Ship to ship cargo transfer
April 1977, Point Lynas, Anglesey, Wales.
The Shell Tanker 'Halia' was specially equipped to make ship to ship transfers while at sea; lightening larger tankers to a maximum of 18,000 tons of crude oil, to take to smaller NW European ports, mostly in the British Isles, for refining.
Dean Leggett of Ipswich, and Barry Paterson of Aberdeen(?), on the fo'c's'le of the Halia, as we begin the rendezvous with one of Ludwig's early supertankers, "Universe Leader" of 1956.
Launched on 08/08/1956 and completed during October 1956 by National Bulk Carriers, Kure, Japan (39)
51,400 g.t. and 85,515 dwt., as:
'Universe Leader' until sold to Taiwan for demolition.
Arrived at Kaohsiung on 31/08/1977.
She was the lead ship (good choice of name) of a class of seven sisters.
More info on the Universe ships here: