Captain Roger G MartinSome career milestones Joined BHP 1 February 1959 as Officer Cadet after leaving school, and remained with BHP for all his career at sea. IRON WARRIOR 4,053 tons Conventional WWII designed general cargo ship. Built by BHP at Whyalla in 1950 with triple expansion steam engine and exhaust turbine. RGM took command, his first, in 1969 aged 29. IRON DUKE 10,584 tons Roll-on roll-off steel carrier, operating from Port Kembla to Melbourne and Adelaide and from Whyalla to Melbourne and Sydney. Built by BHP at Whyalla in 1974 with gas turbine engine, to reduce fuel costs during the “oil crisis”, which proved short lived. RGM commanded during the later 1970s. IRON KEMBLA 78,625 tons Dry bulk carrier with 9 holds and of 148,000 tons deadweight (carrying capacity). To carry coal from the Australian east coast to Japan and on return iron ore from Port Walcott, WA to Port Kembla and Newcastle. At the time the largest bulk carrier in the BHP fleet. Built by IHI in Japan in 1986 with 16,000 bhp diesel engine. Commanded by RGM from handover by builders in Kure, Japan during maiden voyage to Port  Walcott. NORTHWEST SANDERLING 105,010 tons Liquified natural gas (LNG) carrier. Lead vessel, built 1989, of the initial seven ships built in Japan for the North West Shelf Fitted with four insulated spherical tanks, the largest ever fitted to a ship at the time, total capacity 125,000 cubic metres. Powered by two steam turbines, fuelled by gas boil-off from the cargo tanks, a design specific to these highly specialised ships. RGM was located at the Mitsubishi shipyard during construction, attended the ship’s trials and took command for the maiden voyage to Australia. He was later in command for many voyages of these ships before retiring. All are still in the service for which they were designed and are now accompanied by many more in the current Australian LNG export trade.Lindsay Rex18/10/2017 And then the WeddingJust a week later, Betty and I headed off to Brisbane where I officiated at the Wedding of my niece Amanda and John. A great family occasion and a weekend in Brisbane warmth and mostly sunshine. Now it's back to reality, whatever that is. .jpg) |
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No it's not the tital of a new movie, just a bit of "family of Rotary" news to share.
