Mobil Valiant (1) - (1964-1975)

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"Mobil Valiant".

Build as "Mobil Valiant" in 1964. Converted in 1975 as a North Sea shuttle tanker and renamed "Matco Avon", for

servicing Mobil's Beryl Oil Field, with the "Matco Clyde" and "Matco Thames'. Owner was Matco Tankers (UK) Ltd.

Mobil was only 45 % shareholder.

Sold as "Avon" in UK in 1993, to Wijsmuller and towed to Bangladesh for breaking up.

"Mobil Valiant".

"Mobil Valiant" seen as "Matco Avon".

( Photo thanks to Don Burgess Ships )

MATCO AVON, ex MOBIL VALIANT - 1975

LOA 869 ' 10 ", Beam 104 ' 5 ", Draught 46 ' 3", 77,696 SDWT.

Built 1964 by Bremer Vulkan, Bremen, Germany, as a 50,000 DWT tanker, powered by a Brown Boveri turbine

developing 18,000HP. As MOBIL VALIANT, she grounded in the River Scheldt while en route to Antwerp, Belgium.

She was pulled free by tugs with no significant damage.

She was jumboised in 1968 to 78,000DWT. A plaque in the engine room bears the inscription "Largest vessel ever to be

enlarged in the afloat condition. Mitsubishi 1968". On her first voyage after jumboising, the vessel grounded on the

Shah Allum shoal in the Arabian Gulf with no significant damage.

In the late 1960s she was fitted with a bulbous bow which extended the LOA to 874 ' 5 ". She was converted in 1975 for use as

a North Sea shuttle tanker to serve the new Beryl field for Mobil North Sea Limited. She was equipped for the job vnth a bow

thruster and variable pitch propeller.

Dedicated tanks were allocated for segregated ballast. As MATCO AVON, she loaded the first Beryl cargo in September 1976.

She is jointly owned by Mobil Shipping Company Limited, Enterprise Oil plc, Amerada Hess Limited, EG North Sea Holdings

Limited and OMV (UK) Limited.

The vessel groimded at Pembroke, Wales, on 15 October 1984 and demolished her bulbous bow. When repaired at Hamburg,

Germany, the bow was reconstructed to the original lines and the LOA reduced to 869 ' 10 ". MATCO AVON is the oldest serving

vessel in the fleet apart from SEMINOLE, which sails in the American fleet. They are the only remaining vessels in the

fleet with a midship house.

The Miramar Ship Index for "MOBIL VALIANT"

Tons:	27904	Link:	-
DWT:	53490	Yard No:	914
Length overall:	224.0	Ship Design:
LPP:	214.5	Country of build:	DEU
Beam:	31.8	Builder:	Bremer Vulkan
Material of build:		Location of yard:	Vegesack
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):	1ST-16

Subsequent History:

[ 1968 Lg 266.7 / 255.1 mtr, 42001 grt ] -

[ 1976 converted to shuttle tanker ] -

1975 MATCO AVON - 1993 AVON

Disposal Data:

Scrapped at Gadani Beach 13.01.1994. [ By Capricorn Enterprises ]

History :

ON	LR/IMO	ID	Year	Name	Tons	Change	Registered Owner
2068	6414461	6414461	1964	MOBIL VALIANT	27904		Mobil Tankers Co., (Liberia) Ltd.
2068	6414461	6414461	1964	MOBIL VALIANT	42001	1972	Mobil Sg & Tptn Co.
365965	6414461	6414461	1964	MATCO AVON	42001	1975	Mobil Producing North Sea Ltd & partners
	6414461	6414461	1964	AVON	42001	1993	Gebr Wijsmuller Rederij BV