VETERAN SEA CAPTAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1931, Page 5

VETERAN SEA CAPTAIN

SETTLING IN NEW ZEALAND.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE RECORD.

An interesting personality at present in New Zealand with a view to settling here permanently, is Captain Thomas Powell, who, at the age of 73, retired some months ago from a long sea-going career. '

The senior master of the Anglo-Saxoj| Petroleum Company’s fleet at the tiiqA of his retirement, Captain Powell ha< a 1 meritorious record of "32 years at sea in that employ, dating from the early days of the Shell Transport and Trading Company. Hip retirement was reported at a meeting of the directors of the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company on April 9, when it was decided to place on record the ■ board’s sense of the high value of the services rendered by Captain Powell during his long association with the Shell group. Captain Powell first went to sea nearly sixty years ago, and became an officer of the marine staff of M, Samuel and Company in April, 1898. He attained the rank of master in 1900, and so continued in various oil-carrying ships, but chiefly those of the Eastern coasting service in which his general capabilities were commented upon by the Singapore marine superintendent in his report for 1925 as “a splendid example to the younger generation.” An early proof of merit was given when in 189 S a fire broke out at SangaSanga in the German steamer Sabine Rickmers while loading benzine. Prompt action in helping to suppress the blaze gained for Captain Powell the presentation of an inscribed gold watch. Many years later, during a range of service in oil ships which, covered the whole period of the war, he was in command of the Melania, when the vessel encountrede an enemy submarine in the Mediterranean, on which occasion only the courage and adroit seamanship of Captain Powell nd his subordinates saved the ship from destruction. To commemorate this event the company present Captain Powell with a second gold watch, suitably inscribed, to signify its appreciation of his conduct, similar gifts being made to other members of the ship’s company. After the war Captain Powell made several voyages to New Zealand ■ in command of the Shell oil steamer Pinna. He has a sister and other relatives in Wellington and many friends in the Dominion..