Houston Conference "You men are part of the management team of the Ma rine Department, As ships' of ficers in the Humble Fleet, you are responsible for the perfor mance of the vessel to which you are assigned. It is part of your job to direct the work of the unlicensed men in your ship " With these words, R C, Cur tis, Mar ine general manager, set the stage for a two-day Marine Officers Conference in Houston on July t and 2 A total of 28 deck and engineroom officers, about evenly divided, attended the conference which not only gave the officers a chance to meet and talk with many of the marine headquarters staff, but also provided the group with information on benefit plans, labor relations, and administra tion of bargaining agreements "This conference will include discussions aimed at helping you perform your job We hope these discussions will not only clarify some of your au thorities and responsibilities as supervisors, but also start you thinking about new and differ ent techniques which might en able you to perform your duties more effectively," Mr. Curtis said In addition to the subjects mentioned above, other areas covered included the Marine Department's organization and its role within the Humble Company, explained by E. W McNeil, Jr.; principles of com munications, by T J McTaggart; job concepts and analysis of authority, Captain J,, G- Moffitt; and a marine operations panel discussion which includ ed a presentation by W. J. Bielstein on the status of Humble's Alaskan oil discovery and its potential on the Marine Depart ment, and a pr esentation on the value of tanker time by W, F.. Robinson. Other Houston office Marine personnel participating in the program were L. H. Earle, who discussed labor re lations; Sydney Wire, who traced the development of ma rine unions, including the in dependent unions; E. C. Fisch er, benefit plans; and D J. Ma honey and Mr. Earle who ex plained contract administra tion. The two-day session was coordinated by John Frederick. A free-wheeling question and answer period was held at the close of the conference with answers supplied by Messrs Wire, Moffitt, McTaggart, Rob inson, and McNeil. The current meeting marked the start of the second phase of the Marine Officers Confer ence The first phase, which started late in 1968 and contin ued through 1969, was attend ed by masters, chief engineers, chief mates, and first assistant engineers It is presently con templated that the conferences will be continued at approxi mately two-week intervals un til all officers holding or sailing in the ranks of second and third mates and second and third as sistant engineers have attend ed The next conference is scheduled for July 22 and 23. Those attending the July 1 2 conference were: Deck De partment: Robert Armstrong, Jr., Peter Cote, Paul Genest, Charles Hahn, Arthur Melanson, George Murphy, Craig Rassinier, William Ruby, Jack Stillman, Charles Tyler, Hu bert Webb, Martin Weber, and Richard Yerian Engine Depart ment: Anthony Bonaffini, Al ton Burns, Jr., William Fornuff, Francis Garavanta, Jr, Jerzy Glowacki, Robert Howard, Wil liam Hyatt, Fred Loyd, Francis Lyons, Daniel O'Connell. John Oest, William Roulhac. and Daniel Selulc July 20, 1970 Page 3 L. EXX-MOR-003830 COHinu FROM THE COLLECTIONS IN THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN HtSTUI THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN Sydney Wire, left, Marine assistant general manager, presents 30-year watches to Captain Johnson, center, and Chief Steward Vierra, Johnson, Vierra Complete 30 Years Service Apiece A skipper and a chief steward recently celebrated fleet anni versaries with some 60 years of combined service to Humble They both received 30 - year watches at Baytown in cere monies on June 9. The two men sailed aboard Esso tankers during World War II. Captain Taisto Johnson of the Esso New Orleans joined the fleet in May 1940 as an ordi nary seaman in the Franklin K, Lane. His first ship in the war time fleet was the Christy Payne in 1942 The ship bore the nickname of "Lucky" because she had so many narrow escapes while transporting petroleum products across the Atlantic. By the end of the war, he was chief mate in the Esso New Haven, having sailed in the wartime fleet in the Christy Payne, Esso Dover, SS Thomas H Wheeler, Esso Roanoke, and the Esso New Haven, His first command was as skipper of the Esso Portland in 1948. For the past 22 years, he served the fleet as either mas ter or chief mate on numerous vessels. James Vierra, chief steward in the Esso