Of all the shipping companies that I have had any contact with National Bulk Carriers and its Owner Daniel Ludwig is probably more deeply submerged in lore than any other company. Every time I meet somebody who has worked for NBC I am regaled with yet another story of clever derring do led by Daniel Ludwig and his team of engineers. NBC built the first ULCC’s starting with the Universe Ireland. These 300,000 tonners moved crude from the Arab Gulf to Bantry Bay in Ireland.
M&O had occasional contact with NBC presenting claims and Henk van Hemmen, when he worked for the US Salvage Association, was deeply involved in risk management and start up issues with the Universe Tankers and Bantry Bay. I remember him describing the primitive conditions there in Bantry Bay when he returned from his first visit.
Oddly, very little is available on the web on these revolutionary vessels, but I did find this Pathe newsreel on the vessel.
But even more fun is this “Modern” shanty about the vessel.
For those who want to dive deeper into the life of this fascinating character check out “Capitalism in the Epic Sense; Daniel Ludwig’s Adventures in the Brazilian Amazon”
