A game of two halves

[j.sabourn]

#31 John who were you working for offshore ? JS

[j.sabourn]

#27... good to see there are people not been brainwashed by certain sections of the community. When ever there is blame to apportion the media and anyone in control of the same always has the upperhand as can alter any facts to suit. Propoganda was the old word for it. Today however things are changing where it is getting harder and harder to pull the wool over people’s eyes. Cheers JS

[David Langley]

I went to sea in 77. Fresh out of Fleetwood nautical college as a Marconi marine radio officer.
As such, I sailed with Fyffes, Bank line, Ben line, Tate & Lyle to name a few . But like many others I saw the writing on the wall and went foreign flag with United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) in 1980. The picture from my point of view was particularly bleak. Not only did I see the decline of the British Merchant Navy, I was also aware how technology was making my role superfluous. Up until that time the R.O. was considered essential for safety of life at sea (solas) and it was forbidden to sail without one. Then gradually more and more dispensations were awarded for vessels operating in coastal waters using VHF as the only means of electronic comms. Rapid advances in communication resulted in the radio room (and the impressive bank of equipment) being replaced with a satellite phone on the bridge. It’s amazing to look at mobile phones today and marvel at how so much can be achieved with so little.
In 1982 morse code was still the predominant and favoured means of communication at sea. That was only 37 years ago but now it’s obsolete and sounds positively archaic.
Although, I was amused when paying off a chunk of my mortgage last year that I was charged a £70 fee for “telegraphic transfer”. I guarantee that no telegraphy would have been involved, but why would they let that get in the way of a money making opportunity?
When I left the sea I moved into I.T. The move from communications to computers was a fairly natural one. But ironically history repeats. In 1982 “computers” were the size of a small house & cost a fortune. Today they can be the size of a phone and relatively cheap. At the age of 60 I consider myself lucky to have seen the best of both worlds. I look back to my days at sea with affection. They were exciting times for a young man. I do lament the decline of the British merchant fleet. Something we can ill afford as an island nation. Perhaps current political & economic events will emphasise that isolation?
David

[Roger Dandy]

Went to sea in 1958 and left in '69. Went with LR for a year and our MN was going strong. Out to Monrovia to operate a floating dry-dock and look after 7 small (160ft) coasters. Came back to the UK in 1974 and the MN was gone.
Sent the next 40 years as a casualty surveyor/consultant and for sure enjoyed the best period noticing the changes in attitude, pride in the job etc starting in the late 80's.
Feel sorry for the young today and am glad to be at the end of my career!

[j.sabourn]

I must repeat myself again when I say it is good that people see the truth in. The way the MN disintegrated to literally nothing. The one good thing that older seamen learned was self sufficiency, and this also encompassed those who left the UK and went abroad seeking either work or. A better life, or perhaps both. A seaman can live anywhere. I could live in Thailand or Tibet and adjust to local conditions , a shore person would find it hard going. The only thing that kept me in the UK was my own family and their welfare, otherwise I would have left many years before I did.. even as far back as 1957 myself and a friend had jobs to go with Butterfield and Swires of Hong Kong. I backed out at the last minute due to having just met the future wife. A family followed and had to look after their interests first and last. After they had grown up and gone their ways , it was only then I could coerce my partner to head for the wide open spaces and managed to gain some sort of life that should have been in the UK but wasn’t there for seamen anymore. We were used and abused when we were working but still came back for more, but in the end were let down by the same people who should have known better. JS.......

[happy daze john in oz]

Life at sea, or in the forces, taught us many things but of all the most importance was self sufficiency.
I doubt had I not gone to sea I would ever have become the person I am today.
I could live nay where as I find it very easy to adjust, fit in with the locals and all will come good.

Recall going on holidays in the Canary islands back in the 70's and taking a local bus to see the country, some of the other guests in the hotel were horrified that I had take such a chance?? In a similar manner haver driven all over Bali and Lombok.
Others think I am mad, but I have found there is no danger in such if you regard the locals as just people and not the enemy or people to be afraid of.

Take the chance and go forward to see what there is, something so many who have never ventured beyond their own shores apart from organized holiday will ever do.

The back roads of Cambodia and Vietnam have proved to be wonderful places, the locals speak very little, if any, English but will make you welcome.
I can thank my time at sea for my outlook on life now.

[j.sabourn]

#1.. Louis you seem to have had a very similar roundabout of Ships like me, mainly through circumstances and having very little or no choice of events. I asked John Blackwood I think it was, who he worked for in the North Sea. I apart from 8 years with Seaforth Maritine Ltd. of Waterloo Quay, worked for Wimpeys, Nomis Ltd., Seaboard offshore, Haven Shipping ( Harrison’s) and Vector Offshore who were just starting up and brought their first ship out. Who were you working for ? Believe you mentioned Maersk line in one post. I was on a couple of Maersk ships out here but were on bareboat charter and all manning by Australians. Cheers JS....

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
Your post #36, different people in charge today, but still letting people down, look at BHP.
Des

[Louis the fly]

#38 Hi John , I was also with Wimpey Marine. Sealion , Seatiger , Wimbrown 2 , working from Den Helder , Wimbrown 3 off the Italian coast.
Then to Offshore Marine who had the largest fleet of supply ships at the time. I wont list them all because they take up three pages of my discharge book.
Back deep sea on container roll on roll off ships. After this Ugland car carrying vessels , came back to the North Sea with Maersk then onto Matco tankers owned by Mobil.
Worked as a rigger on a pipe laying barge and with tug companies towing rigs and barges.
Keep well , Lou.

[Michael Wisher]

Louis, I recognize what you said about the two halves of your experience at sea. I noticed and felt the polar opposites of my seagoing life. I did 43 years, and during the first half I really enjoyed the variety, the dozens of jobs available in the various 'pools' I shipped out of, the similar minded people I sailed with, on good and bad jobs. I was so glad to join 'any' ship after the 'hectic' punishing leaves, leaving me a shivering wreck. it didn't take long to resume a healthy enjoyable life until my next leave. The second half after the pool's closed, the whole 'feeling' of the job disappeared I was always the only one who could see any future in continuing the job. As the jobs became less and less, I put myself through college and in gaining 'tickets' I was able to continue working until retirement. As you say, who could have looked ahead in our lifetime, at the thousands of British ships, the dozens of 'companies', and ever considered the absolute disintegration of such an industry. I am so glad I had the years I had at sea,