Missed that, certain that no longer occurs ? K.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuart Henderson
Printable View
Missed that, certain that no longer occurs ? K.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuart Henderson
Okay, Marian, I'm finally back. After two lovely sails across the Atlantic on QM2, I'm afraid I've been a bit slow to get back on track. Why oh why did I not go to sea when I was young??? Here are a few pics...
Attachment 16151Attachment 16152Attachment 16153Attachment 16154
#52, Hurrah you're back,;) Jacyn you have no idea how mischievous some of these chaps have been, perhaps now they will listen to the voice of authority! Pray do tell all of your adventures;)
Welcome back Jacyn, Ref. why oh why did I not go to sea. There was a post some time ago of why I went to sea. the answers could have varied from because the judge gave me the choice either go to sea or go to gaol, to my father went to sea and it was expected of me. A lot in my time in the area I lived didnt have rhe choices that came later, where it was the mines, the shipbuilding Industry, the fishing fleets or the MN. Myself with my urge to see the world was always the RN, this was impossible as parents wouldnt sign the papers, and the only way was a year later with the understanding I went away as the old man said an apprentice. He came from the old school where he thought everyone had to serve an apprenticeship. Going to sea was a vocation open to most males if fit and not blind. Women are more likely to be serving sea-going members now than what they were then, as the powers to be have tried to be politically correct and reserve openings in what was once a male predominated industry. The sea as you see it as a passenger on a large vessel however may not be the same idea of the crew with you as their heavenly desire, and as I suspect a lot were of alien nationality were probably there to earn what to them was a well paid livlihood. You probably had more enthusiasm than most of them. I quote from what I observed in my latter days at sea. The bonhommie which was there years ago seemed to disappear in latter years. I know many people who go on cruises and they get great enjoyment from the experience and the best of luck to them. If more in the governance and political ship management had of had more enthusiasm for our once great merchant fleets maybe we would still be in the same position of years ago. I hope you rebooked for your next cruise as all helps to keep that part of the industry going. Pleased you had no mishaps on your holidays or did you, many would like to hear being the bunch of old gossips we are at times. Regards John S
Welcome home, Jacyn.
Glad you enjoyed your trip on QM2.
I have done ten weeks on her, Magnificent ship. the only one built as a transatlantic liner instead of a cruise boat.
She is much better than her two juniors, Victoria and Elizabeth.
I always sail with Holland America now, better than Cunard. except for QM2.
Let us know what it was like for you
Cheers
Brian.
#43... Stuart wasnt the Beryl a platform, been round most in the North Sea in the Uk and Norweegian sectors. That right you had a snooker table, or am I thinking of another platform, wouldnt get seasick there then. Cheers JS
welcome home jacyn, glad to hear you enjoyed your sea voyages and from one of your pics it looks like the N. Atlantic was kind to you.
Your pic #3 shows the magnetic compass in its usual state found on ships these days, wrapped up in canvas.
I bet none of the Navigating Officers actually use that compass to find out the magnetic compass error but just compare the magnetic heading from the periscope at the steering stand with the gyro compass heading and record the difference in the compass record book as "magnetic error". Wonder if they even bother with deviation etc. or if they do any correction if the deviation grows?
Next time you go cruising, if you ever get a chance for a bridge tour, to impress them, ask to see the deviation curve. It should be dated no later than 12 months previous and show deviations of no greater than +/- 3 degrees East or West.
Deviation is the error of the magnetic compass caused by the ships own induced magnetic field effects and the total magnetic compass error is made up of the deviation and declination, which is the error induced by the earths own magnetic field. The two together make up the magnetic compass error which varies on different headings and needs to be applied to the ships compass heading in order for the ship to sail on a true heading.
The gyro compass will always point to true north within 1 degree or less and so is used these days to steer and safely navigate the ship. It also feeds heading information to the Radars, AIS, ECDIS etc. but the magnetic compass is still required to be fitted in case of gyro compass failure.
