Female Deck Officers

What other website was that Dave? For those not knowing what P and I is, stands for Protection and Indemnity. Small insurance claims as against Lloyds and other classification society's which would put the insurances way up so the likes of the NE coast shipowners paid into as an extra insurance for smaller claims.No there wasn't many on trampships in the 50s and 60s apart from a lot of female crew on Buries Marks think it was. My initial reply to your enquiry was my own. My reply to women in general on ships. This is only my view which was emphasised . I sailed with women stewardesses in 1966. And also on Russian, Norwegian, and other nationality ships. My views are my. Own and not going to find fault with others views. Cheers JWS

John,Sn

I was on the Alnwick Castle, we had the first female in Australia to sign articles, She stuck it out and last I heard years ago now, she went all the way finally to take command.
She did her job just like we did no complaints. Cheers.

Hi Dave.
Like you I never sailed with any women crew in the 40/50/60s. But when I left school at 14 worked in a tin works, hard yaka, and half the work force were girls of 14/18 there would have been no sexual advances that were unwanted as they would have floored you.. The only two times I saw a woman on board one was on my first ship, the Captains wife who was a very lovely older person.
Then on a BP tanker we had a Captains wife who was a complete [$#@] I wont say it as there are ladies on site, but she caused so much strife interfearing in the running of the ship that we held the ship up in Durban until she was sent home.
Cheers Des

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Originally Posted by dave moore

Thanks for all your threads ref.FDOfficers you lot really are a mine of great info,I don't think they were many on trampers during the 50s 60s,no doubt one of you brainy lot full of info will enlighten me .As a point of info I posted the same thread on the other website and never got one reply I find that really odd don't you?

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Never came across any FDO's in the 50's and 60's on British flagged vessels, but we used to see uniformed females on Scandihooligan and Soviet vessels, but what rank they were never did find out, but apart from admiring them from afar we always thought they would spell trouble aboard, a view taken from our limited experiences gained by the occasional wife that sailed with their husband.

As for other sites, they appear to be very self centred and most of us would have been banned yonks ago for the freely expressed views which appear on this one, always best to sail on a happy ship

#25... That was one of quite a few problems at sea Ivan. This attitude of unnecessary secrecy displayed starting at the top. I know something you don't know attitude. Extremely childish and gave the ship no gifts. Those days a ship was an isolated community and there was no apparent reason for doing so. This attitude of them and us soon ran through a ship. A lot of this was caused by the old caste system, where some thought their station in life was superior to others, it's still there in smaller cases than it used to be however. I think some carried on with the sealed orders theory to suit their own fantasys. If I was still going to sea,to be honest I wouldn't be so liberal in my statements, as would soon find myself out of a job. Today being elderly and and not working anymore may do more good to speak out now and not hide your colours for fear of reprimand. A good example of this was one master would not let the apprentices use the saloon until all the officers had left, his excuse being that we might pass on what we heard to the seamen. He must have thought the stewards were outside caterers and not part of the ships crew. We just didn't go in to the saloon as getting in for second sittings was too late and a pain in the ass getting getting changed. So he either thought we were 5th columnists or just didn't like apprentices. The one good thing however it did Instil in some of us was to get certs and get on top of some of these baskets. Cheers JWS

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Originally Posted by robpage

as long as someone can do their job , it does not matter what their gender is

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There in lies a problem now with govs attempting to set numbers of females in some positions.
The person most suited to the job no matter the genedr should be th eone to get it.
As you know we had all three genders on UCL and they all did their jobs to the very best of their ability.

didn't have 3 genders in engineering John

Today I beleive is the day when the Equality for Women takes its annual day of rememberance. I personally have not seen any strife in the west as much need for such disruptions, those women who do receive mishandling by men some of whom should hit back and use the law which is there to use. However when I see this as used for party politics I see only what is supposed to be a serious subject as a mockery to so called politicians ways of useless and stupid promises. Both parties via media processes proclaim that the percentage of females working in the higher echelons of the corporate world which includes ministers of certain portfolios in government will be increased if they are elected. Does this not make a mockery in the polltical world. The best person for the job should be in that job, regardless of sex. To put a female in a job that lacks the experience or capabilities is just looking for votes. Is just as bad as putting a male incompetent in that position. When I look at politicians and see some of their promises I wonder if they ever read their own speeches before they jump in with both feet. The best person for any job is immaterial whether male or. Female. To promise more women higher positions is pure hypocrisy , if a woman can do It better than a man then she's got the job in any case. JWS.

So who would agree with women as front line troops in the forces fighting alongside there male colleagues ?
No surprise here from me as I would be opposed to that. My reasoning being that they could be a distraction to the guys. I am not talking sexually but it is in most mens make up to look out for the safety and well being of women. I know that there is this bond within the forces that you are expected to look out for your buddy.
If women want to be involved at the sharp end by all means but only as in an all woman regiment.
I remember when Prince Harry was in Afghanistan it was said he was supposed to have been the highest value target out there. It was rumoured he actually had extra protection around him?? Do not take this the wrong way, he was and is a very brave and caring young man and is the breath of fresh air the royals need.But tahnkfully he did his duty and cme home safe.