CAPTAIN JAMES A

CAPTAIN JAMES A. G. MILLER

IT WAS ALEX MILLER WHO GAVE ME THE IDEA OF STARTING A PAGE FOR LAKE FLEET FAMILIES. ALEX FOUND THE WEB SITE WHEN HE WAS LOOKING FOR SHIPS HIS FATHER HAD SERVED ON. JAMES WAS BORN IN 1944 AND HIS FATHER WAS IN ARUBA FROM 1928 TO 1942 SO HE KNEW VERY LITTLE, EXCEPT WHAT HIS FATHER HAD TOLD HIM, ABOUT ARUBA OR THE LAKE FLEET. THERE MUST BE OTHERS LIKE ALEX OUT THERE. THIS IS WHAT ALEX KNOW ABOUT HIS FATHER AND HIS TIME IN ARUBA. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CORRESPOND WITH JAMES SEND ME AN EMAIL AND I WILL FORWARD IT ON TO AXEX.

Just to summarize my interest in the area - my late father, James A G Millar served on tankers operating out of Aruba (mostly Lake Tankers from what I have since learned ) from 1928 to 1942. I know that he originally signed on one of the Lago Shipping Co tankers which were built by Harland and Wolffe in Belfast (his home town ) in 1928 and sailed out to San Nicolas in Aruba. From examining the records, I think this was probably the s/s Punta Corda, as it was launched in Belfast in May 1928 and I found a photograph of it among his papers. Other tankers which he sailed on during the 1930's were the s/s San Carlos, and the s/s Invergoil (photos attached ). I know he finished his time with Esso as First Mate on the Esso Panama from around 1939 to 1942. From 1942 until 1946 he served on a Ministry of War and Transport tanker, the s/s Empire Control, mostly in home waters while after the war, he joined the BP Tanker Co. and served with them until his retirement in 1970 - the last 15 years as Captain.

However, it is his time with Lago/Esso tankers that I have very little knowledge of other than some grainy photographs and vague memories of events he talked about. Your web site has already brought to life some of these photos ( the Devil's Island Escapees and one of the 'Snip' plane at Aruba ). I have attached some photographs of ships he served on and other ones taken during his time in the Aruba general area. Perhaps they will mean something to interested parties viewing this site. I would greatly appreciate any assistance anyone can provide relevant to my Dad's service.

The photos :

1. s/s Punta Corda at San Nicolas;

2. s/s San Carlos;

3. s/s Invergoil;

4. Dad on deck of unknown Lake Tanker;

5. Dad in white suit with friend at Pavillion - anyone know where ?

6. View from ship looking towards other tankers;

7. Dad's note on reverse side says 'A few of the rigs at Lagunillas oil field'

8. Crewman (unknown) with gun - not sure if this is for sport or protection !

9. Invergoil fueling the Aquitania.

ALEX'S PHOTOS

1.	2.
3.	4.
5.	6.
7.	8.
9.	10. THIS PHOTO SUPPLIED BY AUKE VISSER.

I WROTE TO AUKE VISSER ABOUT THE "INVERGOIL", I THOUGHT IT MAY BE THE "INVERLAGO". THIS WAS AUKE'S REPLY. DAN JENSEN

Hello Dan,

Thnanks for your mail.
I know him, he sent me the same photos. His name is Alexander. from Belfast, Ireland.
The tanker you see is the "Invergoil", not the "Inverlago", you suggested.
The "Invergoil', belonged not to the Lago Shipping Co., but to the British Mexican Oil Co., an other Esso company in the UK !!
The "Invergoil" looks very simular to the "Inverlago", but was build 1 year earlier in 1922. It could be a sistership.
The photo of the "Aquitania", has also the tanker "Invergoil", on it. Just a small part of her is shown. The other photos are all with the right names.

I will give you the details of the "Inverlago"; Additional Info by Starke & Schell Registers :

INVERGOIL - 1922 BR 1T (11)
6,907 GRT for British Mexican Petroleum Co., Ltd. (A. Weir & Co.), London 412.6 x 55.8
Tanker build by Harland & Wolff, Ltd., Belfast (11) #641 146662
1930 - s/o (nominee mgrs.)
1936 - NILS MOLLER Moller Line, Ltd. (Mollers, Ltd.), London / Shanghai - conv. to dry cargo vessel
1946 - TIEN LOONG Ta Chen Nav. Co., Ltd. (Chinese Maritime Trust, Ltd.), Shanghai CS
1950 - ATLANTIC DRAGON Pacific Union Marine Corp., Panama [C. Y. Tung] PA
Broken up in Japan 1959, dlvd. at Osaka 5.2.59 to Rinko and Hanwa.

I enclose another photo of the "Invergoil", besides the "Homeric', acting as a bunker tanker. Photo 10.

Best regards,

Auke Visser.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE GRT OF THE INVERGOIL IT IS BEGINNING TO MAKE SENSE TO ME. THE SMALLER LAKE TANKERS PROBABLY BROUGHT THE OIL TO ARUBA FROM MARICABO AND THE INVERLAGO AND INVERGOIL TRANSPORTED THE CRUDE TO THE REFINERIES ALONG THE GULF COAST AND EASTERN SEABOARD. THE TWO SHIPS WERE MUCH LARGER THAN THE PUNTO CORDA AND THE SAN CARLOS. DAN JENSEN