April’s unknown ship brought many replies, most of whom identified her as the Bibi, the former Letitia of Donaldson Line.

The winner of the April competition was AD Frost of Sunderland

AD Frost writes:

April’s Unknown Ship is ex. Donaldson’s Letitia, built in 1961 by Hall, Russell, shown in her charterers colours of TMM (Transportacion Maritima Mexicana ) as owned by Wm. Brandts and managed by Denholm and renamed Bibi and refitted with the latest style ‘Hallen’ derrick. Was later sold to TMM and renamed Tepic. Sold in 1984 and renamed Tepora. On 11.3.85 fire broke out on voyage from New Orleans to Vera Cruz and she was abandoned whist under tow and sank on 14.3.85.

Peter Sommerville writes:

I think the ship shown this month is the Bibi. She was built for Donaldson Line as the Letitia (4,667grt) in 1961 by Hall, Russell & Co., Aberdeen and operated on Donaldson’s North Atlantic run which included the Great Lakes in the summer season. In 1967 she became the Bibi when she was sold to Wm. Brandts (Leasing) Ltd., London and managed by J. & J. Denholm of Glasgow. She was sold again in 1977 and became the Mexican Tepic before becoming the Honduras owned Tepora in 1984.Following a fire and an aborted tow by US Coast Guard cutter Dependable she sank on the 14th March 1985 150 miles north of the Yucatan Peninsula. If she is indeed the Bibi she has had a heavy derrick fitted sometime after her Donaldson days.

John Jordan writes:

This ship was originally launched in January 1961 by Hall, Russell & Company for Donaldson Line Ltd. and was named Letitia (III). She was 4,667grt with dimensions 416ft 3 ins x 58ft 2 ins x 23ft 7 ins. She was Sulzer powered at 5400 S.H.P.

In 1967 she was sold to W. Brandts (Leasing), London, and named Bibi under J & J Denholm management. In 1976 she was shifted to Mercury Ltd., Liberia, a Denholm managed company. Then in 1977, as depicted, she was sold to Transportacion Maritima Mexicana and named Tepic. In 1984 she was sold to Honduras interests and renamed Tepora. On 11th March 1985 while on passage from New Orleans to Vera Cruz, Mexico, fire broke out in the cargo spaces when she was 450 miles South of New Orleans. The crew were taken off by the USCG. A fire party from USCG Dependable extinguished the fire, however it reignited the next day. They left the ship which sank 14th March 1985, 150 miles north of the Yucatan Peninsula in position 24º02′ N 89º00′ W.

Doug Burn writes:

The funnel almost confused me. The mystery ship is the Letitia, 4,667 gross 2,468 net length 416ft 3inch x 58ft 2inch x 23ft 7inch. She was built at Hall, Russel & Co Ltd Aberdeen for Donaldson Line Ltd. Completed April 1961. In July 1967 sold to Wm. Brandts (Leasing) Ltd., London managed by J & J Denholm Management, Glasgow and renamed Bibi. In 1976 she was sold to Mercury Ltd., Denholm, Maclay & Co. managers of Liberia. In 1977 she was sold to Transportacion Maritima Mexicana.S.A., Mexico. TMM as the funnel in photograph shows.renamed Tepic. In 1984 she was sold to Wesser de Inversioes S.A., Honduras and renamed Tepora.

On the 11th March 1985 on passage New Orleans to Vera Cruz Mexico, fire broke out in cargo spaces about 450 miles south of New Orleans. The crew abandoned ship and were picked up by U.S.Coastguard cutter Dependable. A fire fighting party was placed onboard and the blaze extinguished ship taken in tow. However the following day fire broke out again and the tow was disconnected. On 14th March 1985 she sank about 150 miles north of Yukatan Peninsular, a sad end to a nice ship.

Alan Blackwood writes:

This month’s ship is I think shown as operating as the 4,667 grt Bibi and appears to be flying the red ensign between her samson posts down aft, indicating that she remains under British ownership whilst on long term charter to Transportacion Maritima Mexicana S.A., the latter as indicated by her funnel markings.

The vessel was constructed by Hall Russell & Co. Ltd. at Aberdeen, launched on 16th January 1961 as Letitia and completed during April 1961 for the Glasgow based Donaldson Line (Donaldson Brothers & Black Ltd., managers) for operation mainly on the Company’s liner service to Canada’s eastern seaboard and St. Lawrence ports. She was partially refrigerated and equipped with deep tanks for the carriage of vegetable oils and had accommodation for 12 passengers.

