58-65 we always had 3 on a watch. Went from 1st wheel 2nd wheel and farmer. Was after the seamans strike in 66 that they changed the rules and was one of the first ships under the British Flag that got written confirmation, that could cut this back to two if had a bell in the messroom to summon someone. I went Foreign Flag shortly after. Weekend overtime was just watch keepers. This was on British steel charters. This is what Dalglieshes did anyway. When I came back in 71 things had all changed again and by 78 the writing was on the wall, so I skidaddled and went with Wimpeys Offshore, then bettered myself and went with Seaforth Maritime for 8 years, then got made redundant so went back foreign ships for about a year, no trouble with overtime there they didn't pay it. Came back on to even worse salarys on stand by boats. Some of them owners were really from the family Scrooge. Most ex deep sea people would never have touched them. The rest is history as I lounge back in by Spa Bath staring at a deep blue sky. Aint life wonderful. Thank Harold Wilson and the Shipowner for the decline of the MN. Many after the strike never bothered again. JS