Sonia M

Comments from the forum - 1

No one has mentioned the Sonia M yet. I know the ship was not in the best of condition, but you must admit the run was good. Had a couple of very enjoyable trips on her.
I found running out of Acapulco to all sorts of little ports down the Pacific coast of Central and South America very interesting. These were general cargo runs, which meant that the ship actually stayed in port for more than hours. Trevor Graham-Russell. Posted on Forum 4 July 2010.

I had a trip as 3rd engineer. The ship was fairly good down below ( when compared to Cordoba and Tula )although on deck she was wasting away. I remember we had 2 fitters welding deck plate and other bits although they couldn't keep up with the rot. I remember you could see into the crew quarters through parts of the wafer thin deck plate. At one of the small ports the capstan at the front of the accommodation was ripped off due to the heavy swell.

The run was good.Down to Valparziso and back up to Central America. Went ashore most nights. Bought wine from the wine girls in Valparaiso; 50p a bottle. It was a good sociable ship with some good nights in the bar. ( It had a proper beer fridge !!)

Can't remember everyone on board Keith Morgan C/E, Bob Rees 2/E, Also remember Pete Evans from Swansea joined as 2/E. Gerry Coleman was also there and Captain Crawford from Newport was old man. Dave Hartshorne was I think the C/S. Paul Heyman. Posted on Forum 6 July 2010.

Yes I remember the Capstan incident very well, I think it might have been Coquimbo in Chile. I currently on holiday (working) in Florida (96F), I will check my records and get out my pictures and post them next week upon my return.
I joined with Peter (Whisper) Evans 2/E and Pat (Pisco) Hannon R/O in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Jerry Coleman. Posted on Forum 8 July 2010.

I recall an occasion on the Amparo, in the mid 70's, docked in Osaka, and being berthed close to a P&O ship called the Strathmuir, which was later to become the Sonia M and then the Sonic. She had originally been laid down for B&I and launched as the Mulbera, before later being transferred to the P&O part of that group.

By chance, I bumped into the Chief Engineer of the vessel. We had both sailed together some years earlier in Moss Hutchisons of Liverpool, which also part of the P&O group. Along with many others, he had been told he must integrate within the fleet. Considering that our last voyage together had been aboard a vessel called the Redstart, of some 650 tons that traded from the UK to France, I asked him if he had not felt concerned in moving up to such a large engine. In a typical Gloucester accent he replied that they were all the , big or small, but he missed the short voyages. Mike Jones. Posted on Forum 8 July 2010.

Disclaimer: The statements on this page are the views of the person who posted them on the forum. The events took place many years ago and in most cases rely on those people's memories, and so we cannot guarantee the accuracy although every effort is made to check it.

Sonia M. Page [1] [2]
Memories from RSL staff. Page No. [1]