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Previous name:
Subsequent name: Good Guardian, Guardian, Wafa
Official Number: 304252
Class: HEBE CLASS Stores Freighter
Pennant No: A406
Laid down: 18 April 1961
Builder: Henry Robb, Leith
Launched: 7 March 1962
Into Service: 6 April 1962
Out of service: December 1978
Fate: Returned to owners on cancellation of charter
Items of historic interest involving this ship: -
Background Data: The proposed charter of the 2 Admiralty-designed vessels in this Class was announced in September 1960 and they were built specifically for Admiralty sea freighting duties. They were designed to carry the greater proportion of their bulk cargo of naval stores in specially-designed containers by Chatham Dockyard which were known as chacons, thus setting a pattern of containerisation which was followed in ever-increasing steps in the commercial world. The 2 ships were built on tanker lines, with machinery spaces and superstructures aft, so leaving 3 large holds and tween decks forward, with No 3 tween-deck having 2 refrigerated spaces and facilities for 12 refrigerated containers. They initially maintained a U.K. - Gibraltar - Malta - Aden - Singapore service and after the closure of the Suez Canal in 1967 they went via the Cape of Good Hope, with frequent calls at Simonstown. Neither of them had any replenishment at sea capability and when completed they were bare-boat chartered from their commercial owners for a period of 19 years.
7 March 1962 Launched by Henry Robb Ltd, Leith as Yard Nr 482 named HEBE for British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London. Named after the Goddess of Youth and Cup Bearer to the Gods and daughter of Juno. The Lady Sponsor was Mrs F.C. Wilkins, wife of the Director of Stores. She was the 1st vessel to be built on the recently extended berth at the Victoria Shipyards and also the longest
6 April 1962 completed. Replaced RFA FORT BEAUHARNOIS
18 June 1962 bare-boat chartered by the Admiralty
20 June 1962 Mr E S R Bunker RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
22 October 1962 Captain Albert E Curtain OBE RD RFA (Commander RNR) appointed as Master
29 December 1962 at Chatham Dockyard tug TID 97 sunk in Basin 3 while berthing RFA Hebe. Three of the crew were killed.
16 July 1963 Captain A S McWilliam RFA appointed as Master
15 January 1964 was ordered to Zanzibar along with the frigates HM ships OWEN and RHYL to evacuate British subjects
17 January 1964 entered harbour and embarked 43 passengers and 2 tons of luggage
18 January 1964 with HMS Owen rescued 140 refugees from Zanzibar after a revolutionary coup there. Those rescued were landed at Mombasa and included 126 British subjects and their baggage
1 March 1964 Again stood by to assist in the evacuation of British nationals during the revolution in Zanzibar
16 June 1964 Captain G P MacDougall RFA appointed as Master
30 November 1964 Mr G P Wells RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
31 August 1965 Captain A L Paterson RFA appointed as Master
11 November 1965 Mr J A Swallow RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
13 May 1966 Captain Charles W P Sumner RFA appointed as Master
12 August 1966 Mr J Edge RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
14 November 1966 Captain J P Gould RFA appointed as Master
January 1967 Humanitarian aid - freighted Oxfam Relief Stores to Cochin to assist in famine relief
21 January 1967 Sailed Singapore on her first direct passage to the U.K. on the first voyage carrying three aircraft below decks - a Sea Vixen, a Gannet and a Wessex
25 February 1967 Mr R E Davies RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
24 August 1967 two 8 inch breach loading guns (1885 vintage) removed from Blankang Mati island, SIngapore and loaded on Hebe for transportation to the UK for use as exhibits at the Royal Artillery Rotunda Museum, Woolwich (described in the Straits Times as 8.8 inch guns)
15 May 1968 Captain D J Boyden RFA appointed as Master
30 May 1968 Mr S P Awatt RFA appointed as Chief Engineer Officer
June 1970 rendered assistance by shipping oil dispersants and anti-pollution equipment to the Seychelles after the loss of RFA ENNNERDALE (2)
1 October 1971 P & O General Cargo Division, London were appointed her owners’ managers
17 January 1973 owners became P & O Steam Navigation Co, London
21 October 1973 in Royal Albert Dry Dock, London
4 December 1974 at Chatham until 6 December 1974 when she sailed for Plymouth arriving the next day
8 December 1974 sailed for Gibraltar arriving on 11 December 1974 - berthed on the south mole then to 41 berth
16 December 1974 sailed Gibraltar 1974 to Plymouth arriving on 19 December 1974 - sailed the same day to Chatham arriving the next day - along side until 26 January 1975
