ARGENTINA STAR IN LONDON (By Mike Hall)

[Doc Vernon]

ARGENTINA STAR IN LONDON

After the New year celebrations of 1962, and running out of money I decided to go to the Royal Group Docks for another ship.
I had packed my things and set off on the local bus into town, and onto the train to Woolwich and the ferry beyond. then onwards to the docks.
I had reported to the federation offices in the Royal Group Docks, on Friday 5th January. I was given the job of second cook , on the Blue Star Line ship Argentina star. The ship was due in at any time.
I was only part of the relief crew. Staying in the London docks all the time whilst unloading was carried out. My cabin was a shared cabin for two cooks, and consisted of two bunk beds, two ward robes, a settee, chest of drawers and a chair.
My job function as a Second Cook was to assist the Chief Cook in all the functions of cooking the meals. My wages whilst in dock were the same as if I had been at sea, They were £36-10-0 a month. For the time I was on board I had earned £18-0-0.

On one occasion on the ship, a fellow crew member and I decided to explore the ship. we came across the Passengers lounge, where there was a White Grand Piano! !.as you can imagine, we both had to have a little play on the keys, neither of us were very good, but we did have a go. We also had a look into one of the passenger staterooms, wow!!! what luxury in those days. much better than our meagre cabins.

On Wednesday 24th January, the original crew came back from leave, and there was not a vacancy for me on this voyage. The ship was on its way to South America and the first port of call was Lisbon. so I left the ship and went back home. The ship sailed on Friday 2nd February.
I did not have to sign off, as I was only working by in the docks, however when I left the ship I was paid all the money that I was due.

It was whilst at home I decided that the sea was no longer for me, as I had become smitten with a young lady, who in a couple of years, I was to marry.
It was then that I applied for a shore job and became a Bus Conductor with one of the local bus companies, then in later years I became a Bus Driver.

















CONSTRUCTION NOTES

BUILDER-------------------Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
YARD NO------------------1173
ENGINES BY--------------Babcock & Wilcox
YEAR BUILT--------------1947
PROPOLSION-------------Three Steam Turbines
LAUNCHED---------------29/09/1946
TYPE------------------------Cargo/Passenger
TONNAGE-----------------6299
LENGTH-------------------335 mtrs
BREADTH-----------------43 mtrs
REGISTERED AT--------London
SPEED----------------------16 Knots
OFFICIAL NO------------181636







HISTORY

1947 Built for Blue Star Line ,Named ARGENTINA STAR
1950 Transferred to Union International, Same name
1972 Sold to Nissho-Iwai Co for Scrap

[Doc Vernon]

I am reviving some of Mike,s Stories,as i think they were all very good reads.
I include one or two in the News Letter each Week,so hope all will enjoy.
Spencer Lewis is now also contributing to the Stories with some good Stories of his own,these too i am Posting for him,and also will be putting one at a time on the News Letter so they dont get left behind
Thanks to both
Cheers

[Rob Stafford]

ARGENTINA STAR IN LONDON

After the New year celebrations of 1962, and running out of money I decided to go to the Royal Group Docks for another ship.







HISTORY

1947 Built for Blue Star Line ,Named ARGENTINA STAR
1950 Transferred to Union International, Same name
1972 Sold to Nissho-Iwai Co for Scrap

G'Day Mate,

I must have met with you on the Argentina Star back then as I was either working by or sailing on one of those Blue Star passenger vessels. I sailed on all of them at one time or another, including the Iberia Star and the Santos Star ( a very strange ship). We must be about the same age as my number is 698831, so I would guess we may have forced a beer down together at some time ( maybe in the Connaught or the Steps ?).I was assistant cook on all of them, so forgive me if things get a little muddled. The work-by chef in those days was a bloke named Tommy something or other and the Chief Baker was Lou...........the sailing chefs were either Scouse Jackson or Johnny Fredericks ( a really good bloke ).
Those things weren't bad in London but they were bad at sea. Four berth cabins for us lowly dropkicks and no a/c in those days. Also, I don't know if you noticed but the trunking leading up to the upper deck that was meant to let air circulate in the galley, had been welded shut at the top, so .ence, no air down there.On the line, I have literally had to wring the sweat out of my working gear after lunch.
The other problem that was never really fixed was the main alleyway was bare wood so watch for those splinters !! They were doozies !! There were also pipes running the length of the alleyway with damn great valves sticking out. They could take a chunk of scalp off and rattle your brains too. Then there was of course, the showers. The waste water from the engineers showers drained into the cooks/stewards showers and when she took a port list, there would be anything up to 18" of filthy greasy water slopping around in there.
Apart from that, they were reasonable ships on a really good run.

Take care mates

Rob Stafford