Money

[Ivan Cloherty]

Never had 7 bells meals whilst deep sea, I remember as 3/m doing 0800 -1200 then straight to the saloon and back on the bridge from 1230 - 1300 so 2/m could have his lunch, as 2/m was called to relieve 3/m from 0830 - 0900, and 1/m from 1800 -1830, as 1/m never relieved anyone, on some ships as 3/m relieved 1/m from 1830 to 1900

Always had 7 bell meals on coasters when working 4/4 or 5/5 or 6/6 my preferred was 5/5 as gave you a different time on watch every day, hard but happy days (most of the time!), of course there were crap times, but without crap times you wouldn't recognise the good times; but all in all would do it again in those times, no electronic aids, just your sextant and a magnetic compass and an occasional D/F Bearing, if sparks was any good, not forgetting the beer bottle binoculars and the telescope resting on the wind breaks, but we still got there.

[Tony Taylor]

Never had 7 bells meals whilst deep sea, I remember as 3/m doing 0800 -1200 then straight to the saloon and back on the bridge from 1230 - 1300 so 2/m could have his lunch, as 2/m was called to relieve 3/m from 0830 - 0900, and 1/m from 1800 -1830, as 1/m never relieved anyone, on some ships as 3/m relieved 1/m from 1830 to 1900

Always had 7 bell meals on coasters when working 4/4 or 5/5 or 6/6 my preferred was 5/5 as gave you a different time on watch every day, hard but happy days (most of the time!), of course there were crap times, but without crap times you wouldn't recognise the good times; but all in all would do it again in those times, no electronic aids, just your sextant and a magnetic compass and an occasional D/F Bearing, if sparks was any good, not forgetting the beer bottle binoculars and the telescope resting on the wind breaks, but we still got there.

Ivan, you forgot the memorable times.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Ivan, you forgot the memorable times.

Nay Tony lad, they are for bedtime reading only,

[Tony Taylor]

Nay Tony lad, they are for bedtime reading only,

That is a memorable response Ivan!

[happy daze john in oz]

Very few engineers ever turned to for the 11 bells lunch time.
Most were in their bunks until 5 minutes before their watch began.
But most did manage a good evening meal in the first class dinning saloon.

[J Gowers]

My first ship was in Jan 1974 as J/E on a steam tanker and I went on the 12to4 watch and stayed on it for five months I never once got up for an 11 bells meal but did enjoy the evening meal which was really the only meal of the day for the 12to4. Apart from the engineering experience I gained I also learned how to drink beer twice a day. Both of these achievements helped me through my 14 years in the MN I then went to rigs and drillships for almost 30 years and used much of the engineering knowledge I had gained but never drank beer again twice a day, worse luck!!.

[happy daze john in oz]

Money.

Like most of us I began life with nothing and still have most of it left.
Being a good sort of guy I like to share that around at Christmas.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Evergreen, Taiwanese shipowner, have stated that due to two good years, they will be paying bonuses to staff of up to four times their annual salary, however it does not say if sea staff are included in this bonanza

[James Curry]

Well Ivan, I suspect , that as usual the sea staff it will never get anything like that.
For those that sail a desk it will be EVER GIVEN.
I will get my coat.

[happy daze john in oz]

I wonder after the canal incident with them where they are getting the money from.
Maybe salvage money, salvaged them selves,