With overall dimensions of 410’3″ x 58’2″ x 35’4″ (moulded depth) and a summer draught of 23’7″, her propulsion machinery comprised one 6 cylinder two stroke single acting oil engine of 5,400 bhp, constructed by Sulzer Brothers Ltd. at their Winterthur, Switzerland facilities to return a speed of 15 knots.

Consequent to her owner’s voluntary liquidation during 1967, she was sold during July of the year to the London based Wm Brandts (Leasing) Ltd., placed under the management of J & J Denholm (Management) Ltd. and whilst retaining her Glasgow PoR., was renamed Bibi and placed on charter with MTM as referenced above. As a result of her operator’s seemingly ongoing requirements to ship abnormally heavy loads beyond the means of her as built suite of derricks, the kingpost (with topmast carrying her mainmast navigation light) located between hatches 2 & 3,together with the four x 5 ton SWL derricks it served, was removed and replaced with a Swedish patented Hallen mast and joystick controlled single luffing/ slewing heavy lift derrick to serve her #3 hatchway and adjacent sidedecks, plus two conventional (union purchase) derricks serving #2.

During 1975 the vessel was sold to Mercury Ltd. of Monrovia for continued trading, without name change, under the flag of Liberia on charter to MTM and management of Denholm Maclay & Co., Glasgow.

During 1977 she was acquired by her charterers, Transportacion Maritima Mexicana S.A., renamed Tepic and registered at Mexican port of Manzillo. Seven years later her registered ownership was transferred to that of Wesser de Inversiones of Honduras and renamed Tepora, whilst continuing trading to Mexican ports.

On 11th March 1985 whilst on voyage from New Orleans to Vera Cruz in a position 450 miles south of New Orleans, fire broke out in her cargo spaces. Her crew of 21 abandoned ship and were rescued by the US Coastguard vessel Dependable. The latter placed a firefighting party aboard and when the fire had been duly extinguished, placed her under tow. During the following day however, the fire took hold once again and the decision was made to disconnect the tow. The vessel subsequently sank during 14th March in position 24.16.48N, 89.01.18W – some 150 miles north of the Yucatan Peninsula.

 

John Chitty writes:

I believe this month ship to be the mv. Bibi/Tepic of Transportacion Maritima Mexicana (TMM). She was built in 1961 by Hall Russell, Aberdeen as the mv. Letitia for the Donaldson Line as yard number 890. Dimensions – 4,499 grt, 126.9m x 17.7m x 8.09m, powered by a Sulzer Diesel engine of 5400BHP giving. Speed of 15 knots.

In 1967 she was sold on to a leasing company who chartered her to TMM and renamed BIibi, with Denholms as managers. She was named I believe after the daughter of one of TMM’s owners, being the 2nd vessel so named in what became a line of many like named ships for this company. In about 1970 the cargo gear was upgraded with a 60t heavy lift Velle type derrick being installed at forward end of no.3 hatch. In 1977 vessel was sold to TMM and renamed Tepic. In 1984 vessel was sold on to a Venezuelan company and renamed Tepora. In the time since 1967 the vessel’s flag and port of registry had frequently changed.

The final days of vessel becomes somewhat confused as I have seen a report (unconfirmed) that the vessel collided with a similar sized vessel called Calor Valons which started a fire in the cargo of cotton. Whether true or not the vessel was being towed to New Orleans with a fire in the hold when she sunk 450 miles south of that destination. Once again an unconfirmed and unverified report was that on arrival in New Orleans the rescued crew was arrested as the vessel was reported to have been carrying drugs.

John Livingstone writes:

The April Unknown Ship was built in Aberdeen in 1961 by Hall Russell as Letitia for Donaldson Line of Glasgow. She traded for them to Canada and the United States until 1967 when she was sold to Transpotacion Maritima Mexicana SA and renamed Bibi.She was renamed Tepora in 1984 and sank in the Gulf of Mexico in 1985 after going on fire.I don’t know when she was jumboised but I would say she is Bibi in the photo. If my mind serves me right she was managed by Denholms of Glasgow for the Mexicans.

Iain Roberton writes:

I believe this ship to be the 4,499 grt, Bibi, ex Donaldson Lines Letitia, built 1961, by Hall Russell, Aberdeen. Letitia, was renamed Bibi, Denholm Ship Management. In 1967, become Tepic of TMM, Transportacion Maritima Mexicana SA., In 1977. She was renamed Tepora in 1984 and sank in 1985 after fire.