Suez Canal

[Ivan Cloherty]

Just got round to reading Ivan’s #10 using a magnifying glas. The magnifying glass brought back the word was looking for in a previous post, so for Ivan’s “ what more could anyone ask for”, the answer is a vernier sextant. Cheers JWS.

Luckily had my own micrometer, Don't know why I said luckily, second hand one cost me nearly a year's wages as last year apprentice, Cookes of Hull let me have it on 'the never, never' payment system

[j.sabourn]

1957 Admiralty pattern vernier sextant never been used out of the Admiralty stores 12 pounds. The one and only one owned by me. Sold later when ships had to carry one. Would be no use to the RN these days if the same as the US navy as believe they don't teach anymore for use in navigation. Wonder if they were ever taught it was the instrument for measuring any angle in any plane either vertical horizontal or oblique. And that the angle of dangle equals the heat of the beat. Cheers JS

[Fouro]

Des did you ever come across this elusive east of suez Bonus (apart from the various abounding ailments) that people used to talk about. ? Can never remember seeing it in the NMB book. Was it a figment of someones imagination or did some companies pay it. I was on two of Jacobs tankers for 12 months but never saw hide nor tail of it. Cheers JWS

Once you crossed the equator, Shell paid you Eastern Bonus at the rate of £6 per month. They also paid North and Central American Bonus at the same rate. This was way back in 1956. I remember our ship going through the Suez canal and hearing the occasional whirr of a bullet or whatever being aimed at the ship. I also spent a New Years Eve in the Great Bitter Lake and something I will never forget, is the sound of all the ships horns bringing in the New Year.

Fouro.

[John F Collier]

One time going through the canal we had a Sandstorm warning, I was given the job of sealing all outer doors with tape
and others had to close all portholes and windows, I was looking forward to seeing it as it would be another experience
for me, in the end it didn't happen so it must have blown itself out or something. Cheers JFC

[John Arton]

The last two trips through the Suez canal, both north bound, were memorable for different reasons.
On the first, anchored awaiting the convoy on a geared bulker, we had a load of old dunnage on deck. After coming off anchor stations, I was approached by George Tobey ( well what he called himself, could have been Nasser for all I knew or cared). He thrust a bundle of dirty dollar bills amounting to around one thousand bucks. Into my hand saying " mister mate, present for you". I thanked him profusoly and retired to my cable, ignoring for a while the constant knocking on my door. I eventually opened the door to find George there wanting to know if I had any presents for him. I said no but again thanked him for his present to me, For some strange reason he became quite voluble, demanding his present back but again I said he had given me as a present so why should I give it back?. This brought forth a scream of invective, promising hell and damnation on my head. Eventually getting tired of the game I was playing with him, I told him I did have a present for him and showed him all the dunnage on deck. After a load of haggling which involved him telling me he was a Very poor man with a large family to support, we agreed on a price of 200$ for the dunnage so he got 800$ back from his present to me , I got my deck cleared of rubbish and the ships welfare fund was 200$ up. The captain was a brilliant guy who disappeared of the bridge leaving me alone with one of the most obnoxious, arrogant git of a Pilot to contend with, a short while later the Captain returned with a tea towel around his head like the rag heads wore, holding a fly whisk which he then used, wandering around the angel house swatting imaginary flies, muttering " there's loads of these damm flies around, eh pilot". The pilot just did not get it but I had to disappear before I dissolved into laughter.
Rgds.
J.A.

[Ivan Cloherty]

One time going through the canal we had a Sandstorm warning, I was looking forward to seeing it as it would be another experience
for me, JFC

Having lived in Dubai, when it was a very small town, John you didn't miss anything, but were saved from a very uncomfortable experience. you could go months without one and then get 3 or 4 in quick succession and could end up driving a stainless steel shiny car, would take your skin off if exposed too long. My wife dreaded them as meant a whole house clean (we didn't have servants, she didn't want any) which could take days, just finish and then get another one. Plenty of places to shelter now, but not in my time there

[Stan Carter]

Re #12. While on the Esso Exeter, southbound through the canal one of the last conveys before it was invaded, we had picked up our light and didn't stop to drop it off. did our run to the gulf and came home around the cape stopping at Durban to get rid of it.
regards, stan

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Des did you ever come across this elusive east of suez Bonus (apart from the various abounding ailments) that people used to talk about. ? Can never remember seeing it in the NMB book. Was it a figment of someones imagination or did some companies pay it. I was on two of Jacobs tankers for 12 months but never saw hide nor tail of it. Cheers JWS

Hi John.
The only time I heard about any bonus was on this site, never did a bonus hit my wallet when I was at sea, and I did enough trips up the Gulf to have the Abadan's.
Des

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John F.
You were lucky we passed a big Yank victory ship in the lakes, on one side lovely paint work on the other looked like stainless steel, she had been caught in a sand storm, but I bet the Skipper was happy all the rust gone as well.
Cheers Des

[John F Collier]

Hi John F.
You were lucky we passed a big Yank victory ship in the lakes, on one side lovely paint work on the other looked like stainless steel, she had been caught in a sand storm, but I bet the Skipper was happy all the rust gone as well.
Cheers Des

Thanks Des at that age I never thought of that side of it, but I've seen a sand blaster cleaning up alloy car wheels for
re-coating and they were stripped to absolutely bare metal so I can well believe what both you and Ivan have said. Cheers JFC