I think I would rather jump overboard.

[cappy]

old time falls on ships were a nightmare........its alright in harbour dropping the boats ....but they are not needed in harbour very often i would imagine ......dropping them at sea is a different matter as i saw on one ship after the apprentice went over the wall ....the ship still under way and the boat in all sorts of probs astrying to unhook the falls as the ship still under way almost impossible.....the forrard fall let go ist and of course the boat swung round....the man on the after falls lost his balance and fell heavily as the boat was buffeted still under way at about 8 knots.....it appeared the old man wanted to come about sap while the mate wanted to get the boat in the water at all cost......it was a fiasco to say the least.......the boy was picked up some hours later.....he had gone over in oils and seaboots ....one lucky young man.....regards cappy

[Chris Allman]

Ivan I would like you to point me in the direction of where I criticized the ' Thank You button ' . I think you will find that I criticized the ' Like ' and 'Dislike ' buttons which I have never really liked, as I see them as a source of possible conflict between members. ( this rather proves it I think ) I don't give a dam about whether I am on my own or not on this one Cappy, and I do not care whether my reply was gallant or not Ivan, it was not meant to be on this occasion. The spoon has obviously done its job and if you all cant see that, then that's your problem. Glad you agree that I do not have to explain myself especially to her, everyone one is entitled to their opinion and do not have to explain it to anyone. I abide by the Boss Brian and I abide by the Moderators and the site rules and if I stray from the rules then I expect to be brought to account. What I do not expect and will not accept is being told to explain myself by a member, no matter what sex, and women will get the same answer as men whether they like it or not. I am what I am Ivan, what you see is what you get, I say how I feel and I say what I think, have done all my life and many many people have accepted that, if you all cant, well so be it.

Thanks Des, I certainly do !!

[cappy]

Ivan I would like you to point me in the direction --well so be it.

Thanks Des, I certainly do !!

every one is entitledto there view .....we all agree on that .....but your last missive is reminiscent of ............teddy out the pram .......but that is my view and i am entitled to it ......but no hard feelings....regards cappy

[Ivan Cloherty]

#32 Jeez, you must have been a bluddy joy to sail with, and with your reference to 'her' looks like we have a little bit of bitchiness taking hold, but each to his own dear! You could try going back to bed and getting out the other side! But I still like your number 1 (post that is!)

[j.sabourn]

#31... Is that the old radial davits cappy, or the later models, which still had the problems of unhooking the falls. Nowadays would imagine most ships have a designated MOB ( man overboard boat ) which would have a quick release system, and the boat is underway practically on hitting the water. There were some very good designs in this department, and the best I saw was in Harrisons of Glasgow, where on reconnectiing the boat to the fall, all it needed was an open hook around the fall wire and the reset was automatic. This applies however to FRCs with trained crews. Cheers John S

[cappy]

old type radial falls john......sadly the boy had taken out the rail at the outside of the lifeboat and hung on the grabline to paint the boat .......all very well till he stepped back to appraise his handiwork.......i actually saw his head in the water astern.....and could not believe how quickly it shrank and dissapeared......the weather was drizzy and we thought we had lost him .....a very very lucky boy......it was amazing how far he was away from the lifebuoy which wasthrown in to him....when he was found some hours later...regards cappy

[Captain Kong]

In January this year on the AMSTERDAM, a fishing boat was in trouble off the coast of Equador, they lowered the boat and could not release the block on the falls when it arrived into the water, so they had to abandon that and then lower another boat to go to the rescue, this took a good half hour and could in some situations have been fatal.
Cheers
Brian

[John Arton]

Again back to the Origins of this thread regarding Lifeboat launches.
Cappys experience of launching the lifeboat at sea was probably the likely scenario but in my case it was completely the opposite.
The ship I was on started sinking due to engine room flooding {long story} We were on the Grand Banks and had been experiencing a typical winter N. Atlantic gale, huge swells and 40 kt winds.
By the time the decision to abandon was taken by the Captain, the winds had died away, leaving only some 10 metre and greater swells. AS there were by this time a number of other ships standing by us, it was decided that we would use the motor lifeboat only, loading it with 50% of us, taking those to one of the rescue ships and returning to pick the rest of us up. The launch went perfectly and off the boat went with half of our crew mates in it. Then, as per was usual, the engine failed and the lifeboat drifted away leaving the rest of us staring at the rowing boat as our means of escape, not a nice thought. The lads in the motor boat were eventually recsued in an amazing demonstration of seamanship by the German captain of a fully laden Hansa line general cargo ship, manoeuvring his ship alongside the lifeboat in the huge swells and getting all in it, including to old alcoholic chief steward, on board his ship without a scratch on them beyond a few wet feet. The rest of us were left twiddling our thumbs thinking what to do next when all of a sudden we heard a German accent shouting up at us to "comeonzy down here". Looking over the side we saw two guys in a semi rigid lifeboat. It took two of us at a time over to a German fishery research ship. The Captain and the Chief Engineer stayed behind on the ship, which was later towed into St. Johns, Newfoundland, but not before the Russian Crew of the salvage tug had raided the bond, gone through all the cabins helping themselves to some personal items along with some of the galley stores. As the ship never sank and we got most of our gear back we never got any compo.
Leaving the Captain and Chief Engineer behind I was the last off the ship and never even got my feet wet. I was plucked off the pilot ladder by a German sailor with hands the size of mechanical shovels. On arriving alongside the research ship {a brand new 74 meter deep sea stern trawler converted for research work}, I made to climb up the ladder made ready for embarking, only to be pushed back down into a seating position, whilst the boat was hooked up and hoisted onto the ships deck, where I stepped out of it like Nelson stepping onto his quarter deck, never even got my feet wet!!!!!.
We were landed in Placentia Bay and driven across to St. Johns, with press chasing us all the way. We were re-united with our mates who had been landed in Montreal and had been outfitted in the best of gear after the German Captain had threatened to go to the press over CP's treatment of the crew he had rescued.
The rest of us were allowed $100 each to outfit us in a cheap store that stayed open late just for us, so as to avoid any contact with the press. We spent around a month in St. Johns whilst they decided what to do with the ship. On arriving back at Heathrow we were greeted by a Personnel Office guy who called us all heroes and issued travel warrants for us all to get home. He then offered us getting home cash, which we all thought was going to free as we were all heroes, no chance. Once we had signed for the dosh he then informed us it would be deducted from our next monthly salary!!!
Apart from some great memories of St. Johns the only souvenir of that incident is a discharge book entry on signing on in Liverpool but no discharge from that trip.
Wonder if I can claim back pay?
rgds
JA

[j.sabourn]

So youve got a VNC in your book John. Most people think when one goes through any sort of trauma large or small, they will be compensated. They should think again. This may apply in most cases to all those other than seamen, a seaman it is considered his job to receive any kicks the employer may issue. I said in my description of what happened to me as being off pay after leave which was only a few days any way, and this was after statements made in hearing of press that we were going home for a week on compassionate grounds. Dont you beleive it. Business is Business the rest is Bulls##t. They were true to their word just forgot to mention we would not be paid. Any gratia payments made outside the BOT agreemant were considered to be a no go, as may set a precedent. JS

[cappy]

well john a happening most would be happy to be without .....but no doubt the incredible seaman ship of others saved the day .......that is what i always found...whater the situation others willing to put there lives on the line to help is perhaps inherent in those who follow the sea....regards cappy