Creature Comforts

[Tony Morcom]

With respect Brian I am one of the 'younger' crowd and had no idea what the 1st and last ones were. As pointed out before it would be nice to remember that we have members ranging in all ages, both sexes, some with only a little sea time, some without any sea time plus every rank imaginable represented on here. Many will have had little idea what the initials stood for. It would be good if we could try and be aware of this when making posts to allow as many people as possible to understand and enjoy them. There are numerous posts on site decrying the use of text speak which is much the same thing to some.

[Captain Kong]

Looks like we're back to the abbreviations again Tony. While you and I could probably work them out,some of the older crowd,or visitors here might well be puzzled.

UMS = Unmanned Machinery Space
ECR=Engine Control Room
C's= presumably the Blue Star vessels ,class names beginning with 'C'. California/Columbia ?



I am `older crowd` and I knew what the initials were.
We had all the ESSO VLCCs converted to UMS with CCTV in the ECR in the in the 70s.
Brian.

.
Hi Tony
I wrote that reply with tongue in cheek trying to get as many Initials as I could in reply to Gullivers comment on the `Older Crowd`.
I guess my sence of humour failed this time.
So Sorry I never knew it was `text` speak as I have never ever texted in my whole life as I do not own a mobile phone and never will have.
But from the 70s, 40 years or so ago, many many ships did have Unmanned Engine Rooms and Engine Control Rooms. Also those initials were in common use amongst Seafarers.
Brian.

[j.sabourn]

Anyone not knowing BSF is British Shipping Federation. John Sabourn

[Tony Morcom]

Brian mate, I was just using it as an opportunity to remind members of the point. No offense was in intended in any way. Mind you I have only ever been on smaller gas tankers, never an oil tanker. The ships I was on were still fully manned throughout. Mind you I often heard the engineers dreaming of the days when it wouldn't be the case. I think in those days it was the oil tankers that were top dogs when it came to technology, certainly in Houlders anyway.

One of the challenges I find when reading threads on here is the frustration that I often feel through not being able to remember as much as some of you guys. It comes down to length of time at sea I suppose. My 7.5 years is minimal compared with some of you guys. The other thing of course is that in the 30 odd years since I left I have done so many other things and for at least 25 years didn't really give the MN any real thought. Its only since my wife became ill and I was forced to give up work that I have had the time to devote to reliving my past.

[Lou Barron]

When a ship was built before the war the crews quarters was the last thing that was thought of they were very primitive as to some of the more modern ships

[j.sabourn]

OIM means Offshore Installation Manager John Sabourn.

[happy daze john in oz]

One of the reasons Australian shipping went down was as direct result of the manner inn which the wharfies unions went about things. In the 60's some shipping companies would not go into Australian ports for fear of being stuck there. the unions would call a strike at the drop of a hat and over the smallest detail. I remember in Melbourne we were loading chilled mutton, the wharfies had to wear cold waether gear and demanded a clean set each day. there was a problem with the supplier of this clothing so no work was done for almost five days.

[Gulliver]

I am `older crowd` and I knew what the initials were.
We had all the ESSO VLCCs converted to UMS with CCTV in the ECR in the in the 70s.
Brian.

Sorry Brian,,no disrespect (or 'diss'as the younger generation say these days-don't you just hate it !) it was my unfortunate choice of words-I should have said-'earlier generation crowd' i.e. those who sailed earlier in the MN (Merchant Navy) and probably had left the service before such terms became familiar to most of us..

I'm a member of CRE (Campaign for Real English),or was that CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale). My fellow member Edward says his missus was ever so pleased he joined a photographic society-says it will keep him out of the pub !

[John Albert Evans]

The only air conditioning I had during my time at sea was those tin like scoops that you put through the porthole to drag the fresh air in. I cann't remember the name of them but you will know what I mean.
We didnt know anything different at that time 1950s/1960s.

John Albert Evans

[Keith Tindell]

In my fairly short time at sea, 1958-65 i experienced a big change in the cabin comforts, started out in an old Haines ship, probably built pre war, 4 to a cabin. My job as peggy was to call the day workers for turn to, knowing who slept in what cabin and what bunk was a nightmare, wo betide if you shook the wrong guy. was the same if you were on watch and had to call the oncoming watch in the middle of the night. by the end of my time, it was single berth cabins and air conditioning. It was still dhobi in the bucket, no washing machines etc. We were allowed to construct our own swimming pool, dunnage and a hatch tarpaulin. KT