Favourite Ship Type

[Capt Bill Davies]

It would be interesting to hear the members experience on the title of this thread. There seems to be plenty of members with passenger boat experience of which I have none.

My early years were in General Cargo but from 68 onwards it was tankers, combination, gas etc. Favourite? General Cargo but that is probably nostalgia.

[Dennis McGuckin]

I'm with you there Capt.
Cargo boats for sure.
More like being at sea than the big ones.
Den.

[Tony Wilding]

I only ever sailed on one ship that carried passengers, b ut lucky she was empty, crews areas were of secondary importance on them, out of sight out of mind, pool tried to put me on queen mary, but i refused it. Watts watts had best accomodation, after those all were rubbish, sailed on some good coasters that were single berth, but to me a cargo ship has more charm, some chatty but happy, was the crew that made a ship, port line or city boats looked good, blue flue looked imposing, that big funnel, now all are boxes or apartment blocks. You used to be able to know what company a ship belonged to by her design.

[Ivan Cloherty]

I only ever sailed on one ship that carried passengers, b ut lucky she was empty, crews areas were of secondary importance on them, out of sight out of mind, pool tried to put me on queen mary, but i refused it. Watts watts had best accomodation, after those all were rubbish, sailed on some good coasters that were single berth, but to me a cargo ship has more charm, some chatty but happy, was the crew that made a ship, port line or city boats looked good, blue flue looked imposing, that big funnel, now all are boxes or apartment blocks. You used to be able to know what company a ship belonged to by her design.

Well Tony that sums it up nicely, sailed on some 12 passenger ships, but preferred the non passenger type, but my favourite was the 12 - 20,000ton geared bulker tramping around the world which the ladies didn't like. Nothing against ladies at sea, but noticed that ships were happier when there were no distractions, not the ladies fault I hastily add, just an observation. Visited a couple of Watts Watts ships and their accommodation for crew and officers would have done passengers proud in those immediate post war years.

Suppose the youngsters can recognise these box boats by profile, but in the old days you could always name a company's ships even when they were hull down on the horizon, by the rake of her masts, funnels, mast table design etc, would be hard pressed to do that with a box boat, especially as they now build them by the yard (refuse to use metres), slice em off then stick a sharp end on them.


Aaargh Jim lad them were the days!!!

[Ray McCerery]

General Cargo ships not on the liner trade, tramping around the world

Plenty of provisions and tennents. what more could you ask for? MN programme on a Thursday world service.

Ray

[Tony Morcom]

My favourites were the gas tankers without a doubt. Worked hard and played hard but always had happy crews which were usually British.

[Pete Leonard (Bruno)]

Having been in the catering department I suppose I would have to say I preferred the passenger ships, where not only did I earn more money but you weren't confined to associating with people you didn't realy get on with. In short you picked your own mates. Having said that I did sail on one cargo ship that I did enjoy. Also an Esso tanker where I was crew messman. They were agreat bunch of guys who treated me as one of their own.
Pete

[Neville Roberts]

I did 11 cargo and 10 liners , liked em all but the cargo had too much time in port after we got over the first few days they got boring ,and sometimes ran dry soon after sailing ,but it was a rest after the hectic life aboard the liners being a waiter on em all but all in all I think the whole experience was a great life while single

[Bill Cameron]

I do not have any favourite vessel type, my favourite ship was the MV Dundee, built in Burntisland especially for the Great Lakes, before the Seaway was constructed, 28 of a crew, all East Coast Scots, I served on her as a cabin boy then an Asst Steward, 10 months up the Great lakes aged 18.
Next best was the RFA Wave Ruler in the 1960 Cod war, as a deckies messman or "Peggy", they were a great bunch. Then came the "strike" got a DR off the Wave Ruler for the whole crew walking off her in Leith. We signed on again the same day. but the majority of the crew who were not contract men signed off at the next port. me included.
Then the little twatt in Leith pool says I have a job for you in Tilbury, take it, or your suspended, I took it, the Oronsay.....reluctantly..... as a Tourist class winger, discovered that the pleasure of having a Pig and Whistle, a swimming pool, and movies on the deck and....bronzie weather, inlcluding a Oriental Cruise Japan, Honky Fidd & Singapore!!!! and a date of when we would arrive home, this to me who had been on cargo boats, tankers and colliers was heaven.
I laterly ended my career in the MN on the Windsor Castle, a great ship too, 6 weeks away 10 days at home, and just married, overtime, tips and Cape Smoke Brandy, I was sorry I had to leave the Merch, but what a ship to leave it on.

[John Albert Evans]

My favorite ships were oil tankers and favorite my company was Eagle Oil Shipping Company, the largest ones in those days were 18000 tons, small compared with nowadays. I sailed with Shell when they took over Eagle Oil but it wasn't the same. Then I went on to Ore carriers, paper carriers, sugar carries and fruit boats but I still liked oil tankers.

John Albert Evans