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10th October 2018, 11:34 AM
#11
Re: one for the navigators
I do think that the modern certification has a lot to answer for , I would like to think the old manning and certification would have prevented this
Rob Page R855150 - British & Commonwealth Shipping ( 1965 - 1973 ) Gulf Oil -( 1973 - 1975 ) Sealink ( 1975 - 1986 )
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10th October 2018, 04:27 PM
#12
Re: one for the navigators
Re the navy.
We were working a survey just south of Milford Haven and had all the contact infor for the range there as some of our work was inside their range area.i believe it's all public information- VHF channel, phone numbers.
One day we watched this destroyer sail straight into the active range despite numerous attempts by the range control to contact them on VHF. Eventually they mad a 180 and left the area. Not once did they respond to radio calls. I would imagine there was some high level communications and reprimands!
SDG
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11th October 2018, 03:17 AM
#13
Re: one for the navigators
I don’t know the way the navy works on their bigger warships , but my experience of doing 3 days in the Bristol Channel with a full navy crew was an eye opener for me being used to MN rituals. Myself and another master did 6 on and 6 off . During the days of trials was very rare to see a commissioned officer on the bridge. Going into a Bristol Channel port for bunkers the chief stoker came up to me and asked permission to commence bunkers. No sign of the engineering officer. After 3 days of various tests such as gunnery and battle stations at night to check all the red battle lighting. Official air photographs were taken as the red duster came down and the white went up. I took that as my queu to leave the bridge, and even then left it in the hands of 3 or 4 cpos. The navy puts a lot of faith in its petty officers , as are probably well trained , they are however they are all specialized in their own field. Maybe in your case where the destroyer wasn’t answering they had the wrong specialists on the bridge. On manoeuvres with the reserve fleet matelots off Lisbon , the flag ship which was a mine layer called us up on the lamp, and out of all the gold braid on the bridge I was the only one who could read the lamp. JS...
Last edited by j.sabourn; 11th October 2018 at 03:22 AM.
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11th October 2018, 05:12 AM
#14
Re: one for the navigators
Peeling spuds?
If he had left the bloody eyes in them some one might have seen the ferry.
Happy daze John in Oz.
Life is too short to blend in.
John Strange R737787
World Traveller
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11th October 2018, 07:34 AM
#15
Re: one for the navigators
#11... Rob apart from Certs.which would be a subject on its own. The present day demeanour as of 2002 was totally different as of 1957. As a 20 year old third mate my first trip was 8 months and every watch was on tenterhooks in traffic. There was no such thing as sitting down, that was a sin above all others , in fact the only chair on the bridge was a High wooden pilot chair which was sacrilege to use. Most of your time was on the wing of the bridge where you were told that’s where you should be as could hear all sound signals. Only go into the chart room to put a fix on the chart. When I retired the few youngsters I sailed with were lounge lizards who used to spend their watch between a chair and a radar screen. There is no way of comparing then and now. Any conversation was usually them asking when you were retiring as they needed more money. I wouldn’t if had the choice carried half of them for ballast. Most of them had some fancy looking Panamanian or Liberian cert. which incidentally I have also. So am aware of what they are worth.
JWS.
Last edited by j.sabourn; 11th October 2018 at 07:47 AM.
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11th October 2018, 08:25 AM
#16
Re: one for the navigators
I have met / sailed with a couple of the new system's engineers , certified watchkeepers but as to being time served experienced engineers no way
Rob Page R855150 - British & Commonwealth Shipping ( 1965 - 1973 ) Gulf Oil -( 1973 - 1975 ) Sealink ( 1975 - 1986 )
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12th October 2018, 05:45 AM
#17
Re: one for the navigators
Wonder how they would go on cruise ships of today?
On the bridge of most are three chairs and two always occupied by crew just staring into screens of Radar and other instraments.
Pure luxury to what we may have known back in our days at sea.
Cannot recall seeing any chairs on UCL bridges or NZSC ships either.
How times have changed, could be all to do with modern OHS! might get varicose veins with all that standing.
Happy daze John in Oz.
Life is too short to blend in.
John Strange R737787
World Traveller
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12th October 2018, 07:21 AM
#18
Re: one for the navigators
from memory I remember a pilot chair on UCL ships , NOT for watchkeepers
Rob Page R855150 - British & Commonwealth Shipping ( 1965 - 1973 ) Gulf Oil -( 1973 - 1975 ) Sealink ( 1975 - 1986 )
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12th October 2018, 07:38 AM
#19
Re: one for the navigators
#18.. Think it was more or less universal at one time , that one did not sit whilst on watch. Another no no was to never run on a ship, just walk fast. Although I must say I have broken that rule a couple of times and have sprinted when needs must. Whistling was another one apart from sailing on a Friday especially if it was the 13 th. There is A bit of the mystic in all of us. Never take a third light when lighting up a cigarette , although that one supposedly goes back to trench warfare, where first striking a match made a sniper aware of your existence and the second cigarette being lit gave him time to zero in, and the third bang your dead. However the first cigarette today can kill you just as sure as we are warned on the packet they can damage your health. There is usually a reason behind everything, the chair one though is probably in case you fell asleep. Cheers JS
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13th October 2018, 12:43 AM
#20
Re: one for the navigators
Hi John A
I can't see any white links, but then my eyes are not the best these days , but if the white links are there from windlass to hawse pipe then surely the anchor is not down?
Cheers Des
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