THE DORSET TO NEW ZEALAND (By Phillip Collins)
by Published on 5th October 2016 08:29 PM
THE DORSET TO NEW ZEALAND
It was now the beginning of January; I had just spent Christmas and New Year at home. I had been informed that the Dorset had finished her coastal voyage, and i was required to re join her in Liverpool again. With my rail warrant, and all my things packed, i set off for Liverpool. it seemed ages before i arrived at the ship. Once on board, I reported to the chief steward, made my way to my cabin, got changed and reported for duty. Our cargo again was of the general kind, some of it consisted of motor cars in packing cases, usually known as C.K.D (completely knocked down),you name it we carried it.
Again i was on this ship as the stewards boy, where i was still working in the pantry, where we served the food and i did the washing up and most of the cleaning in that area. We all signed on, on Friday 03/01/69,all 57 of us, I was being paid £27.15.00 per month, we then set sail and left on Wednesday 15/01/69 from Liverpool ,traversing the docks assisted by two tugs into the locks and out into the river. I presumed at the time that we had general cargo on board as i had joined the ship just before it was about to sail.
Once we were at sea, the walker’s patent log was put to use. This was an age old device, which streams a 65 fathom line astern, At the end of which is a bronze 18 inch long streamlined rotator, with curved fins, so designed that its revolutions, caused by the ships movement forward, through the water, measured the distance travelled.
This was then transferred, and read on a special clock fitted to the ships rail. This would then transmit electronically to a similar clock; on the bridge.it was as accurate a measure of our progress, and speed through the water. As could be attained. Note. This item was used every time the ship left a port.
Satnav was not yet available, so the old fashioned sextant had to be put to use, when plotting a course using charts, and the stars as guidance.
I was working normally one day, when all of a sudden the alarm bells started to ring all over the ship, it was a fire/lifeboat drill, to make sure everything worked correctly, in case of an emergency. Everyone had to attend except the following one on the bridge, one in the galley and one in the engine room.
We had to gather at our respective lifeboat station, that was previously allocated and our names called out, with an answer of here.
It was then the fire hoses were unrolled and the taps turned on to see if they worked.
Then it was the turn of the lifeboats, we had four on this ship. Three had a capacity of 47 and one had the capacity of 43, this was less because it had a motor.
The procedure for lowering the boats was as follows, someone removed the front chocks that held the boat secure, then two of the crew one each end started to hand wind the boat gear, this allowed the boat to advance towards the side of the ship, the boat was then lowered to deck level, and some of the crew boarded it.
Once the officer in charge was happy that the procedure had been carried out correctly, we started to rewind the boat gear and the boat came back on board and was secured in the chocks.
We then returned to our own working areas.
The captain would always inspect the ship every Sunday morning, including everyone’s cabin to ensure they were kept clean. He would wear white gloves to check for cleanliness, not once was i caught out by him. But some other cabins, he did get his gloves dirty.
After an uneventful voyage, skirting the Caribbean, we were soon looking out to sea trying to spot land, and as if by magic, there it was on the horizon. We were arriving at Willemstad on the island of curacao, for refuelling of the ship. We arrived and departed on the same day Monday 27/01/69.no time to go ashore. We were on our way to the panama canal.it was only two days before, that I had celebrated my eighteenth birthday, with yet another party in my cabin.
