Fire! Fire! Fire Down Below.

#39. Terry the main purpose of any drill is to prove how little one is behind the times. Seriously though it is to bring your awareness into play. Most ships the main fire pump was in the E,R.space, what concerned others was the emergency fire pump and how to start and which valves to open. So those who claimed they were always putting out fires on the poop on drills , in actual fact would probably be the main pump . Starting the emergency pump in reality you were probably attempting to fight a fire in the E.R. But the purpose of a drill is to make you aware . The emergency fire pump was usually sited well away from the E.R. As regards boat drills the most important job to my thinking was to he who was designated to put the boat plugs in .God help him if he forgot where they were. Cheers JS

The system for drills in Shell was that fire drills would usually involve tackling a certain scenario, but also each senior watch keeper would be detailed to train crew members in all the various bits of kit available, so for example, the full crew would be divided up into groups and they would be rotated each drill. The training would cover use of BA sets, extinguishers, starting the emergency fire pump up fora'rd, first aid etc.
So eventually everyone would have had some instruction of all the kit.
With regard to fire pumps, as far as I can recall the emergency fire pump should be capable of supplying either two or three hydrants, not always achieved if the vessel was in ballast.

snow all gone john .....but not the last by all account ......old bones dont like the damp weather at the moment take the dog for a walk ...and aching like ive done 5 rounds....cant wait for spring ......get down to france in the warm dry weather ....see charlie......had my moan for the day shall go and harrass patricia....tomorrow will be a good day.......cappy

only ever saw a fire drill on tankers but none on coastal tanker .....never on any other vessel ......used to have one in my factory after fire brigade called and the folk loved the 10 minute or so break and change of routine...fortunately no fire ever ......R683532

#38 How would I know the answer to that John, concerning dealing with a deep seated fire in a container? I would have thought the best form of attack would have been boundary cooling, I assume you are aware of what Boundary cooling is. My last 20years I was sailing on Gas tankers. Perhaps the working environment that engineers and engine room crew worked in likely was a reason they might have enjoyed a few to many cold beers after watch. Engine rooms tend to be on the warm side. Red sea in summer 40 degrees + as I am sure the Galley &
Steam laundry you may have worked in during your days at sea tended to get pretty uncomfortable s well. Describe being under the influence of alcohol? The 2 or 3 beer daily issue saved up over the week for a weekend session ? even some drinking their daily issue could have been over the legal limit. It would appear that going up the road for a night out and coming back onboard after a few pints and turning in is not being counted as being under the influence of Alcohol. Simple maths 20% of 45(crew) = 9. So you have say the following go up the road or stay onboard for that matter and have a few drinks. You have the Captain , C/Eng, 2nd Mate, 3rd Eng, 5th Eng, 2nd Electrician , Radio officer , 2nd Cook , Eng room oiler, a steward , an AB an OS or any other ranks for that matter have been up the road and had 3 beers + they are legally over the limit. It amazes me John that you say you have never seen anyone under the influence of drink during your time at sea. Were you an officers steward? old mans tiger? and you have never seen a Captain or C/Eng carrying a few Gins under their belt? Perhaps it was down to ship design and split accommodation, Midship and Aft. Those who lived Aft were not aware as to what went on Mid ships? Well if that is the case I am shocked and stunned. Seafarers world wide have always had a reputation but being heavy drinkers or perhaps it was just the 60's 70's, 80's 90's 00's generation had the drink problems. FWE.

Used to be logged as Fire muster and boat drill or Boat drill and fire muster, or Boat and fire muster or Boat and Fire Drill. Think the entry was required once a fortnight.
Accomodation and food stores inspection think was once a week. And usual comments was satisfactory. Unless obvious faults found and food having to be dumped.
That would have been the time to point out your cockroach In The pickle jar Cappy. And the cook could have cooked it for tea before it went off. It didn’t have to be a ceremonial affair the master could deputise someone to do it. Maybe you slept through it , and someone didn’t want to bother you. Especially if had a hard night on the 12/4 . I was on a ship for 11 up month with condemned lifeboats , someone must have flogged something somewhere. A deratiffication cert.only lasted for 6 months , how many ships were you on that was fumigated in a 12 month trip.? Anyhow fumigation would have spoiled all that wildlife meat. Like your cockroach. What was the flavour like.? Cheers JS

Don't recall not having boat and fire drills on all ships I sailed on, even coasters. Always had boat drills on the boat deck on any ship, where else would you have them? Have sailed on ships with radial, wind out, and gravity davits and their function was always explained to attendees and at times wound or rolled out. Fire drills on five hatch ships were held at #4 hatch, unless split accommodation then #3 hatch, on all accommodation aft vessels fire drill was always on the poop. On the cargo liners I sailed on passengers had to attend the boat drills, but were not allowed to partake in fire drills, but were requested to muster aft on the boat or promenade deck(if you had one) to observe crew procedures at #4 hatch. Whether or not we instilled confidence in said passengers by our performance remains open to debate. The only vessels that I sailed on which had no drills of any kind were distant water trawlers in the 50's.

only one fumigation john in birkinhead......didnt make any difference whatsoever ....by the time we were off the azores she was running with cockies and silver fish......the flavour of the wee beastie in the pick
led onion jar was surpassed by the aroma of the green cheese lol as that was on another vessel ....as for the clinker built lifeboat which when lowered sadly while the ship was still at about 6 knots almost disentigrated ....only paint holding it together...whch in turn all eyes were cast upon it .....whereby the sight of the poor soul lost over the wall was lost .........a video would have looked like comic cuts ...if it had not been so serious......but there was at least the other lifeboat to gently lower once the vessel had lost way.....ps and no drink was taken cappy

Was the compass bowl checked every inspection ? JS

And a clinker built Boat is built specially like that to alleviate the rolling in a seaway , so they try to tell us. Can’t believe anyone these days. Was it still under guarantee. .? JS