TO HOLLAND ON THE PORT HALIFAX (By Mike Hall)
by Published on 14th August 2016 07:45 PM
TO HOLLAND ON THE PORT HALIFAX
It was June 1960 and once again my leave was coming to an end, so I started to prepare myself to return to the sea. Early one morning I left home and caught the bus into town, and then caught the train to Woolwich, from there I made my way to the ferry and the docks beyond.
I had reported to the Federation Offices in the Royal Group Docks, and was given the job of galley boy, on the Port Halifax. My first time as a galley boy, it proved to be a better job than the pantry boy. As a galley boy, I found out my job function was to prepare the vegetables, wash up all the pots and pans and keep the galley and storage areas clean and tidy. I liked this job better, because I did not have to clean toilets and corridors, like I did when I was a pantry boy.
My cabin was on the main deck, along with everyone else. The cabin consisted of two low level berths (not bunks) a seat and two lockers, our drawers were Under our berths.
I signed on the ship, on Monday 4th July and after several days unloading we eventually sailed for Rotterdam. In the early hours of the morning. I was being paid £16-12-6 a month.
The usual procedure occurred when leaving the docks, assisted by two tugs and manoeuvred into the locks and out into the river, dropping the dock pilot off at Gravesend and picking up the river pilot, who disembarked in the English Channel. We were on our way. Once we were in the channel, the Walkers Patent log was put into use, this was a bronze rotator, attached to a long line which rotated by the ships movement forwards, and measured the distance travelled and the speed. Note this item of equipment was used when leaving every port of call.
There was not a boat or fire drill on this voyage.
On arriving at the port of Rotterdam, we were assisted by tugs into a dry dock, where the ship was to have repairs, for two months. We all stayed on the ship until everything was shut down. And we all signed off on Thursday 7th July, my wages were £2-14-8 and I had spent £1-8-6 on board. Then we all made our way from the docks to the railway station, on two coaches which were laid on by the shipping company. Once at the railway station we were ushered towards the night boat train which was to take us to the Hook of Holland. Once at the docks we all boarded the ferry the “Amsterdam”. The officers of our crew were given cabins within the main structure and we the lowly crew were given pokey cabins below the waterline.
Some of the crew spent the whole voyage within the bar areas, whilst some of us tried to sleep. When we arrived at Harwich we were again ushered towards some coaches and taken to the Royal Group Docks, where we were able to make our own way to our separate homes and some leave.
CONSTRUCTION NOTES
BUILDER-------------Swan Hunter Wigham Richardson
YARD NO------------1539
ENGINES BY--------Builder
YEAR BUILT--------1937
PROPOLSION-------Doxford 2SCSA
LAUNCHED---------07/07/1937
TYPE------------------Refrigerated Cargo Ship
TONNAGE----------
LENGTH
BREADTH
REGISTERED AT--London
SPEED----------------14Knots
OFFICIAL NO-------165611
HISTORY
1937 Built for Port Line Named PORT HALIFAX
1962 Sold to Olistim Navigation Renamed ILENA
1973 Sold to Turkish Shipbreakers
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