3-2003-super

........ "M.V.(Motor Vessel) SUPERTEST" ...... Another "FIRST" for SUPERTEST It will come as a surprise to many of our readers that Supertest once operated
a tanker registered as "M.V. (Motor Vessel) SUPERTEST" and which had the
distinction of being the first ship of its kind. Following is the story as brought
to light by a copy of the December 1945 edition of "The Marine News" which
recently came to the Editors attention . This carried a feature article by Captain
C.S. Hawkins describing the development of Supertest Petroleum Corporation,
Limited of the "FIRST U.S. DIESEL SELF-PROPELLED ELECTRIC WELDED
VESSEL".
   It was in the summer of 1927 that J. Gordon Thompson the President of the
infant Supertest Company, while pondering problems of product supply to the
growing market in Ottawa conceived the idea of a self-propelled tanker constr-
ucted of welded steel plates, small enough to navigate the Ottawa River and
connecting canals and large enough to provide economical transportation of
gasoline and fuel oil. While investigating the possibilities of construction by the
"S.O.S. Welding Company" of Brooklyn, New York, he met Captain Hawkins
who was Supervising Engineer for New York City's municipal ferries and who
had built many barges for the United States government during World War 1.
Captain Hawkins was intriqued by the idea which the youthful President of
Supertest had in mind and agreed to undertake a feasibilty study. He subsequ-
ently submitted plans which were carefully studied by the management of the
company and which were eventually approved . Construction began in February,
1928 at the yards of the S.O.S. Welding Company, which contracted to build a
hull for $10,000. Supertest was to provide the propelling and pumping machinery
and other necessary equipment, some of which was installed by the contractors
and some by Supertest employees.
Captain Hawkins in his article refers to numerous problems which arose during
the construction of the hull due to lack of any previous experience in this type
of construction. These problems were overcome and before the end of the 1928
Navigation season the unique tanker made her way to Montreal by way of the
Hudson River , Lake Champlain and the Richelieu River. Previously named
"The Pioneer" the ship was rechristened "SUPERTEST" because a "Pioneer"
name was already on the Canadian registry.
The manning and operation of "M.V. SUPERTEST" was made the responsi-
bility of the Manager of the Quebec division, Mr. W.F. Stambach, to whom the
editor is indebted for the information which follows. The crew consisted of Capt.
W. (Bill) Reese, a Welsh sailor with a salty background and who was reputed to
be a member of the party sent to the relief of the Antartic expedition headed by
Sir Ernest Shackleton. The first mate was Rene Brisebois who succeeded Captain
Reese when the latter retired. Chief engineeer Reid, two deck hands and a cook
were the other members of the crew.
   "M.V. SUPERTEST" had a capacity of 65,000 gallons of gasoline or 56,000
gallons of fuel oil. She is reputed to be the fastest boat on the Lachine Canal at
that time and normally took three days for a trip from Montreal to Ottawa and
return. In addition to the Ottawa run she carried products for other companies
to Quebec City and Iroquois, Ontario.
   In his article, Captain Hawkins states that in 1945, after almost 20 years in
service, her hull had never required reinforcing, no structural defects had
appeared and the 'life expectancy of this hull is not yet predictable". This state-
ment by an expert, plus the fact that electric-welded construction has now
become common, is evidence that the idea conceived by J. Gordon Thompson
in 1927 was sound and practicable.
   After more than 20 years of service for the company, "M.V. SUPERTEST" was
sold to new owners engaged in bunkering service .
   We are indebted to the late J.P. Wallace , manager until his death in 1949 of
the Supertest Construction department, for the painting, a photograph of which
is reproduced above. The structure in the background is the bridge connecting
Ottawa and Hull, adjacent to which, on the Hull side , Supertest bulk storage
plants once were located and where "M.V. SUPERTEST" discharged her cargo.

Click here to see the new En-Ar-Co / WHITE ROSE Monthly Feature too !