When British Petroleum (BP) ordered two supertankers, the order was cancelled, and by a BP subsidiary Airlease International Nominees (Moorgate) Ltd. instead 4 multi-purpose ‘Combo’ vessels were ordered by the same yard. One of these vessels was the MELAMPUS.
Built in 1977 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki, Japan.
09 July 1977 launched under the name MELAMPUS
Tonnage open/closed 10.443/16.031 gross, 5.537/8.666 net, 15.175/21.618 dwt., dim. 164.7 x 26.1 x 8.7/14.2m. Length between pp 155.0 m.
One 7-cylinder Mitsubishi-Sulzer type RND76M.2S.SA dieselengine, manufactured by the shipsbuilders works at Kobe, 14.300 bhp., speed 18 knots.
One deck, 5 Holds with 9 hatches. Can carry 772 TEU’s.
For loading and discharging she has 9 Velle type derricks, 1 – 10 tonnes, 5 – 22 tonnes, 3 – 35 tonnes.
One bow thruster.
Crew 39.
November 1977 delivered to owners.
After delivery the MELAMPUS was taken on a long lease bare boat charter by Ocean Transport & Trading a subsidiary Liner Holding Ltd., a Blue Funnel Company.
November 1980 Operated by the Barber Blue Sea service, and managed by the Elder Dempster Line.
1984 Placed in the regular Elder Dempster Line services.
1983 Under Liberian registry and transferred to the Menelaus Shipping Corp., Monrovia.
1985 Transferred to Elder Dempster West Africa service.
1989 Sold to Bresso Ltd., Hong Kong, renamed CMB EBONY and chartered by Cie Maritime Belge.
2000 Renamed by Pamir Shipping Co. Ltd., Cyprus in EBONY. ( When transferred or sold to Cyprus, I could not find)
2001 Renamed in DELMAS BANDIA
2001Renamed EBONY.
2002 Sold by Pamir Shipping Co. Ltd. (Technomar Shipping Inc.) Cyprus to Bansal Ispat Pvt., India for scrapping. Arrived Alang 03 Oct. 2002 and was beached on 10 Oct. 2002.
Sierra Leone 1988 15le sg1153, scott?
Source: Elder Dempster Lines by Duncan Haws. Marine News 2000/668. 2002/417 Marine News 2002/736, 758.