She was 24406gt, completed at the Furness Shipyard, Haverton Hill, in July 1962 for the Shell tanker fleet. In 1970 she was sold and renamed ESTRELLA PATAGONICA -
89 ESTREL - BU Alang 6.89 [Haryana Steel Co Delhi]
50 years ago today (well, almost!) An event which changed history. Not quite, but one which had some significance to me.
On 27 July 1962 I was still using a very old camera of my dad's to take my ship photographs. Very much on spec I happened to be near the Transporter Bridge when the VOLUTA, presumably starting her delivery voyage, passed by. This was the result:
I had come upon the subject matter quite fortuitously; but the result was a disappointment. It was seeing this printed picture that determined me to "persuade" my parents that a new camera was essential! 16 years old, no job, only so-so "O" level results (when they were announced about a month later!). I don't know how I did it, but a week or so later I was the proud owner of a new camera. OK, it was just a Kodak box camera, but as I have shown you several times, the results were a vast improvement on the old ones! Real modernity, in the shape of a 35mm camera was not to come until I came of age at 21 years in 1966.
An event which changed history? No, but it helped shape the history of the development of my shipping interest.
(and, yes, I know you have already heard parts of this story previously!)
See also: http://www.teesbuiltships.co.uk/furness ... ta1962.htm
Ron