New Orleans, en tered the fleet in 1940 as chief cook aboard the Fred W. Wel ler. In the early days of World War II, he sailed aboard the F, H. Bedford, Jr. Shortly thereafter, while serving in the John D. Archbold in 1943, he became steward. He has con tinued as chief steward on many fleet vessels during the past 27 years. Ludsfy Bade Presented 40-Year Service Emblem With many of his co-workers standing by to congratulate him upon completing 40 years service in the Marine Depart ment, Ludwig B Bade smiled happily as Marine General Manager R C Curtis pre sented him a company service emblem. The event took place in the Houston office on June 22 where Luddy holds the posi tion of chief of allocation and dispatching He joined the Marine Depart ment in 1930 as a mail boy in the New York office, He later accepted a position in the ac counting office where he worked in various jobs until 1935 when he transferred to Bayonne Here, he served suc cessively as inventory clerk, cargo clerk, timekeeper, and part-time paymaster. He returned to New York as an auditor in Marine account ing, a position he held until R. C. Curtis, left, congratulates Luddy Bade at office celebration. 1943 when he went to sea in the Esso New Orleans (the second) as the first employee to sail in a company ship as purser. In this capacity, he handled all the ship's paperwork, including payroll. He also served as ship's "doctor" for the treat ment of minor aches and pains (he had pharmacist's mate training in the Merchant Ma rine during WWII). He later served aboard the Esso Wilm ington and the F, H. Bedford, Jr In 1945, Luddy again came ashore to work in New York in accounting He soon trans ferred to ship operations there, was named chief of allocation and dispatching in 1959, and in 1961, when this function was moved to Houston, he made the transfer with this same title and job capacity ESSO FLEET NEWS P i EXX-MOR-003831 COPIED R O M T H E COLLECTIONS IN THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN H1STO THE UNI VERSITY OF TE X A S A T AR C TtN Continued from page 1 ity to get out and see the country," Frank says. He had sailed 20 years as an oiler with Humble's Esso Fleet when he retired in March, 1969. Since then, he has traveled more than 20,000 miles criss crossing the state to places he never had a chance to visit during the 11 years he has lived in Florida. He and Mrs Ritchie have been to the Ever glades National Park four times. And they enjoy the state's many aquariums, "Al most every city has an aquari um," Frank said. Getting to these places is what they like most, "We travel back roads that meander through Florida," he said, "The tropical forests are fresh, clean, and quiet like the sea," When Frank spots an attrac tive lake or river along the road, he stops and fishes a while. "We fish for fun and usually let the fish go," he said. But those he catches in a la goon in his backyard go into the frying pan. This handy pond abounds with both salt water and fresh-water fish. "That's because the sea reaches up Rock Creek just about to my lagoon," he explained. Old Tampa Bay is a short boat ride down the creek. When Frank isn't fishing or traveling, he spends part of his time pulling banana trees. "They sprout up around here like weeds," he said. "I keep enough of them so there's no banana shortage at our place," His home is surrounded by pine trees draped with Spanish moss, palm trees, and Spanish bayonets. Visitors to the Ritchie home, however, are often more inter ested in his collection of momentos from around the world: Egyptian camels made of sandlewood; ash trays from India; musical lantern-lamps from Guam; Japanese dolls; tapestry from the Persian Gulf; a Gre cian urn, a handpainted tea set from Japan; and a Korean painting of his wife done from a picture. These and other things Frank brought home from his many voyages at sea, including three that took him around the world, "I miss the sea at times," he said. "But traveling around the state by car to see places and things I've read about keeps me happy." Frank Ritchie may never completely become a land-lover, but he clearly en joys the solid earth as he finds it in Florida. John Danko John Danko, 56, died at his home in Lit- ... ... tlestown, Penn sylvania, on June 30. Begin ning in the Fleet as a fire man-watertender on May 30, 1939, Mr, Danko had wartime service as electrician in the Esso Houston (torpedoed on May 12, 1942) and Esso Boli var, and in the Esso Baytoum as third and second assistant. After his first chief's berth in the Esso Charlotte, December 7, 1948, he sailed as first assistant engineer, relieving chief, and then chief engineer He was chief engineer on the Esso Gloucester just prior to his re tirement on September 1, 1968, with 28 years of company service. Surviving are his widow, Mary Louise, and a step-daugh ter, Karen Leon Lemoine On July 3, Leon 0,, Lemoine, 69, died in a Baton Rouge hos pital from burns suffered in a fire in his trailer home He joined his first company ship, the Chester O Swain, as fireman-watertender in 1943 and sailed in various tankers in that rating until he retired in November, 1963, with 20 years service He is survived by several nieces and nephews. 