Securing for sea

[j.sabourn]

As mate on cargo vessels one of my pet hates was when the old man used to say how long do you need from finishing cargo to ordering the pilot. The pilot in lots of cases used to have to have at least 1 hours mininum notice. Securing a 5 or 6 hatch ship of the old vintage could take any length of time varying on how and at what time each hold finished, the worst scenario was when they finished all together at the same time. There were tween deck beams to go back in, main beams in upper hatch, the old wooden hatch boards some in the form of slabs which had to go back using the derricks in union purchase. 4 tarpaulins to go back on each hatch and wedged up etc. Derricks to come down, dont think can ever remember leaving the quay all secured as usually still lowering derricks as dropping the pilot. Then came the tin lids but still had to use derricks to put back on and still had the beams to go back. I was on the train one time in the 50"s going from home to Newcastle and got talking to a bloke who knew I went to sea, he started explaining about the McGregor hatches, to me they sounded like magic. McGregors started I believe from a very lowly position, as had a small office in Monkseaton next to Whitley Bay, they were to my mind the best thing that ever happened to shipping, and went on to the world market and must have made them a fortune. Other types of hatches are now on the market but of the same idea as the McGregor who it was I believe I was talking to that time on the train. There is plenty on this web whenever accidents occur imagine that all ships have all these and similar types of modern equipment such as Radar alarms etc. When I retired there were still plenty of ships of the old vintage bobbing around and suppose there still is. I cannot see ships of third world countries having all the modern equipment that the general public think every ship has. Cheers John Sabourn.

[Capt Bill Davies]

Now this is interesting thread John.

Lets look at McGregors. In principle a great innovation but, were they as watertight as the Tarps?

Bill

[Ivan Cloherty]

Now this is interesting thread John.

Lets look at McGregors. In principle a great innovation but, were they as watertight as the Tarps?

Bill

In my own experience I would say yes Bill, but a lot depended on how the hatches had been maintained and condition of the packing etc, but if in doubt Ramtek tape was easier to put on than tarpaulins. With the small crews today MacGregor types are essential, cannot imagine handling tarps for the size of hatches today. But we can only speak from personal experience, as on most matters.

Ivan

[j.sabourn]

Bill, only know they saved a lot of time and work. They had their drawbacks with the say likes of a coal cargo where a couple of side hatchboards could be lifted out for surface ventilation. You could I suppose open a section of McGregors as well to get the same result. However I never liked to see them on their wheels at sea as always envisaged them coming off their tracks and having great difficulty of getting them back. They were also considered as part of the ships integrality and strength, doing away with the King and queen beams of the upper and lower holds. As regards watertightness they underwent the usual hose testing at the appropriate freeboard and other surveys. Tarpaulins were only as good as their normal wear and tear, depending on the usual palm and needle and repair canvas, and the amount the shipowner was willing to pay on renewal of same. When up in China and such places not too long back there was still plenty of tonnage to see with the old tarpaulin hatches. Regards John Sabourn.

[robpage]

Dragging back through the memory . did I remember some very serious , if not fatal accidents with McGregor hatches , involving people getting trapped by them , I was on a ship where a 2nd Mate caught his hand and got quite a nasty crush injury , but believed that there had been some quite gory ones .

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates I worked on both The tarps were the hardest but you had a good feeling when you saw them finished all shipshape and neat, Mc gregors were a joy to work on when you came back from shore worst for wear very easy job, but no skill needed after you done one as they all the same , saw onlly one accident minor, it was his fault.[ dont understand ] sea water in bad weather can go anywhere? the gaps on steel hatches would only let in small amounts of sea water unless the ship was like a sub fully loaded? Used a chain block to put one back on once, Do what they pay me for at sea.

[j.sabourn]

Wasnt me was it. Got the finger tip of 3rd. finger of right hand caught under lid. Was my own fault as had my hand on the coaming when the lids were being dropped by the jacks. Nail never grew properly again. Good job it wasnt the important finger. The number of old salts used to see years ago with fingers missing, a lot lost in sheaves of blocks etc. Mate on one ship was on lost his thumb on a surging rope on the drum end of the windlass. Going through locks into Barry I think. Someone kicked it over the side unintentionally so could not sew back on. Cheers John Sabourn

[Graham Payne]

Still got the scar on the bridge of my nose from the McGregors on the "Rotherwick Castle",
I took the pin out while the bar was still in the wheel , stupid in know, the hatch came down swung the bar around hit me square on the conk, didn't half bloody hurt.

[Tony Wilding]

Watts Watts had steel hatch covers on the Wanstead class, opened athwartships, very quick to open and close.

[Keith Tindell]

Do I remember correctly on the old hatch boards, used to put up to 3 tarps per hatch??, i remember it was hard work, and in heavy weather had to do the rounds hammering all the wedges for tightness. Mcgregors were a doddle after that KT