Delivered October 1968 by Vickers Armstrong to Albright & Wilson Ltd. (James Fisher mgr.) Albright Pioneer was the first of a pair of unique vessels built specifically for the transportation of liquid phosphorus from Long Harbour to Portishead in UK and to sites in Japan. The dangerous chemical was transported in 4 water heated tanks, held at 60 degrees C, each of 1,250t giving the vessels a capacity of 5,000t. Given the ability of phosphorus to spontaneously combust on contact with air, the cargo was protected with both water and inert gas systems. Although awaiting confirmation, I suspect there was a heated tank in each hold, and the deck structures sophisticated scrubbing/safety systems for loading/unloading operations.

In 1989, Albright Pioneer was converted to a general cargo ship and renamed Bright Pioneer. Eventually broken up at Alang February 2001 as the Sea Raider. LR describes the vessel as a chemical carrier rather than a tanker, so she is being put into 'special purpose ships' section, for that is exactly what she was.

photo : Avonmouth, 24:06:1975
photo : © Dr. Allan Ryszka-Onions 1975/2011