Built as FERNCREST. Renamed CRESTA-1964, ARO-1968. October 1978 sold by auction to German shipbreakers and resold to Spanish shipbreakers.
Sailed under tow TS 41 TOUGH - the tug EGERTON had helped untangle her. Broken up Santander 27 Nov 1978.
She was laid up at the outer end of the anchorage, almost off Cross Lane. One of the Gurton family from Tollesbury was sometime watchman on board.
July 1975 swivel up date uncertain - Clarke & Carter work book
KMD_BK1_080.
Dates from George Swieszkowski - names tug on departure as TS41 ROUGH.
Tonnage:
22,399 gross
Built:
1956
Type:
Tanker
LR/IMO Number:
5114064
ID
5114064
Above: Sailing in the Blackwater. The laid up tanker on the left is thought to be ARO which was in the River from 4 July 1975 to November 1978.
Ron Green writes: I'm not sure of the nearest smack - could be CK 256 HYACINTH but the other one is CK141 PEACE.
The dinghies with circles in their sails are Contenders and 101 is a Merlin Rocket. K242 looks like a Tornado catamaran. Date: 1977. Source: Mersea Museum / Rose and Len Harvey Collection
Above: Laid up tanker ARO and a Sun tug, thought to be SUN XXII, in the River Blackwater. ARO which was in the River from 4 July 1975 to November 1978. She was built 1956 as FERNCREST and scrapped Santander 27 Nov 1978. Date: c1977. Source: Mersea Museum / Audrey Davy
Above: Tanker ARO in the Blackwater. She was laid up in the River from July 1975 to October 1978 Date: c1976. Source: Mersea Museum / Geoff Mole
