Casgliadau Arlein

¾ Port stern view of S.S. ESSO CARDIFF at Cardiff Docks.

The Esso Cardiff was a motor tanker of 10,448 gross tons built at Portland, Oregon in 1945 to the standard American 'T2' design. In 1947 she was acquired by the Esso Transportation Co. Ltd., the shipping division of the Anglo-American Oil Co. Ltd. and given the name Esso Cardiff. She was sold to Liberian owners in 1954 and was later converted into an oil/ore carrier. Having suffered severe damage on a trans-Atlantic passage, she was broken up at Castellon in 1965. A second Esso Cardiff was built in 1963 and broken up in Korea in 1983. (Source: Shipping at Cardiff: Photographs from the Hansen Collection 1920-1975 by David Jenkins, 1993).

S.S. ESSO CARDIFF. Type T2-SE-A1 tanker built as HALLS OF MONTEZUMA in 1945 by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company of Portland, Oregon, for US War Shipping Administration. 1947 – Sold to Anglo-American Oil Co. Ltd., London and renamed ESSO CARDIFF. 1954 – Sold to Cia. Nav. Lorca (Liberian flag) and renamed AQUITANIUS (managed by Orion Shipping & Trading Co). She was converted to an ore carrier and lengthened to 564ft. (11564gt) in November 1955. 1956 - Renamed ANDROS NEPTUNE (same owners). 1960 – Sold to Cia Nav Vicalvaro, Greece, and renamed SKOPELOS (managed by Capeside Shipping Co.). Sold back during the same year to Liberian owners Cia. Nav. Patagonia, and renamed TRANSWARREN. 1962 – Sold to Sea Transport Inc., USA, and renamed NIAGARA (managed by Oriental Exporters). While en route from Ijmuiden to Nassau, she was damaged during a severe gale on 28 January 1965. Temporary repairs were made at Ponta Delgado and she was towed to Marseilles for drydocking. Here, it was found uneconomic to repair, and she was sold for scrap. She was broken up at Castellon in 1965.