One ship, two radio rooms.

[David Bridgen]

I made one trip to New Zealand, as 2nd Radio Officer, on Shaw Savill's "Athenic" towards the end of 1958.

The main radio room, adjacent to both our cabins, was on the main deck and considered to be too close to the water line to satisfy some regulation.

There was, therefore, an emergency radio room off the officers' lounge, which was on a higher deck. The emergency transmitter and receiver were located there.

If my memory serves me right, I'm sure that it was my lifeboat station and that of Mr. Knight, the chief, was in the main radio room. Nevertheless that doesn't sound right, does it? I would have thought that the most experienced operator would have been at the emergency installation.

[Ivan Cloherty]

David you would have a lifeboat station allocated to you and a numbered lifeboat to join on the 'Abandon Ship' order, sounds like they were covering all bases, which appears sensible, as one station could be out of action by fire or some other cause. Your 'Fire Station' would be at your equipment. Normally the Radio Station had to be adjacent to the bridge for practical reasons, ships position etc and incoming messages relayed verbally to the bridge in emergency situations

[j.sabourn]

Ivan always wondered if the person allocated to put the plug in, didn't make the boat in time, if someone else would remember for him. Trying to think back if ever was on a ship with Radial Davits a different ball game launching. However lucky never saw ships lifeboats launched in anything but exercise or pleasure. Cheers JS

[Ivan Cloherty]

Ivan always wondered if the person allocated to put the plug in, didn't make the boat in time, if someone else would remember for him. Trying to think back if ever was on a ship with Radial Davits a different ball game launching. However lucky never saw ships lifeboats launched in anything but exercise or pleasure. Cheers JS

Sailed on a ship with radial davits, always on a deck the same length as the boat just to make things more difficult, designed by someone who had never had to launch a boat. Had over 30 days at Suez taking the four boats out in rotation (winding davits) no matter what the weather. We were not allowed to use the motor in the motor boat, unless we were transporting the Captain to the RN ship for orders. Rowing a ship's lifeboat in rough weather takes some doing, it made you appreciate (to a certain minimal extent what the boys in WWII went through), don't believe all the stories about riding the waves, those little buggers could still pound and shake the skin and flesh of your ass, if the bloody oar didn't get you under the chin first and knock you off the thwart.........happy days!

[Red Lead Ted]

John, If my memory serves me right after the deck boy legged it as far forward outside of everything with the boats toggle painter and made it fast a lot of seaman I have spoken to are sure it was his job, I have my doubts as there must have been many that never got back to the boats. I think it was down to the bowman designated with casting off with the boat hook ? I could be wrong to put the plug in the boat as he was one of the first in the boat. Regards Terry.