About
the colors in the border: You could easily spot a Socony ship by its
red house, with white trim. The hull was gray, with a yellow "bow-tie" along
the deck sheer. The decks were brown; cargo pipes, hatch covers ( tank tops ) green; masts "Keystone-Buff"; and the
stack black with the "Flying Red Horse" on a white shield with blue trim.
Later schemes painted a portion of the stack white, pasting a reflective Pegasus within. For Colored photos of select views, Click Here
The
emblem above is drawn from memory. As with most things nautical, including
the seamen who sailed the ships, no mention is made of it anywheres. I can
well remember painting around this ornate enameled-steel sign as I painted
the stack, seated in a bos'n chair thirty, or forty-feet above the
"hurricane", or "stack" deck. In those days you hoisted yourself up, and
lowered yourself down...no safety belts, or line tenders, or any non-sense
of the kind.
1) S S Siwanoy
The
Siwanoy. Sister ship to my first ever - the
S S Shabonee; and subsequent ships - Saucon, Satucket, and Siwanoy; all T-3 Tankers.
We ate well on these ships. Here's a Menu from the Siwanoy. Thanks to Charlie.
A great find! Charley, who uses photos as bookmarks, came across one of the Mobilight taken in Beaumont, Texas...so Charley thinks. Accompanying that is one of Charley at the Astern Throttle in the Engine Room of the Siwanoy. Charley says:
HI CARL,
I SIT HERE AT TIMES AND GO THRU THE WHOLE PROCESS OF ANSWERING THE TELEGRAPH, LOGGING THE "BELL" WHAT TO DO AS FAR AS WHAT VALVES TO TWEEK , WHAT PUMPS TO SPEED OR SLOW DOWN, THE WHOLE WORKS, MATTER OF FACT I THINK I COULD GO RIGHT ON BOARD ANY TIME AND TAKE OVER. I CAN SEE THE WHOLE ENGINE AND BOILER ROOMS AS IF IT WERE YESTERDAY. NO PROBLEM ON THE PHOTOS, I'M STILL FINDING MOMENTOS OF THOSE DAYS IF EVEN IN OLD POST CARD S THAT I SENT HOME.
Thanks Charley
2) M V Providence Socony
The
Motor Barge Providence Socony. My first job on deck. Part of the inland
fleet, she carried 15,000 BBLS, was twin screw - Atlas Diesels.
Click Here for more photos, and text.
3) M V Poughkeepsie Socony
The
Poughkeepsie Socony. Similar to the Providence Socony, but newer, and
sister to the Plattsburgh Socony. Shown here approaching.
The
Poughkeepsie Socony...stern view.
Click Here for more photos, and text.
4) M V Chicago Socony
The
Chicago Socony. The then new breed of motor barge...first class
accomodations as compared to the older motor barges. The wheel house could
be raised, and lowered hydraulically for passing under low bridges.
5) M V Traverse City Socony
The
Traverse City Socony. Servicing the Great Lakes, she looked like a
mini_deep sea ship, except when loaded...see her anchors in the water.
Tall masts, and huge stack for her size - 25,000 BBL, she looked good.
Sailed her only on Lake Michigan between Green Bay, Wisconsin, Muskegan,
Illinois, Milwaukee, and East Chicago, Indiana.
Click Here for more photos, and text.
6) S S Mobil Gas
The
Mobil Gas. Strictly of Mobil Corporation design, these tankers were famous
the world over. Tall stately masts, and funnels, these ships earned their
reputation as reliable, and good. Sister to the "Fuel", "Oil", and Socony
Vacuum. Replaced by newer ships, adopting the same names in the "fifties".
Click Here for more photos, and text.
7) S S Perryville
The
S S Perryville, a T-2 class tanker on Bare Boat Charter from Keystone
Corporation. Other Mobil chartered T-2s were the Gaines Mill, and Mill
Spring. Turbo-Electric, these ships were quite manueverable, especially
for backing. Capacity around 144,000 BBLs, similar to the T-3s, today they
are considered small. Contrary to thought, tankers are the cleanest of ships.
8) S S Eclipse
The
S S Eclipse, a Mobil Designed vessel unique in that the following new
ships replacing the older ones didn't follow the Eclipse design. She was
the first of the "Baby Super Tankers" for the American Flagged Mobil ships.
The
S S Eclipse, another view.
9) S S Mobil Gas
The
S S Mobil Gas, replacement for the old of the same name. Nice design by
Mobil, establishing a class for "Fuel", "Oil", "Light", etc. Of course,
today these ships are considered small, even at 210,000 BBLs. Valves were
still manual, but the new constant-tension mooring winches were a welcome
feature, though the inland fleet had these for years.
10) S S Socony Vacuum
The
S S Socony Vacuum, replacement for the old of the same name.
11) S S Mobiloil
The
S S Mobiloil, replacement for the old of the same name...the third "Oil" for the company.
This image shows vessel in new house colors - Light Blue versus the popular Socony Red.
My last ship with the company. Discharged as 2nd Mate...took a year off, then joined
MSTS.
Headquarters
When I joined Socony in '51,
their main office was at 26 Broadway in Lower Manhattan in their building pictured to the left above.
In the mid-fifties, they built a new building, shown on the right above, at 150 E-42nd Street in Mid Manhattan.
Around that time they also changed their company name to Socony Mobil...later to just plain Mobil.
During the period when the older building was headquarters, Socony also had a "shipping office" at Five State Street...just a short walk from the main building. There the seaman were assigned to ships...a pleasant, large room
looking out towards the Battery. When the new building was operational, the State Street place was discontinued.
As a young officer I worked temporarily in both buildings, sometimes for months, in their Personnel Section.
It was called "Training And Evaluation". It was alright in the sense that I stayed at my regular wage as an officer, and accrued vacation time commensurate with the seagoing plan...In other words, three-months in the office got me one-month payed leave...not bad...what!
However, office time didn't count towards my license...a real bummer, that.
