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14th December 2018, 12:05 PM
#1
Ships motion
I only ever sailed on one ship, the Beaverpine, where all accommodation was midships and in heavy weather weather the pitching motion was akin to being on the end of a pendulum. All other ships I sailed on were all aft accommodation and on the smaller ones the heavy pitching motion I can only describe as being a " swooping" motion. On the larger cape sized bulkers and VLCC' s I sailed on there was not so much pitching but the flexing of the hull meant at times it felt as if you were being constantly being thrown off your feet. Indeed on a VLCC going up to the gulf in ballast we hit one of those big swells off the S. African coast and it seemed that she almost stopped dead for a moment then started flexing like a snake. The captain had literally just come through the wheelhouse four when this started and he was thrown forward across the wheelhouse, fortunately he only suffered severe bruising but it was an eye opener to see what power the sea had even when you were in calm conditions with only a swell running and a force 4 wind.
Rgds
J.A.
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14th December 2018, 02:26 PM
#2
Re: Ships motion
TSS Caledonian Princess could roll on a skating rink , the ST Gulf Finn used to corkscrew , the rest were not too bad
Rob Page R855150 - British & Commonwealth Shipping ( 1965 - 1973 ) Gulf Oil -( 1973 - 1975 ) Sealink ( 1975 - 1986 )
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14th December 2018, 03:13 PM
#3
Re: Ships motion
Originally Posted by
John Arton
I only ever sailed on one ship, the Beaverpine, The captain had literally just come through the wheelhouse four when this started and he was thrown forward across the wheelhouse, fortunately he only suffered severe bruising but it was an eye opener to see what power the sea had even when you were in calm conditions with only a swell running and a force 4 wind.
Rgds
J.A.
Try viewing from up the foremast looking aft when its doing that John, very interesting
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 14th December 2018 at 08:16 PM.
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14th December 2018, 04:16 PM
#4
Re: Ships motion
The old EMPRESS OF FRANCE had a good motion from the top of the foremast
The crows nest was like being inside a baby`s rattle.
Brian
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14th December 2018, 10:30 PM
#5
Re: Ships motion
The largest ship I was ever on was the TS. Volans. I think she was just short of 400 metres overall. They reckon in ballast when we were rounding the Cape of good hope she was flexing by as much as 2.5 metres. It was weird looking from the bridge the along the deck to the bow it was like a bendy toy. We boarded a couple of guys passing South Africa and they were doing ultrasonic testing down the tanks looking for cracks in the frames and scantlings. By the time we got to the gulf they had located over 172 frame fractures they took her out of service for a few weeks and doubler plates were welded in place
She stayed in service for a year after that. I am not sure if she went to scrap or use as an FSU. She was a beautiful ship accommodation wise. Swedish built I think by KockumsVolans 2.jpgVolans.jpg
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15th December 2018, 12:28 AM
#6
Re: Ships motion
Worst roller I was ever on was the Union steam's Waipori, she rolled while they were loading, even the wharfies used to comment. At sea it would have been easier to sleep hanging by your feet from the deckhead.
Cheers Des
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15th December 2018, 04:28 PM
#7
Re: Ships motion
Clan R's could roll on wet grass.
Anchored of of Cape Town in a light swell we we were the only ship rolling, qalongcame our sister ship dropped anchor and the both ships were like a pair of windscreen wipers.
Vic
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15th December 2018, 08:14 PM
#8
Re: Ships motion
Possibly not on the same par as the Ships mentioned here,but on the Ships of UCL that I was on,our Crew Quarters were from Amidships to Stem,most of the time on Trips it was rather normal,and we had good passages,but there were various times with most all of them that a lot of us found a bit topsy turvy so to speak,as none of the older ones had any Stabilisers when hitting rough Seas at Nights one was sort of tossed around a bit and especially around the Cape Rollers where you could feel quite uneasy at times,likewise through the the famous Bay of Biscay. I do recall one Night in particular through there on the Winchester ,we had a really bad Storm,and the poor old Lady was pitching from side to side and also Riding the Waves very high so we had not only side to side but Stem to Stern
pitching,it was rather very uncomfortable.
But that was life at Sea I suppose and one got used to all the various things.
Most all of the times I really enjoyed all that rough Weather.
Cheers
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 16th December 2018 at 06:09 AM.
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R697530
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15th December 2018, 10:08 PM
#9
Re: Ships motion
On the Stirling Castle the deck boys cabins, and messroom was right forward, right next to the chain locker, was a good introduction on how to spew and not make too much mess, walk around with a container in your hand, a trip to the deck was just too far. The smell of vomit was even more puke inducing from there, happy days eh. I was violently ill for 3 days, but still had to turn to, but luckily that spewing session seemed to cure me for the rest of my time at sea, kt
R689823
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18th December 2018, 12:38 PM
#10
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