Nothing that the British Shipowner does would surprise me. In the 60"s and 70"s at various times I served on Foreign Flag vessels due mostly for the better conditions and availability of work. This had to be kept out of the Discharge Book as was blacklisted by the BSF otherwise and had to appear before a board etc. In 1986 I took redundancy from the BSF as they could not offer work. For 33 years service I received the grand sum of 1167 pounds and 67 pence as a redundancy payment. The Miners at the time were receiving between 20 and thirty thousand pounds for 20 years in the pits, which I do not begrudge them in the slightest. However it does point out how British Seafarers stood in the pecking order, I have very little regard for the British Shipowner as he has always misused British Seafarers, and would still be doing so if he had his way. regards John Sabourn.