'LJ WMm The Ritchies have traveled thousands of miles seeing America. July 20, 1970 ESSO FLEET NEWS is published every other Monday for active and retired employees of the Marino Department Humble Oil & Reining Co ; Russell C Curtis, General Manager Sydney Wire Assistant General Manager GENE LEGLER. Editor Contributions and suggestions are invited and should bo addressed to the Editor ESSO FLEET NEWS Humble Oil & ReJming Co P 0 0ox 2180 Room 4193 Houston Texas 770(11 Page 5 EXX-MOR-003832 COFIH) FROM THE COt-LECTIONS IN THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN HI.STOt THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS a t A u s t in ---iSllr ESSO EH .11 \ jij,- r-'-li fl THEY PASSED A MILLION MAN-HOURS and kept right on going That's the new record set by officers and crew of the Esso Chester. They reached the million-hour mark on October 20, 1969, with no lost-time injuries since June 10, 1966. Now, more than four years later, the lost-time injuries aboard the ship still remain at zero. In recognition of this exceptional record, a special Marine Department plaque was presented recently to the ship's captain and crew, along with a National Safety Council flag. On hand for the ceremony were, from the left, John B, Sappington, H, L, Gordon, Richard M Knoop, W. F, Knobles, William Barilla, Joseph Owens, Dwight T. Willis, Sydney Wire (assistant manager of the Marine Depart ment) who made the presentation to Captain Ed Crawford in dark suit, Raymond L Rogers, Harold Smith, Eugene W. Rogers, John Downey, Rob ert Massenberg, Roy Stanley, Al Giallorenzi (manager of New York branch office), Charles T. Mogelin, William Motto, Fred Newton (port engineer), and William H, Bricka, kneeling at flag. On ladder, from the top, are David Pires, Jesse Watts, and Johnnie Griffin Captain Hears Whistle; Houseboat in Trouble While inspecting his ship, the Esso Gettysburg, which was lightering just outside the fogshrouded New Haven Harbor recently, Captain Ernest Palazzini heard an unusual sound--a whistle--floating in from out side the harbor. He and several others aboard the tanker broke out their binoculars and were carefully scanning the area when they saw an object barely visible in the whispy, lowlying fog. It was a small house boat that was drifting out to sea. Capt. Palazzini sent a tug to the houseboat to offer as sistance, if needed, The houseboat, with two worried passengers aboard, had run out of fuel and was at the mercy of the elements. A pri vate cruiser came by and pulled the houseboat to safety. On Training Assignments Deck and engine personnel who are presently working or will work in branch offices in training assignments this sum mer are: Andrew S Kirkland and Ernest D. Seddon, Jr , both 3rd mates -- Baton Rouge; Joseph L Whitehouse, 3rd as sistant engineer -- Baltimore; Richard J Weigang, 3rd assis tant engineer -- Boston; and Gary M, Woglom, 3rd mate -- New York (Bayonne, New Jer sey). AWARDS Surgocinski, Rankin Each Have 20 Years OfMarine Service Richard Surgocinski, who be gan his com pany career in 1950 as a wiper in the Esso Greensboro, completed 20 years of com pany service in June. He has served aboard a number of ships, advancing from wiper to fireman-watertender, and later to the rank of oiler He is currently serving as oiler in the Esso Seattle Carleton Rankin, 2nd assis tant engineer, was presented a service emblem upon comple tion of 20 years service in June, T, J McTaggart of headquar ters Marine operations made the award, Rankin joined the fleet in 1950 as a firemanwatertender in the Red Canyon. He served in a number of Esso tankers, advancing in rank to second pumpman. His first li censed assignment was as 3rd assistant engineer in August, 1959, aboard the Esso Chatta nooga. 'JSt* r.r&i ip wmm _!_.? V'; - C , Ronkin, left, T. J McTaggart Page 6 ESSO FLEET NEWS EXX-MOR-003833