Mersea Island Museum - Blackwater Ships


Ship:      NEVERITA
Arrived:21 July 1961
Departed:17 Feb 1963
Career:Built Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson shipyard, Wallsend. This single screw tanker was propelled by a 8 cylinder Werkspoor diesel engine of 3.600 HP. The ship served Shell Tankers Ltd. UK from 1944 until August 1960. From this date she was chartered by Dutch Shell Tankers N.V.
Wim van Bezooijen sailed on the NEVERITA prior to her lay up in the Blackwater. He writes:
"After a extended inspection and overhaul, during 4 weeks, the ship left the Amsterdam Dry Docking Company for her first trip under Dutch flag to Curacao. With an average speed of 10 knots this trip took 14 days. In Curacao she received her first cargo, 12,000 tons of lubricating oil bound for UK.
"During the eleven month serving Dutch Shell company she transported many tons of the so called 'white products' (refined products : gasoline, lubricating oil etc.) all over the world.
"During this period I was an apprentice engineer at the NEVERITA, my first sea-going ship. As a part of my education as engineer in the merchant navy, I had to describe all jobs and activities daily in my technical daybook for one year. It was a very interesting experience to read back after more than 49 years what problems we met and had to solve during this year. Every item what could break down broke down. This was the main reason that the company decided to lay-up the NEVERITA in 1961.
NEVERITA was broken up Bruges 18 Feb 1963

Voyage Record Card 1960 to 1963: Arrived River Blackwater 21 July 1961 from Rotterdam. Sailed River Blackwater 17 February 1963 for Zeebrugge (in tow)
Casualties - Lifeboat found River Crouch 29 January 1963.

Arrived 21 Jul 1961 departed 17 Feb 1963 for Zeebrugge in tow GELE ZEE. Mid-Essex WSS - Lloyds List.

Tonnage:8,265 gross
Built:1944
Type:Tanker
Owner:Shell Tankers
Official No:169884
ID1169884

Shell tanker NEVERITA laid up, thought to be in the River Blackwater. She was in the river from about July 1961 to February 1963, when she went for scrap. 

8,265/1944, Official No. 169884. Date: c1962.

Above:  Shell tanker NEVERITA laid up, thought to be in the River Blackwater. She was in the river from about July 1961 to February 1963, when she went for scrap. 8,265/1944, Official No. 169884. Date: c1962.
Source: Mersea Museum / Ian Clarke Collection

NEVERITA at sea --- during her 11 month charter to Dutch Shell Tankers N.V. before being laid up in the River Blackwater. Date: c1961.

Above:  NEVERITA at sea --- during her 11 month charter to Dutch Shell Tankers N.V. before being laid up in the River Blackwater. Date: c1961.
Source: Mersea Museum / Wim van Bezooijen

NEVERITA at sea --- during her 11 month charter to Dutch Shell Tankers N.V. before being laid up in the River Blackwater. Date: c1961.

Above:  NEVERITA at sea --- during her 11 month charter to Dutch Shell Tankers N.V. before being laid up in the River Blackwater. Date: c1961.
Source: Mersea Museum / Wim van Bezooijen

NEVERITA at sea --- during her 11 month charter to Dutch Shell Tankers N.V. before being laid up in the River Blackwater. Date: c1961.

Above:  NEVERITA at sea --- during her 11 month charter to Dutch Shell Tankers N.V. before being laid up in the River Blackwater. Date: c1961.
Source: Mersea Museum / Wim van Bezooijen


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