Abu Dhabi marks 60th anniversary of first oil shipment off emirate’s coast

Independence Day 1962. As millions of Americans enjoy the Fourth of July holiday, another celebration is taking place on the other side of the world.

This is another kind of independence. The first oil is leaving Abu Dhabi, which bodes well for the future.

Like Americans, for Abu Dhabi, this day also represents freedom. In this case, it is freedom from poverty, freedom from disease, and an end to the lack of basic necessities, including health care, education, clean water, sanitation, permanent housing, and even roads.

All of these things will come quickly as oil is exported and sold. Even the first ordinary shipments were worth nearly $500,000, or over $3 million at today’s prices.

It has only been four years since oil was discovered in March 1958 at the Umm Shaif offshore oil field near Das Island.

Now the island is the center of Abu Dhabi’s oil production. At noon on July 4, two tugboats secured the bow and stern lines UK signaldeftly moved the 35,000-ton vessel off the loading platform until BP’s tankers were able to sail into the Arabian Gulf on their own power.

Overhead, corporate photographers lean out of a rattling helicopter to capture the moment for the history books.

This UK signal Carried 254,544 barrels of oil, valued at $458,197 on the international market. A barrel of oil was worth $1.80 at the time. In 1962, Abu Dhabi’s oil production reached 10.5 million barrels per year, and the huge Murban Bab onshore field was about to join.

Today, that total can be produced in a day, and oil is currently worth $117 a barrel. This is a bounty that brings life-changing benefits to the people of the UAE. From one of the poorest countries in the world in 1960, it is now one of the richest.

John Small’s memories of that historic first voyage flood in as he was the 20-year-old assistant chef on board.

Like everyone on board, Small knew this was a special day. First, Small has to prepare a few trays of refreshments for the official party, as the ship hosts royals and visiting oil bosses on its way to the port on Das Island.

On the 50th anniversary, Small, now retired from sea and living in southern England, recalls the ship’s arrival National.

“We knew it was a big day. As we approached, there were tugboats pumping water with great fanfare and the boats were full of flags.”

He remembers the bad weather: “There was a dust storm and we couldn’t really see the island.”

Small had previously sailed the Arabian Gulf, loading oil from Kuwait.This time he joined UK signal When she was laid up in London’s Tilbury Dry Dock. He still retains the document dated June 2, 1962.

From the UK, the tanker sailed east through the Mediterranean Sea, through the Suez Canal, before turning northeast into the Arabian Sea. Once her ballast has been drained, she reaches Das and connects to the assembly line.

Normally a ship of this size would load and depart within 16 hours, but the sailing was delayed because it was a VIP occasion.

After completing the formalities – including a case of beer for each crew member – the tanker set sail at 2.45pm, records show.

BP’s log said the tanker was bound for the refinery in Aden. In its review of 1962, the British Petroleum Institute (now known as the Energy Institute) also listed Aden as a destination.

John Small remembers otherwise.size ship UK signal He insisted that no oil was shipped to Aden. Furthermore, he does not remember reaching the port.

Typically, the tankers would carry the bulk of the oil back to another BP refinery on Grain Island at the mouth of the Medway River on England’s south coast, Small said.

But after a nearly identical four-week journey to outings, UK signal Instead, it stops in Glasgow, Scotland. On 4 August 1962, his discharge papers were stamped and signed in Scotland and his behaviour was marked as “very good”.

voyage UK signal is the first of many. By 1970, annual production had exceeded 250 million barrels, and today’s largest supertankers can transport about 2 million barrels one way.

Oil still supports the economy, but people are increasingly looking to new renewable energy sources and diversified industries to build stronger, more sustainable economies.

“In 50 years, when we may have the last barrel of oil, the question is: will we be sad when it is shipped abroad?” President Sheikh Mohammed asked in a speech in 2015, adding: “If We’re investing in the right industries today, and I can tell you, we’ll be celebrating at that moment.”

The UAE marks the 60th anniversary of the ship’s voyage UK signalthe country is starting a new voyage on a new voyage.

Abu Dhabi Oil Discovery Timeline

Updated: July 4, 2022 4:09 AM