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Thread: Blue Funnels Ajax

  1. #11
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    Default Re: Blue Funnels Ajax

    ##and of cause the bowaters.MV PHYLLIS BOWATER which some spark stuck a SY in front of

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  3. #12
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    Default Re: Blue Funnels Ajax

    Quote Originally Posted by corrientes View Post
    Indeed!! As with another that was "put about" years ago. Two vessels lying together in Capetown. One morning the crew of one-a Houlders ship, awoke to find some inebriated crew had painted in Lavender paint "Rustenberg Castle" in large letters along the side. It goes without saying that 24 hours later, the Rustenberg Castle gentlemen surfaced to find the side of their pristine lavender ship adorned with the large black letters "Rippingham Grange". I expect both C/O's had a few choice words with their respective bosuns.
    The Castle "R" lads would never have been so bad , wasting drinking time , tut tut
    Rob Page R855150 - British & Commonwealth Shipping ( 1965 - 1973 ) Gulf Oil -( 1973 - 1975 ) Sealink ( 1975 - 1986 )

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    Default Re: Blue Funnels Ajax

    There was a story circulating about the mini mails. One of the mini mails was in East London, behind her was a Lykes ship.
    Crews meet in the bar, end up as usual discussing the merits of each ship.
    Mailship guy, most powerful motor ship in the world, Lykes won't beat us for speed.
    The whole Port was awash with stories.

    Pilot boarded Lykes, he was asked to board the mail ship first, response, was what you
    do outside harbour limits has nothing to with me.
    They left the port a dawdled outside the limits waiting for the UCL, as the UCL sailed passed the yank opened up,passing the Brit.
    For a period of time both ships plays the cat and mouse game.
    Apparently CE and the old man on the UCL were getting p1ssed off with the yanks, both agreed to go for it. The mini mail shot passed the yank as she increased power leaving her well behind.
    Mini mail arrived Durban to early,andcruised in circles awaiting entry.
    The yank arrived hours behind, to flurry of signals, where you been,what kept you.
    True? I don't know,the story circulated in the early seventies.
    Vic
    u

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  7. #14
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    Default Re: Blue Funnels Ajax

    I Believe the mini - mails for an 11,000 ton ship were 35,000 HP , service speed 25 knots but I was told flat out 30 knots
    Rob Page R855150 - British & Commonwealth Shipping ( 1965 - 1973 ) Gulf Oil -( 1973 - 1975 ) Sealink ( 1975 - 1986 )

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    Default Re: Blue Funnels Ajax

    Lykes Line vessels in the 70's were new designed evolving from the 18 knot Victory ships at end of WWII, all the Class VII (evolved Victories) by Govt decree had to have hulls capable of being converted into USA Grey Funnel Line so were capable of a good turn of speed.

    However during the 56' Suez invasion a frigate escorting us from Malta to Limassol, (we had special cargo on board) as a single ship lamped 'will steam ahead of you at 14 knots, try and keep up' this annoyed our Old Man and again with consulting with C/E (our normal service speed was 15 knots) decided he would show the Grey Funnel a thing or two. The frigate (Relentless Class if I remember correctly) was close ahead on port bow when he lamped his message, after the meeting and a double ring ahead (I was on the wheel) the revs jumped up and we started to shoot ahead getting to 18 knots plus, and our OOW lamped 'is this 14 knots good enough for you' got a message back 'point taken' we never got a similar message. Our bow was higher than his funnel and we could see the matelots gathering on the poop, it must have been quite disconcerting to see 14,000 tons of combined ship and explosives bearing down on you. Our crowd lining the rails and tossing spuds on the frigate's poop as we passed. It was a close pass the frigate had two choices, hold station and let us pass or increase speed to get ahead of us, he couldn't veer off to port as his stern would have fouled our hull, he held station until we passed, we reduced revs and we both took up the intended positions line astern. As we neared Cyprus were challenged by the 'Jean Barte' French Battleship, and our grey funnel went off towards him morse light blinking away, never saw him again until invasion day

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    Default Re: Blue Funnels Ajax

    Quote Originally Posted by john walker View Post
    I was told of a B. P. tanker at one time called the British Workman. When a disgruntled pair of seamen who were painting the a*se end changed the name from Workman to Workhouse?? It is probably not true but I think those sort of yarns show the wit of British Seafarers .
    I heard that one years ago from some BP apprentices in So. Shields, mind you, they may have had a couple - they were picketing the only Indian restaurant on Ocean Rd. (having been ejected for claiming they had maggots in the rice).

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    Default Re: Blue Funnels Ajax

    ##the only indian curry house on ocean road at the last count there was 27 in a row ......and that was just on one side of the road......more curry houses than weevils in your weeties on a british tanker in the 50s ..... cappy from shields,.....ps always got the feeling there was only one kitchen and the staff were running up and down the back lane in bleeding relays......best curry house in shieds THE RAJ ......but dont ask where it is we keep it for shields folk ...lol cappy

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    Default Re: Blue Funnels Ajax

    Quote Originally Posted by cappy View Post
    ##the only indian curry house on ocean road at the last count there was 27 in a row ......and that was just on one side of the road......more curry houses than weevils in your weeties on a british tanker in the 50s ..... cappy from shields,.....ps always got the feeling there was only one kitchen and the staff were running up and down the back lane in bleeding relays......best curry house in shieds THE RAJ ......but dont ask where it is we keep it for shields folk ...lol cappy
    I would prefer the Shahjan in laygate I believe it's still there today 50 years later
    Rob Page R855150 - British & Commonwealth Shipping ( 1965 - 1973 ) Gulf Oil -( 1973 - 1975 ) Sealink ( 1975 - 1986 )

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    Default Re: Blue Funnels Ajax

    Ship and sail with B and I was painted overnight on a rival companies vessels hull and derricks on an ED's were painted in candy stripes, so I was told by an ex You Flu middy.
    Rgds
    J.A.

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    Default Re: Blue Funnels Ajax

    When I was on the SUEVIC in Sydney 1955, overnight some one , in big white paint , had painted "FOR SALE." along the port side amidships.
    the Mate was not amused.

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