If there deviation curve is older than 12 months since last correction of the magnetic compass, then you can further impress the bridge plonkers by pointing this out to them, that is if they can differentiate between a deviation curve and womanly curves of passengers and female crew members.
Lesson for the day over, again glad you enjoyed the trip and look forward to seeing more pics.
rgds
JA
p.s. re pic#1, excuse ignorance but what building is that a pic. of
Stuart you were probably coming off the rigs when I was just starting in the North Sea. I started with Wimpeys in 78, finished up with Seaforth maritime for the next 8 years, they were bought out by Farstad, and after that was just what job you could grab, even went back deepsea for almost 12 months. If you came away from Deep sea in 77 you timed it well, as was after that jobs for British Seafarers got harder and harder to find. I was on one rig down here had come from the N.S. via Singapore, for a rig shift, the night toolpusher was from Aberdeen which I realized before saying too much as knew some of his compatriots from round the Dockside pubs, the Waterloo and the Quarter Deck to be more precise. Out here the oil Industry was a bit more laid back and didnt seem to have the frantic urgency at time displayed by some of the rigs, which I suppose when you were paying then 100,000 pounds a day for, caused the urgency to get the drilling finished. Dont be put off with idle chit chat, there are some very good posts for information on other channels so to speak, just think of this one as Ch.16, distress and calling. Cheers John S.
Thanks for your post Brian. Yes Ive read and enjoyed your posts over the years and they were just what I was trying to express, truly nautical flaoured,great fun and true of those days of long ago. My memories failing a bit these days.Im 84 but still think it was all worth it. I spent twenty years working in Libya and saudi after my seaging years which probably addled my brain a bit.
Cheers
Stuart
---------- Post added at 11:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 AM ----------
Jacyn,
Glad you enjoyed your cruise must be in your blood ?
Just noticed your Dads photo AND discharge book number. Cant say I recognise his photo but of course thats a long time ago ? No did notice his discharge book number was issued shortly after mine (R396040) and wondered what ships and companies he sailed on in his early days at sea. I personally in my first ten years decided it was a great way to see the world and did a lot of one ship/one trip to go on different runs and types of ships. Maybe we sailed together . be interested to know ?
I took my wife Ann on one of the last NY voyages round voyages of the old original Queen Mary in late sixties. I was with Cunard at that time so got good rate. Like yoursit was a magnificent truly enjoyable experience.
Stuart Henderson
Marian, adventures, let's see... probably too many to list here, but Liverpool was a definite highlight. Met a few scousers, some of whom I could only understand about every fifth word they spoke! Stayed at the Albert Dock, which was fab! Oh yeah, met a woman on QM2 who was born in the same hospital as me - Mile End. More will come back to me in time.
John S., funny what you say - found most of the crew more interesting to talk to than the other passengers, ha ha. Guess that says something, don't it?? My dad ended up at sea because a judge gave him a choice - gaol or merchant navy. He wanted to go to sea so the choice was easy for him.
Brian, QM2 is almost indescribable!! I didn't want to disembark. Captain was Chris Wells on westbound voyage, a bit of a funny sounding bloke. Heard a tale that he "crashed" either Queen Vic or Queen Liz in NY some time back. Had the tug caught between her and the pier and took out part of the pier.
John A., thanks for the navigation lesson and an explanation of that pic. If I ever get back on board, I shall be sure to ask. First pic is of the Merchant Navy Memorial on Tower Hill... tsk, tsk, tsk.
Stuart, yes, must be in my blood. Dad's dad was also a mariner, a cook. My grandmother's dad repaired ship boilers. My mum's dad was a musician at sea. Yup, definitely in my blood. My dad sailed mainly with Blue Star Line, but too many to list here. I've got his list of ships here under Crew Lists - have a look and see if any are familiar to you. Would love to know if you ever met up with him.
Back to adventures, can only post one pic... should give you some idea...
Attachment 16164