It's never too late

[Stuart Henderson]

What seems to come out of the posts is that the profession is very much vocational and not just to be considered a job of work. I sense we have arrived at this conclusion on another thread elsewhere.
I don't think there is anything wrong in confirming what we already knew and more importantly, proud to be part of.

Brgds

Bill

I was thirty years at sea,catering side with usual Vindi training. Reading all the above posts (incuding other one Bill) I recall all the young deck apprentices/cadets I have sailed with since 1947 and later engineering apprentices. They worked bloody hard and were expected to do all the mucky deck jobs besides their study work before being able sit their tickets. It was always nice to come across them later when sporting a ring or two on their uniform jackets. They earned it....
Stuart H

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Shipmates, Hi Blue whale, I was watching a program on T.V. about todays merchant navy its all about timetables and quick turnaround but they are all good feeders with Gyms and the latest computor games and every mod con all on board The crew were from all nations and seem to get along well time ashore in any port was not enough to buy a beer, if you can find a pub ? no room in the container port if you go outside you would miss the ship, In my time we worked the cargo open the hatches and closed them in some ports, 1 week or 2 weeks or more but spend some time in other countries today? { not allowed } see timetable--- I dont fancy it today at sea it would be like working on a factory on nights with only time off after a few months or a very good jail . My time at sea was great a place to learn many things from real men who knew about life and danger and had skill .I was young fancy free the world to see and good times to be had by all,The world is a book and those who do not travel only read one page, or Throw off your bow line let go your aft spring sail away from your safe harbour to Catch the trade winds, to explore dream and learn before your name is called to muster The sea is never a safe place for any seamen.

[Keith at Tregenna]

If I had my time again:

Have no doubts that I would not have changed many good times:

But, would have gone to sea.

Then !

k.

[Keith Tindell]

Hi Shipmates,
I absolutely loved my time at sea, as you say we had time to go ashore etc, not sure the times at sea now are so much fun. the only thing i would have done differently is while serving as a SOS on the St Merriel in 1959, we had an all German crew except for myself and the deck boy, and i had a pep talk from the skipper who offered to recommend me to switch over and go to sea with the company as an apprentice, which i turned down. After leaving the sea i found a real interest in navigation in my hobby as a yachtsman, and qualified as a RYA yachmaster offshore, small beer in terms of big ship navigation, but i am sure i would have loved it, regards Keith Tindell

[Capt Bill Davies]

An interesting post Keith although I do take issue with you about differentiating the Navigation skills of 'big ship' and yachtsmen. It's all the same and I would venture to say that your skills may surpass that required of the big ships navigators presently being trained in our colleges and passed out by the MCA.

Brgds

Bill