Mersea Island Museum - Blackwater Ships


Ship:      MARTITA
Arrived:25 Jun 1984
Departed:6 Oct 1984
Career:Built as BALDER APUANIA. Renamed MARTITA-1984, EULIMA-1984, PETROBULK RULER-1989, ATHENIAN SUCCESS-1996, OCEAN SUCCESS-2003.
Arrived in the River Blackwater as MARTITA. Sold to Shell while laid up and renamed EULIMA.
Broken up 2012, arrived Jiangyin for demolition 4 June 2012.
Graham Gould was working on LIANA and MARTITA in the Blackwater when they were being re-activated after Shell had bought them.
"I remember we had to stay in a posh hotel in Colchester's High Street for a couple of nights, commuting out to the ships each day trying to get the plant up and running so that we could then live on board. The priorities were drinking water and getting the fridges working once we had light and heat sorted out.
"Before we took over the vessels, there was no one living on board, the vessels were just visited periodically, maybe once a week, to start the emergency generator, pump up the starting air bottles for the main engine and turn and lubricate the main engine.
"I was told, the two ships had been impounded by the courts and went up for auction. The previous crew were so sure they would be coming back to the ships, they left a lot of their personal gear on board, loads of clothes including a 3 piece suit, stereos, TVs.
"On the EULIMA, one of the generator engines had been destroyed through lack of lubrication. A lub oil filter had been installed incorrectly and starved the bearings of oil. After we left the Blackwater we went over to Dunkirk to pick up a new engine casing and met up with EULOTA again (as in the photograph of EULOTA).
"The EULIMA and EULOTA were chemical tankers with specially constructed cargo tanks. Shell, however, only used them to carry oil products ie lub oil, diesel, petrol, aviation fuel etc.

Arrived 25 Jun 1984 sailed 6 Oct 1984 [George Swieszkowski - Lloyds List]

Tonnage:17,949 gross
Built:1983
Type:Tanker
LR/IMO Number:8025877
ID8025877

MARTITA laid up in the River Blackwater Date: 26 August 1984.

Above:  MARTITA laid up in the River Blackwater Date: 26 August 1984.
Source: Mersea Museum / Derek Sands

MARTITA laid up on the River Blackwater. Date: 9 September 1984.

Above:  MARTITA laid up on the River Blackwater. Date: 9 September 1984.
Source: Mersea Museum / John Jones

Tanker MARTITA laid up in the River Blackwater. Astern are CAPTAIN JOHN and MYRMIDON.

Above:  Tanker MARTITA laid up in the River Blackwater. Astern are CAPTAIN JOHN and MYRMIDON.
Source: Mersea Museum / Ted Ingham

Tanker MARTITA laid up in the River Blackwater. In front of her is the baffle wall for Bradwell power station. Date: 1984.

Above:  Tanker MARTITA laid up in the River Blackwater. In front of her is the baffle wall for Bradwell power station. Date: 1984.
Source: Mersea Museum / Graham Gould


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