27 January 1975 sailed Chatham for the Far East
28 January 1975 off the Channel Islands - the deck cargo had shifted.
3 February 1975 off Spanish Sahara - stopped between 0900hrs to 1200hrs for minor repairs
16 February 1975 anchored off Simonstown, South Africa - berthed at Simonstown until 19 February 1975
19 February 1975 sailed Simonstown for Salalah arriving at 20:00hrs on 2 March 1975
2 March 1975 unloading at Salalah onto Mexifloats until 6 March 1975
6 March 1975 sailed Salalah for Masirah arriving the next day
7 March 1975 at Masirah until 17 March 1975 when she sailed to Dubai arriving on 19 March 1975
20 March 1975 sailed Dubai for Singapore arriving on 31 March 1975 firstly anchored off and then made fast to a buoy in Sembawang Harbour
3 April 1975 moved to No 4 Basin, Singapore unloading - due to sail 7 April 1975 but this was delayed due to engine trouble
8 April 1975 sailed Singapore for Hong Kong arriving on 12 April 1975 to discharge
17 April 1975 sailed Hong Kong for Singapore.
20 April 1975 anchored off Mekong Delta RASed with HMS Mermaid awaited instructions from MOD to assist in evacuation of British subjects from Saigon. City fell to Communists - not required - sailed.
22 April 1975 berthed alongside at Singapore to load.
28 April 1975 sailed for Gan.
4 May 1975 arrived and anchored in Gan lagoon Twice during this voyage had to anchor due to engine defects being repaired
8 May 1975 sailed Gan for Diego Garcia arrived next day.
9 May 1975 sailed Diego Garcia for Mauritius arriving Port Louis, Mauritius 12 May 1975
13 May 1975 sailed Port Louis, Mauritius for Simonstown, South Africa.
16 May 1975 stopped twice for engine repairs; 17 May 1975 stopped once for engine repairs; 18 May 1975 stopped three times for engine repairs
20 May 1975 arrived Simonstown, South Africa
21 May 1975 at Simonstown, South Africa loading bunkers, fresh water and more engine repairs
22 May 1975 sailed Simonstown, South Africa for Marchwood
24 May 1975 stopped for one hour for engine repairs - and again on 2 June 1975
11 June 1975 berthed at Chatham - visit to Marchwood cancelled
24 August 1976 Captain Shane Redmond RFA appointed as Master
Captain Shane Redmond RFA
8 February 1977 Captain Michael Corner RFA appointed as Master
April 1978 sailed from Hong Kong for the last time
30 November 1978 severly damaged by arson at Gibraltar. One member of the crew was killed.
December 1978 was declared a constructive total loss. Her charter was cancelled and she was returned to her owners
8 June 1979 Purchased by Good Luck Navegante SA (Good Faith Shipping Co SA, Managers) Piraeus
13 June 1979 now renamed GOOD GUARDIAN, she sailed from Gibraltar in tow of GOOD HERALD) for repairs in Greece
20 June 1979 arrived Piraeus for repairs
1981 purchased by Poseidon Shipping Co SA (Seafarer Navigation Co SA, Managers) Piraeus and her name was abbreviated to GUARDIAN
January 1983 sailed Houston bound for Alexandria but ...
24 February 1983 arrived at Casablanca and was laid up, reportedly under arrest
1987 purchased by Moroccan-flag interests and renamed WAFA
16 September 1987 arrived Famagusta, Cyprus for breaking up.
Ships of the same name
Hebe. A 5th rate of 1,063 bm and 38 guns captured from the French in September 1782 by HMS Rainbow off Ile de Bas. Renamed “Blonde” on the 24 December 1805. Broken up in June 1811.
Battle Honours for this Vessel: ST LUCIA, EGYPT 1801.
Hebe. 5th Rate of 658 bm and 32 guns built and launched by Deptford Dockyard on the 31 December 1804. Sold out of service on the 28 April 1813.
Hebe. A 5th rate of 46 guns and 1,078 bm, launched by Woolwich Dockyard. 152 x 40 feet armed with 16 x 32 pdr carronade, 28 x 18 pdr, 2 x 9 pdr. Became a receiving ship in 1839 and then a hulk in 1861. Broken up at Chatham in March 1873.
Hebe. A torpedo gunboat of 810 tons built by Sheerness Dockyard and launched on the 15 June 1892. 230 x 27 feet armed with 2 x 4.7 inch, 4 x 3 pdr and 3 torpedo tubes. The ship was undocked on the 15 June 1892, became a minesweeper in 1909 and a depot ship in 1910. Sold to Ward, Preston on the 22 October 1919.
Hebe. A minesweeper of 835 tons by Devonport Dockyard, launched on the 28 October 1936, 230 x 33.5 feet, armed with 2 x 4 inch guns. Sunk on the 22 November 1943, when she struck a mine off Bari.
Battle Honours for this Vessel: DUNKIRK 1940, ARCTIC 1941-42, MALTA CONVOYS 1942, SICILY 1943.
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