Memories of MV Tyrone from David Field
by Published on 25th December 2018 09:51 AM
Memories of M.V. Tyrone
N.Z. Ports to Liverpool
1959
- Signed on 23 April, 1959 in Auckland as 7th Engineer, after which Captain Herbert Jones shouted me a beer at the Britomart Hotel.
- Left Bluff, violent gale in Southern Ocean before I could get my sea legs. Our Steward, “Ginger” supplied me with oranges for sustenance. No one allowed on deck so aft crew had to negotiate shaft tunnel for meals amidships, probably with Mike Hall and colleagues.
- Great weather in Indian Ocean.
- Went on deck after breakfast one morning and greeted by huge cliffs of Cape Guardafui.
- Captain Jones closely followed Somali coast before crossing to Aden.
- 2nd Engineer Richard Willis announced that as soon as main engine was shut down, crank-case doors were to come off and we to do a hammer test of all bottom end and main bearing bolts and nuts.
- Sight in Red Sea was 2nd Cook kneading bread dough outside Galley with sweat pouring into the mix.- I came out in a heat rash - crew mates reckoned that I had “Suez Pox”.
- One morning while sunning on the Boat Deck the 2nd Mate called out that we were passing Jiddah.
- Glorious weather while anchored in Suez Roads for 24 hours while awaiting Canal transit. Mail received via Agents “English Coaling Co”.
- Past Ismaillya I swapped cigarettes for fresh watermelon from trader, alongside.
- Arrived Port Said midnight and Egyptian cargo workers boarded to unload wool bales on deck.
- Departed midday for Genoa.
- Passed through Strait of Messina, narrow, with power cables spanning between Mainland and Sicily.
- Arrived Genoa early morning guided by La Lanterna, the Ports historic light-house. During six day stay visited outer suburbs by tram and town of Savona by train. Italian State Railways used unusual three phase system as standard, later superseded by 3000 volt DC system.
- Most crew would have visited the infamous “Barbary Coast” in Genoa’s City Centre.
- Passed through Straight of Gibraltar accompanied by a Royal Navy submarine to Starboard.
- Fine weather in Bay of Biscay but Bridge watch at night needed sharp look-out for fishing boats.
- Nearly at U.K. with ship-mates excited at arrival home in day or two.
- Rendezvous with Liverpool Pilot Ship on station off Point Lynas, Island of Anglesey.
- Arrival in Mersey and guided into Liverpool’s Alexandria Dock, through River lock.
- Our voyage was over, short for me but long at ten and a half months for most of the crew.
David Field ( passport number C.94277.)
Brian Probetts (site admin)
R760142