MISTER HAROLD & 3 MOONS

[MadMaxLab]

1971/188

21/7/1973

[magoonigal]

All Jackson Marine Services, Corpus Christi, United States.

Harold.

Built 1971 by Halter Marine Services Inc.
188 Gross.
Twin Alco Engines.

Highland Moon.

431 Gross. Built 1973 by Budworth Shipyard, Houston.
TM Tug/Supply Ship.

One of many that came across from the States at the beginning of the Oil and Gas Boom in the North Sea.
How suitable they were remains to be seen, but I bet they were very 'Wet' ships in a North Sea Winter Gale.

[teesships]

The proof of the pudding may be in the eating! I've not checked out the careers of those shown but from my own records, the general impression I have is that there are still a lot of both British and American first generation ORSVs in service after 40 years, give or take a few years. OK, some may have gained a degree of longevity by being converted from their original purpose into stand-by rescue ships, etc., but they do seem to manage to survive to enjoy a longer life than most other ships.

Ron

[magoonigal]

Mmmmm Agree Ron. I was really meaning how suitable vessels built for the shallow semi protected waters of the Gulf of Mexico were for work in the North Sea.
I think many were used as a stop gap until suitable tonnage could be built, then they went off charter and returned to the States.