Hope for a MN

[j.sabourn]

Well there was in 2002 Lewis. Only ever sailed on 1 ship that had an incinerator and she was Norwegian . JS

[j.sabourn]

#10 Apart from single or double hulled tankers which I have no idea about as never sailed on double hulled. Between 1991 and 2002 I can give you the names of 27 ships which I was master on. With the exception of one where I was only there to make the number up the Ramform Challenger the other 26 to the best of my knowledge did not have sewage tanks never mind anything else . These are offshore vessels and I would of thought were just as important if not more so as to pollution of inshore waters. They carried a skip on deck to put all waste material in to be landed ashore and that was it. Unless these ships were sent to the scrap yard as being obsolete or have received big alterations , they are probably still lying up in the graveyard in Singapore waiting for charters unless of course the engineers had all the sewage going into some ships tank and pumped ashore without telling me , think I would have noticed a tanker lying alongside us on the quay , I was younger then and more observant . Cheers JS

[john walker]

The last U.K. flagged ship I sailed on was in 1981 and the last foreign flag/flag of convenience ship I sailed on was in the 1990's. There was a noticeable decline in the standards of the ships over that period of time in all departments. Including the maintenance of the vessels and the equipment of the ships as well as life saving essentials, the quality and quantity of food , pay and working conditions and the qualifications and capabilities of some of the certificated officers. In hindsight that period of my career was a downward spiral. One of the last ships I sailed on was a ro-ro ferry for about a year which changed its name twice and registry twice and its owners 3 times (I think) Each change was a change for the worse.
Basically it was a take it or leave it scenario. I took it !! I had started a CAREER at sea as a catering boy in 68 and enjoyed everything about being on ships including the good and bad. the great ports of the world and some of the U bends, there were always good things over the next horizon. It all went with the job and I had no intention of giving up that job. Eventually the 'Job gave up on me' Shipping companies of whatever hue did not need seafarers like myself. Qualifications, experience, loyalty, honesty meant nothing. There are quite a few members on this site who have experienced similar to the above in different departments onboard ships of various flags and doggedly persevered in similar circumstances.
IF I was younger and had health and fitness on my side and there was a committed resurgence in a British Merchant Navy from ship owners and the government. (That is a lot off IF's) I would be out there looking for work regardless of the type or quality of the ship involved. I would still enjoy looking for good things over the next horizon as I think others on site would. Alas I think that is all a pipe dream and there will not be a resurgence.

[Lewis McColl]

I started back at sea in 1977 with UASC and worked for them until 1982 when I was sacked for punching a jumped up little Kuwaiti -wat, only got what he deserved for abusing the engine room crew and was foolish enough to think I would put up with his -hit. I never lost a days work as the fleet personal guy at UASC got me a job the same day with Silver marine services. I was never unemployed from 1982 all the way through until I retired in 2013. Never had a real bad ship . My money was always paid on time , I certainly cannot think of it not being paid on time.
I read here about others who were perhaps not as fortunate as me. I certainly never experienced the take it or leave it that some were unlucky to have had to accept.
I could smell the way the wind was shifting as regards future employment and being down below.
I decided to train myself up to become Cargo engineer on LPG and later LNG carriers.
LNG gas engineers are or were as rare as hens teeth and once in and the number of new build LNG carriers jobs were plentiful. Never looked back and could pick and choose my jobs. I retired when I was 63 and and was still getting phone calls until I was 70 asking me if I wanted a job. I did a dry docking a couple years ago for a Chinese company. Plan was to Gas free the ship and when she was ready to leave dock I was to go back out to China to Cool her down and get her loaded. They tried to screw me around so I did the warm up and took her into dry dock went home got my money and told them they needed someone else to Cool her down again and get her loaded. Enjoying my retirement now and have no desire what so ever to go back to sea in any roll other than a passenger and even then only on a short haul ferry.

[happy daze john in oz]

Lewis whilst i understand what you say about double hulled ships think you will find that around some of the South Sea island region there are many older ships still in use.
I have seen many a one there that I thought should be on the beach at Alang.