We arrived at colon, the entrance to the Panama Canal, the date Wednesday 29/01/69,
It was to take all day to transit the canal, we waited for our turn to transit the canal, at the start, the massive lock gates were opened to let the Dorset in, stopping the engines, and we gently drifted inside, with the help of two tugs. The gates closed and the water started to cascade into the lock. The ship slowly rose until the deck came level with the top of the lock, we then caught sight of the mules that were to pull us into the second lock, huge diesel electric locomotives, which ran on a toothed track to assist them in climbing the steep gradients up the side of the next lock. I wonder how many people over the years were conned into saving the left over bread for the mules. Finally we exited the third lock and steamed into Gatun Lake, the largest artificial body of water in the world. Some of us that were still on deck watched as the canal gradually began to narrow and i wondered how many ships had used the canal since the first transit on august 15th 1914. We passed several ships going the other way as we made steady progress. eventually the canal began to widen and we entered the Miraflores lake before we entered the Pedro Miguel locks, again stopping the engines, we drifted into the lock, the gates closed behind the ship, and the water slowly drained out of the lock, and the ship going down slowly until the right level had been reached, the lock gates opened, and out we went, going through the locks again pulled by the electric mules, we finally reached balboa, the other end of the canal. Having disembarked our pilot, what a lovely job he has?
We were soon on our way across the Pacific Ocean, which was to last three weeks, with nothing to see but the sea, oh! And the occasional ship in the distance. And the rain storms, the flying fish, these fish seemed to have a death wish, as some of them landed on the deck of the ship. Some free periods were spent sunbathing on deck. There were also times when i could not sleep at night in my cabin, because it was so stuffy, that I would try and sleep on the hatches, along with some of the other crew members. Soon land was sighted.
We were about to arrive at Wellington, new Zealand, Monday 17/02/69.my first time here.my cousin Michael had been here, when he was on the ship Tyrone, back in 1958.once we were tied up, unloading commenced. We were here for ten days i made loads of visits ashore, as i had not been here before. I had a ride on the Kilburn cable car; this went up above the city of Wellington to the botanical gardens. What a fantastic view from here, a view that must be seen by anyone who visits Wellington. The girls in New Zealand always seemed very friendly. Another story.
We left here on Thursday 27/02/69 for our next port of call for unloading, this was Littleton we arrived here on friday28/02/69,and we were to be here for a whole week, for more unloading of the cargo.it was here that we started to load apples and frozen lamb. These items were brought onto the quay inside railway wagons, and transferred to ship in big nets.
Again i made my usual trips ashore. I also made a trip to the neighbouring city of Christchurch, by bus or train, I just can’t remember which, and this place reminded me of Cambridge back in England.
we left here on Saturday 08/03/69.and made our way back up the coast towards nelson, and arrived here on Sunday 09/03/69,nearly another week in this port, for loading, this is where we loaded more apples and frozen lamb ,for the uk we left here on Saturday 15/03/69 and made our way to the small port of picton, arriving there on Sunday 16/03/69,it was here a mate and i went ashore carrying a transistor radio, in a hope of pulling some girls., I cannot remember if we were lucky or not. We left here on Thursday 20/03/69.after a lot of fresh apples and frozen lamb was put on board.
This was an unusual voyage to new Zealand, normally more ports were visited for loading, but as i understand there just was not the cargo available to take back home. Only four ports of call.
I think a lot of this had to with the coming of containerisation. Which killed off the traditional tramp steamer? We were now on our way home and with a steady plod across the Atlantic Ocean, taking again another three weeks. With more sunbathing and sleeping on deck. We were soon to be nearing the Panama Canal once more. We arrived at balboa on Sunday 06/04/69.
As we arrived here later in the day, most of the voyage through would be at night. Arriving at the other end of the canal on Monday 07/04/69 at the port of colon. We then made our way towards Willemstad for refuelling. Again, arriving and leaving the same day Wednesday 09/04/69. No time ashore again. I never did see much of this place.
Then it was off on the way home, crossing the north Atlantic and traversing the English Channel, and up the North Sea to the port of hull. We arrived here on Monday 21/04/69. Once tied up, we were able to sign off and when the relief crew came on board we were able to leave the ship. Making my way to the railway station for the train to London and home.
Please note,this Article was not written by Philip Collins it was written by me Mike Hall,as he told it too me.Philip is not on the Internet so can not see your comments of remarks.Thankyou.
Last edited by Mike Hall; 26th October 2019 at 09:42 AM.
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