Time used at sea.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Only thunder boxes we rigged over the stern were for stevedores when working cargo at anchorages. We locked the normal flush stevedores toilets as most didn't know how to use them. As soon as we left the anchorage we cut them adrift over the stern and made new ones for the next port, as no one was going to go near the used ones.

[Lewis McColl]

They were also used round the west African coast when we had crew boys onboard as they were not allowed in the Accommodation. They slept on a hatch under a hatch tent.

[j.sabourn]

I know times change in the name of progress and it is catchy uptimes especially in Shipping , maybe that’s why the British shipowner disappeared when he saw what was coming too rich for him and cutting into the profits. I don’t believe in acting like we are all paragons of virtue. Lewis the time you mention 1987 what about a year after that date as regards shipping, I can assure you there was no septic tank on board , 1 toilet for 250 survivors plus crew, no Fresh water for such a large amount of people .no such things as gas alarms even though working in a gas environment , my biggest gripe the lack of crew , as usual all sea going laws are in black and white and passed through government legislation, it is people who save people not pieces of paper. Ships were only manned to go from A to B and probably still are today who knows ? When I questioned at the very beginning about maintainance In answer to some post I cannot find now..I was informed that all such work would be done by shore people, even to tying up these big super duper ships extra men would be landed on ship before tying up. Maybe the big oil company’s did this but can assure you most company’s didn’t . Do North Korea accept maritime conditions ? Maybe they do on paper , but pieces of paper should always be checked , is there the will to do this. Once again we come into the world of costing .Much easier with communist style countries where money is not God. For shipping to come back to anywhere close to what it was in the west it would have to come under government control , and we all know peoples attitude to nationalisation. It was under government control during the war and will be again during the next one which is inevitable the way things are going , just hope it is well after my time . Cheers JS

[Lewis McColl]

Well John let's hope we never have to rely on the current Government to take control of shipping in the UK. There track record does not inspire a lot of confidence.
Anyone remember Chris Grayling
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-no-ships.html

[j.sabourn]

Shipping aint going to be what fings used ter be then. No money hunny was the cry. JS

[Lewis McColl]

#104, John sorry but I find your post confusing. What has 1 toilet and 250 survivors +Crew got to do with the regulations, that would have been exceptional circumstances. What age was the ship with no sewage holding tank(Sceptic tank) No Fresh water for such a large amount of people, again exceptional circumstances .North Korean vessels if they want to trade on the world stage will need to comply to Marpol Regulations or run the risk of being detained in a foreign port. You can go on about it as much as you like John the world of shipping has changed.https://www.ics-shipping.org/shippin...ritime-safety/

Yes of course you will still get the Rogue operator who will push the envelope and take short cuts, but they will and are getting caught and fined having ships arrested and detained in ports all over the world.
Sorry John if you are talking about your own experiences and in latter years you really must have been working for some micky mouse outfits. If I found a ship that I deemed to be dangerous I voted with my feet. I left Bibby line walking off the LPG carrier Lincolnshire she was in dry dock in Singapore. They were trying to cut corners and were playing with peoples lives. Trying to hide the condition of the ships hull underneath the hotwell we had already cement boxes in place. The steel work was down to be replaced and it was crossed off the docking list. It was brought to the attention of the Lloyds surveyor by myself and the 2nd eng. The result was the surveyor ordered the yard to carryout Ultra sonic tests around the engineroom plating and the compressor house decking which was badly corroded. The findings required that nearly 30 ton of steel plating had to be replaced. I got to know the surveyor well and he told me the ship would be under going a full structural survey as he was becoming more and more concerned about what was being discovered in the void spaces and ballast tanks the longer the dry dock was going on. Bibby's were pushing the yard to get her out and away. When we floated out the dock Lloyds ordered her to a wet berth and started digging deeper. Sitting in at the morning meeting and listening to the reports on the state of the ballast tanks and particularly the condition of the void spaces I was that disgusted I walked off. She sailed and loaded a cargo of Ammonia in Bahrain for discharge in India. I was told that she had a shore side ESD and the back pressure was such she split and lifted her main cargo headers halfway up the deck causing a major ammonia leak. She carried out emergency repairs and allowed to sail to her discharge port. On completion of discharge Lloyds revoked her classification certificate and she was at anchor for several months. She was sold for scrap and was beached in India at Alang. That was about 9 months after I walked off her.

[happy daze john in oz]

Yes times sure have changed.
In the galley gash chutes with all food waste over the side, though on modern ships the practice still occurs but the food is minced up first. Fishes do well.
As to general garbage including empty beer bottles from the accommodation, all into black plastic bags and as soon as it was dark over the side.

[Keith at Tregenna]

If true should be investigated and
sorted ASAP.

k.

[j.sabourn]

Lewis we all have different aims and experiences in life as regards shipping you started 25 years after me so will look through the eyes of shipping viz 1977 . In 1977 I had 25 years in of shipping some had longer. You probably have no idea of the seamen’s strikes at various times and only know what you read and most likely believe. I missed a line put in my previous post and trying to impress on you there are numerous instances of sub standard ships , and the world is not one big shipping world of ships going about their business properly controlled and efficiently run ,you’ll be saying next there’s a Santa Clause .if you had attacked someone on board in my time your feet would never have touched the ground , and as regards any certification you had In Mind would have been barred to you. That’s one big difference in 25 years of so called progress. Cheers JS.

[Ivan Cloherty]

If true should be investigated and
sorted ASAP.

k.

Why don't you keep out of discussions on subjects you know absolutely nothing about and have never experienced.