Lookouts

[John Gill]

Just reading through Gary's post (#9) in relation to alcohol on board in the era mentioned and that it was usually controlled. I think one of the reasons for that was, unlike shoreside, there was never the opportunity to call in 'sick' after hanging one on the night before. You had your job of work and there was no one else to do it if you didn't turn to. Added to that was the stigma attatched to your behaviour by fellow shipmates, plus the chance of a logging for persistant offending. We've all experienced the odd drunk amongst us on some ships, but they usually toe the line after ' a taste of the cat' from fellow crewmen.
gilly

[Red Lead Ted]

Agree with all your post mate, A lot of the lads would knock the booze on the head when they were actually at sea. Different once you were tied up and you were all on day work. You could cover for each other, But once you sailed for another port some nights you would collect your 4 beer,s but as you say if you were on any of the watches your mate wanted relieving whether on lookout or at the wheel, 4 hour,s was enough for anyone. Many a time once we sailed I would knock the booze on the head. Also done you a favour with the pay off slip keep the bar bill down. Regards Terry.

[leratty]

John, I am surprised that you feel "You had your job of work and there was no one else to do it if you didn't turn to. Added to that was the stigma attached to your behaviour by fellow shipmates" as on many ships I was on there were several alcoholics. Not just deck either but stewards, engine room, bridge how many ships had alcoholic or problem drinkers as captains or other officers in those days I suggest maybe 10% it was almost accepted certainly by the company as they did nothing about it. I can still recall two very capable older AB's one of whom had been on the bridge until he lost his ticket who were drunk almost permanently. So much so they were put on day work to avoid the night watch problems. We never in our at that time wisdom put someone in for it, we just rode with it picking up the slack, foolish in hind sight maybe a false loyalty? Oh yes often complaining amongst ourselves.
Alcohol was almost an accepted thing in so many industries back when we were at sea, I do not know if it died out due to controls before then at sea? However it only started to be brought into check in the 80's in the construction industry & even later in the mining. I experienced in the latter a much higher incidence of alcoholism than at sea, the scary part was they would turn out to work. Now days they have random booze as well as drug tests so it has curtailed it to a large degree.

[happy daze john in oz]

Have to agree there, knew a head waiter who always had a bottle of Gin in his back pocket. No one ever knew if he was sober or not as he always appeared to be the same morning and night. Had a first officer with UCL, total alcoholic and cronic smoker, but he rose to the rank of captain in the end.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates,At sea in my time they were plenty of alcoholics and very heavy drinkers and a few serious drug addicts, But they all passed the pool doctors exam. A shipmate John life was saved by a Good Captain, who care about his men/ crew had him sent to hospital that saved his life from the booze,He would do anything for drink but he is now sober over 20yrs, and today anyone with the same probelm he helps, his stories when he drunk would stop anyone from crossing the line.

[Captain Kong]

I was with one Captain, we didnt know he drank until one day we found him sober.

The Shore Super came down from the Office looking for him. We said he was ashore and had to shuffle him around various lockers so he would not find him.
He soon took Early retirement, a bit of a menace.
The Company later introduced breathalizer kits, anyone with a trace of alcohol was sacked with loss of Company Pension.[ Non Contributary,]

[j.sabourn]

In the type of ships I was on it was known amongst ourselves if you were active got around and competent you were kept as mate or 2nd. Engineer. Most masters and chiefs in those days were mainly elderly and seldom came out of the accommodation apart from the necessary inspections and drills. I was with one chief who actually had to have assistance to get bathed, the unfortuanate Indian steward was landed with this, he was there for his certificate as at that time certificated engineers were at a premium. The promotion to Master and Chief was usually given as a reward for past services at least that is the way a lot of us saw it. That now is quite a few years ago. The last ship I was on the mate who was about 25 kept asking me when I was retiring as said I was holding him back. A lot of the youngsters now want to run before they can even walk. As I said in a previous post I am glad I am out of the rat race. Regards John Sabourn