Flew the Nest

[Captain Kong]

IVAN.....
All the green hulls I sailed on where good feeders and well found, apart from the war built "Levenpool" where navigation aids were restricted to magnetic compass and echo sounder and a steam whistle for fog.

I remember being in Antwerp on New Year 56/57 with the LEVENPOOL, They had found the remains of a body in the after water tanks. They were on a long trip contract , coal to B.A. and grain to the Continent, they had been out for 9 months after a dry dock in Glasgow. They were all breaking out with bad guts and scabs so were not at all happy. The Union was there trying to get the crowd paid off.
Cheers
Brian.

[Ivan Cloherty]

if troopships were for carrying troops does that mean that trampships were for carrying tramps?
john sutton

No John

Tramp ships carried "real" seamen, who never knew where they were going next and had to improvise for equipment day to day, unlike the liner boys who submitted the same stores requisition every time they reached the UK, so were never short of anything.

Guess I've opened a can of worms here

Ivan

[Ivan Cloherty]

IVAN.....
I remember being in Antwerp on New Year 56/57 with the LEVENPOOL, They had found the remains of a body in the after water tanks. They were on a long trip contract , coal to B.A. and grain to the Continent, they had been out for 9 months after a dry dock in Glasgow. They were all breaking out with bad guts and scabs so were not at all happy. The Union was there trying to get the crowd paid off.
Cheers
Brian.

Luckily Brian I was on her 1960 and 1961, but from what I recall in the old days it was not too unusual for a body to be found somewhere on a ship particularily after a drydocking when tanks were flooded quickly after leaving drydock. I know when I used to to do DB inspections I was always thinking hope no silly bastard opens any valves whilst I'm in here, water would overcome you before you could get back through the lightening holes to the manhole to escape. Has happened when a new engineer has joined a ship and not known about pipe diversions made last trip, but it added to the excitement !!!!!!!!!

[Captain Kong]

Hi Ivan,
This one was thought to have had a bottle whisky in there, a bottle was found, with him and it was presumed that he fell asleep after drinking it. and when they bolted up the man hole there was no answer when they shouted to see if any one was in there.
He would sure have had a rude awakening when the water started to go in there.
Yes there were lots of places where one could get trapped if someone turned the wrong valve.
chhers
Brian.

[Lou Barron]

hi Ivan a troopship durihg the war was a very different to the liners sfter the war there where some very good seamen i am talking about the deck hands yet i quiet agree that life aboard a tramp ship deck hand had to be a seaman who could tackle any job on deck or if you did not you soon bloody learnt what i liked about the tramp ships they went to different ports all over the world that was what i liked about my time on the trampships but never got to Spain

[Nigel Smith]

I started off as a Deck Boy with Union Castle which I thoroughly enjoyed but soon realised I needed to gain a much broader experience. I worked my way through Bulk carriers, Reefers, OBO's, coasters, tankers (and a few more that are lost in time) until I reached AB status.

Then Esso gave me a break and took me on as 3rd Mate (uncertificated) deep sea which gave me the watchkeeping service I needed. They didn't pay for my 2nd Mates ticket, I didn't want to be tied to one company.

I went back as AB (not with Esso) and studied at sea, couple trips on Windsor Castle, SA Oranje, Reina Del Mar and the (unforgetable) Southern 'Suffering' Cross. I then took my 2nd Mates ticket and over a period of years worked up to Master FG.

Not really the traditional way of doing things, but I had little in the way of education (I came from a poor family) and GCE's were required in most cases to become a cadet. I've no idea what the entry requirements are these days? I doubt I would qualify as Deck Boy if I were setting out in 2011!

Nigel

[Ivan Cloherty]

I started off as a Deck Boy with Union Castle which I thoroughly enjoyed but soon realised I needed to gain a much broader experience. I worked my way through Bulk carriers, Reefers, OBO's, coasters, tankers (and a few more that are lost in time) until I reached AB status.

Then Esso gave me a break and took me on as 3rd Mate (uncertificated) deep sea which gave me the watchkeeping service I needed. They didn't pay for my 2nd Mates ticket, I didn't want to be tied to one company.

I went back as AB (not with Esso) and studied at sea, couple trips on Windsor Castle, SA Oranje, Reina Del Mar and the (unforgetable) Southern 'Suffering' Cross. I then took my 2nd Mates ticket and over a period of years worked up to Master FG.

Not really the traditional way of doing things, but I had little in the way of education (I came from a poor family) and GCE's were required in most cases to become a cadet. I've no idea what the entry requirements are these days? I doubt I would qualify as Deck Boy if I were setting out in 2011!

Nigel

There are a few on here who followed the path from Foc'le to MFG and they all have my unstinted admiration, as it certainly took guts and perseverence and also a lot of ribbing from messroom mates, I raise my glass to you all

Ivan

[leratty]

Ivan I did the same for the same reasons, though also knew I was not going to stay at sea always intended to go on to uni which allowed me to defer for all that time amazing! But had to go to sea as I loved the sea so did it for a few years & got it out of my system. Started as cadet with Fed Steam, three trips, immense b/s saw error of my ways, went solo with same type of comments ringing in my ears. Best decision I made, saw so much of the world with a number of good companies (couple of rubbish ones) met some great people & cured, well mitigated it, my sea lust. Kept my love of sea up with plenty of ocean sailing & racing etc. Still do when I/we can, fortunately have owned & crewed some wonderful yachts, last owned being a Fife international 8m (49.5') in US which we restored at horror cost to better half, she (boat) was built before WW2 I still miss her as where we are sailing not something one can do at drop of hat sadly.

[Ralph Rushton]

i was a steward on the winchester castle 1 &2 in the 1950s.