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LADY ALISON

Shipbuildervessel built by Hall, Russell & Company, Limited (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1864 - 1992)

AssociatedAssociated with General Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (London, England)

Date22 September 1965

Object NameOFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSEL

MediumSTEEL

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 175' 5" x breadth 37'1" x depth 15'
gross tonnage: 854 ton

Object numberABDSHIP002612

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Hall, Russell & Co.
Yard Number: 927
Official Number: 307975
Subsequent Names: ABERDEEN BLAZER (1974-76); SUFFOLK BLAZER (1976-87); DAWN BLAZER (198-947); PUTFORD BLAZER (1994); SEA KING (1995); MY LADY NORMA

Fate: extant

Propulsion: Motor
Description: Supply vessel, 1 deck, raised fore deck 83', twin screw and bow thruster, towing winch and large stern roller for lifting rig anchor.

Owners:
1965: P&O Offshore Services (UK) Ltd. Manager The General Steam Navigation Company Ltd (changed to International Offshore Services (UK) Ltd.
31/12/1974: Sold to Sea Services Shipping Co. Ltd, London and renamed ABERDEEN BLAZER.
14/01/1976: Sold to Small & Co. (Lowestoft) Ltd and renamed SUFFOLK BLAZER. Later sold to Suffolk Marine London and retained same name.
20/10/1987: Owned by Warbler Shipping Ltd, London and renamed DAWN BLAZER.
1994:
26/10/1995: Putford Shipping, Lowestoft Renamed PUTFORD BLAZER.
1995: Owned by Seaquest Explorers (Africa) Ltd and renamed SEA KING.
1999: Vesuvius Shipping, registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

General History:
LADY ALISON is an oil rig supply vessel built by Hall Russells for P&O. LADY ALISON was the first of six supply boats ordered by P&O. One vessel, the LADY EDWINA ,was built by John Lewis, which was the smallest of the six. The other three were built in Lowestoft by Brooke Marine (LADY CLAUDINE, LADY DELIA, LADY FIONA). LADY BRIGID was built by J. Bolson Ltd.

Sponsor at launch was Mrs Alan Browne, wife of chairman of P&O Offshore Services (UK) Ltd.
Designed to service the Burmah Oil I.C.I. - Murphy Petroleum - Ocean Exploration Groups drill rig "Ocean Prince".
Unusual features include "self-discharging system for 200 tons of cement of barytes, a 50 ton winch for the handling of drill rig anchors..."
Total complement of 11 officers and crew.
Photos (Burntisland Journal):
(1) Almost afloat
(2) Mr & Mrs Alan Brown, and their daughter Alison
(3) Combined wheelhouse and chartroom
(4) At sea
(5) Lady Alison lying alongside and dwarfed by "Ocean Prince".
('Burntisland Shipbuilding Group Journal', vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 20-21, 25)

Seaquest was planning to run exclusive diving holidays to Zanzibar but went bust in 1996. Their asset, the vessel was sold to Vesuvius Shipping in 1999 and registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. (1999-2000 Lloyd's Register, the vessel is registered in Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines). She lay idle at Penzance for 12 years before being acquired by her new owners Silver Ship Maritime Group Malaysia registered in Kimbal as MY LADY NORMA. In September 2010 she was due to sail to Malaysia when she was going for dry dock for refit but was found she had no working engine. New ports finally arrived but by November 2011 the ship only managed from Penzance to Falmouth. Back in operation 2012, sold to new owners under the Kiribati flag, registered at Tarawa on 23 January 2012. Location Port Said. The ship has had its two lifeboats removed, the accommodation has ben extended and a stern gantry has been added for survey work.

Notes:
Blackston & Co., Stamford Engine: 2 Oil 4SA each 8 cylinder 8 3/4 x 11 1/2 with flex couplings.