Why Where when& How did you leave the sea?

[Gordon Brown]

I got made redundant by BP. We knew something was up when I joined a ship called BP Vigour and she was registed in the Bahamas. Otherwise I may have still been at sea still now.

[Neil Morton]

Why oh why is it 95% of us gave up our fabulous lifestyle for the little women. Didn't we get enough of 'em in all the far off lands. Exotic beauties, ( some may have cost a bob or two ), that left our palid British ladies somewhat less alluring. I blame it on our mothers' with the continual, " When are you going to settle down and get a proper job ?"
Well I gave her one for her corner and married an Aussie.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi All.
I went to sea in 49 and left in 64. 8 years on home boats, the rest on the NZ coast.
My reason for leaving was an odd thing that happened when I paid off a Union Co ship called the Karu. I was married and when I walked in the door my wife was nursing our twelve months old son, when he woke up I said come on come to your uncle Des. What the hell made me say Uncle I don't know maybe I realised I didn't know my own son because I was at sea most of the time since he was born. That was it I never went back. Now still married after 54 years, while I loved being at sea I realised that it wasn't fair on the kids. Maybe in another life!!!!!
Cheers Des

[John Aspin]

Greeting one & all,
After having had seven wonderfull years at sea the reason I quit was because I was spending far to much time away from my family we had only been married at that time for four years and had a daughter that was growing up so fast I missed a lot of the wonderful experiences of her taking her first steps and saying her first few words so it was my decision to call it a day much my dissapointment but it had to be done as it was not fair to my wife & daughter.
I paid off my last ship the "Overseas Adventurer in Copenhagan on the 2nd June 1965 and travelled home by train via the Hook of Holland.
Many years have passed since then but I still miss ships & the sea and would love to do it all over again, Happy days.
John Aspin (R685343) Ormesby-Middlesbrough.

[Dennis McGuckin]

The evening before I was to join a ship to NZ, where I planed on jumping in Christchurch.
I re-met my wife to be. She had dumped me four years previously as claimed I was too wild [not true!]
I decided to stay home for a while longer. Never did get back to NZ. Took shorter trips so I could be home more often
Year or so later I was given the choice 'sea or me'.
49 years later.
Still miss the sea life.
Den.

[Eddie Grant]

Hi Jim, couldnt agree with you more early 50s it was for me and it was a different world just a few quid in the back pocket (or 200 ciggies) and what a night you could have, Also things seemed really stable for quite some years the pressure was not on us or was it our youthfullness? If only the younger ones could try our times and vice versa, What would be the best. Will admit as to why i left the sea shortly so as i dont get off the hook!! cheers now Eddie Grant.

[happy daze john in oz]

Quite simply I fell head over heels in love with her indoors, and am still mad about her. But I do miss the sea, but she is very good and we spend a lot of time down in Port Melbourne watching them sail, and the odd cruise just to feel the waves again.

[Gordon Turnbull]

Good thread and good questions. For me it was a natural progression. I was in the North Sea (much against my will) when BP made us redundant in '86. Not a lot of choice then, kind of had to stay there, but obviously not working directly for BP any more. Added to that it was at the time my kids were growing up so 3 on 3 off was good for family life. Left the Iolair when Seillean was built and stayed on her until they decided to move her to Brazil. Told me I would have to get a Panamanian cook's ticket, my company said they would rather I did not go to Brazil and they would find me a job and they did. Three years on platforms and rigs, then seconded to STASCO for a three year period, living in Singapore. The manager who sent me there then decided I should go to Nigeria so been here for about 9 years now. All in all 28 years at sea, 22 of them on BP ships, 3 years on the pool before that, and 3 years (roughly) on STASCO tankers after that. Do I miss the sea? Hell yeah. Having said that the money kind of makes up for it. Thankfully I have a very underestanding wife of 32 years who understands perfectly my need to travel.

[John Aspin]

Greetings Gordon,
As with all messages on this great web site I have read your posting with interest the bit that interested me most was about you working in Nigeria I was wondering where actually do you work in Nigeria, the reason I am asking is because long after my sea going days I spent a total of twenty years working in Nigeria mainly on a four on four off work/leave rota this was great because it satisfied my urge to travel and was able to spend just a reasonable time away from family.
Places worked in Nigeria was Mobil's Qua Iboe Terminal now Exxon/Mobill seven and a half years at the terminal then at least nine years offshore on maintenance boats plus another three and a half years on two other contracts onshore.
Looking forward to a reply.
Regards,
John Aspin (R685343) Ormesby-Middlesbrough.

[Stuart Henderson]

Marital influence caused me to join BR Ferries in 73 after 26 years deep sea, got fed up after four years with them and besides times at sea were achanging,box boats etc.s o went to N.Sea oil rigs which lasted just a year but led to work ashore in Saudi Arabia for five years and then finally fifteen years in Libya till retirement at 65. So never worked ashore apart from two years boys service in RM B. No regrets and looking back some real great times.
Stuart