The United Arabic Emirates issued a set of stamps and a souvenir sheet for the 50th anniversary of the first shipment of oil.
http://www.epa.ae/viewproductdetail.php?id=682 gives on the SS.
Abu Dhabi Marine operating Company (ADMA-OPCO)
ADMA-OPCO is a pioneering oil and gas exploration and production company whose operations date back to the 1950’s. With its operations centred in the offshore areas of Abu Dhabi, ADMA OPCO came into being as a locally incorporated company on 3rd July 1977.
Oil and Gas production comes from two major oil fields, Umm Shaif and Lower Zakum, from which crude oil is transferred to Das Islands for processing, storage and export. In 1962, the first crude shipment, which came from Umm Shaif, was exported from Abu Dahbi through Das Islands.
ADMA-OPCO’s vision, mission and values incorporate a wide range of goals, including sustainable development, operational excellence and overcoming challenges, while nurturing human resources, fulfilling social responsibilities and realizing the company’s workforce nationalization targets.
Being an asset-based organization, ADMA_OPCO’s structure is designed to improve efficiency, provide more focus to key mission, observe the highest health, safety and environment standards and disseminate related information by various ways and means to enhance HSE awareness.
The 4th of July is a unique day in the history of the United Arab Emirates and in particular for the emirate of Abu Dhabi, it marks the export of the first crude oil shipment from the country.
The first tanker loading crude oil at Das Island was the BRITISH SIGNAL of BP Tankers and comparing the stamp with photos of the ship, she is depict on this stamp.
Built as a tanker under yard No 1532 by the yard of Societa per Azioni Ansaldo, Sestri Ponente, Genoa, Italia for the BP Tankers at London.
20 September 1959 launched as the BRITISH SIGNAL, five sisters.
Tonnage 23,015 grt, 12,706 nrt, 35,219 dwt, dim. 208.2 x 26.3m., length bpp. 195.1m
Powered by two de Laval type steam turbines, one shaft, speed 15.5 knots.
28 February 1961 completed.
Early July 1962 the BRITISH SIGNAL arrived at Das Island to load the first crude oil from the Umm Shaif oil field.
After loading 254,544 barrels of oil she left from the terminal on Das Island on 4 July 1962 bound for North Europe. After passing the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean she sailed to Britain where her oil was discharged most probably at the BP refinery at the Isle of Grain, Kent at the entrance on the River Medway.
1971 Was she sold to Enterprise Cia Naviera SA, Piraeus, Greece and renamed LESTE. Used as a slops receiving station in Greece.
07 September 1982 was she laid up at Salamis Island, Greece.
04 June 1984 arrived at Barcelona and was scrapped by Demoliciones Espanolas there.
United Arabic Emirates 2012 sg?, scott?
Source: Marine News. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz and various web-sites.