Sunderland's oily past
Despite last September's reports that Sunderland Oil Storage Ltd (SOSL) – a joint BP/Chevron venture – is to close, occasional fuel shipments are still being received from Immingham oil terminal.
The latest arrived at Hendon Dock on board James Fisher Everard's 3501 gross tons tanker, Solway Fisher, on March 7.
The SOSL site was first opened for business by Regent Oil in 1960 and was constructed on reclaimed land in the old South Outlet.
It is now the sole survivor of numerous oil storage facilities that once flourished in the port, which at one time handled some 400,000 tons of oil products annually.
Among well-known oil companies which established facilities on the Wear were Anglo-American Oil, Cleveland Petroleum, National Benzole, Major, Esso, Fina, Mobil and Gulf.
Refined oil products were first imported into Sunderland in 1891, following agreement between the RWC and Anglo-American Oil Co Ltd.
Storage tanks were constructed outside the port boundary at Robinson Terrace, Hendon, on land now occupied by Littlewoods warehouse.
Tankers discharged fuel at Laing Warehouse Quay, Hudson Dock, with oil
being pumped to tanks via underground pipelines.
Anglo-American Oil was formed in 1888 and was the first overseas affiliate of the Standard Oil Trust. In 1911, the Trust was broken up, resulting in 33 separate companies being formed.
One of these, Standard Oil (New Jersey) acquired the London-based Anglo-American Oil Co, which became Esso in 1951.
The Hendon facility continued to be operated by Esso until the mid-1960s.
The latest vessel to enter the Port of Sunderland for lay-up is the 3,325 gross tons trailing suction hopper dredger, Arco Beck.
Operated by Southampton-based Hanson Aggregates Marine, she is one of nine dredgers in the company's fleet supplying building and construction industries with marine-dredged sand and gravel.
Built as Cambeck for Civil and Marine Ltd by IHC Holland Dredgers of Kinderdijk in 1989, Arco Beck took her present name in 1997. She has been out of service on the Tees since last August.
She arrived off Sunderland on February 23 under tow by Osprey Shipping's 318 gross tons seagoing tug, Osprey Fighter and was towed to No 1 berth, Hudson Dock, the next day.
A new marine planning system and conservation powers are among a raft of measures to be introduced by the Marine and Coast Access Act, which became law last November.
The legislation is aimed at improving the marine and coastal environment by ensuring clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse seas around the shores of England.
Based in Newcastle, the new Marine Management Organisation is also being established, while existing Sea Fisheries Committees will be replaced by Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities. Public access to the English coast will also be improved.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Sunderland striker Campbell fresh to face Middlesbrough
- Sunderland’s astonishing rise even surprising Martin O’Neill
- Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 2 (aet): O’Neill relieved to avoid shoot-out lottery as Sessegnon wins it
- Martin O’Neill defends David Meyler after criticism from Tony Pulis
- Kieran Richardson says there is plenty more to come from James McClean
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
