P&O

[Des Taff Jenkins]

The only passenger ship I was on was the Southern Cross when I emigrated to NZ, that was enough for me, a cabin for four no porthole and stuffy. But it is nice to see that things are getting better for the seamen of today, who like us, only want to get back to sea.
Des

[Des Taff Jenkins]

They are good places run by good people, many a time i availed myself of the rest and relaxation at the Seaman's mission's in ports around the world.
Des

[Doc Vernon]

Most all of the time that i was in Port both in the UK and several times at Home too, i used the Seamans Missions, they were good Free, and all that i remember were Friendly and had god Tukker!
One in Particular was of course the Southampton Seamans Mission, where both myself and my late Brother spent lots of time, they had a nice Snooker Room, good Food a Library, Chapel and the Rooms although a bit small were OK. London as well had a good one i stayed at a few times.
Cheers

[Ivan Cloherty]

This one for Ivan: https://www.theage.com.au/national/t...03-p577ke.html

Thank you Marian, that was an echo of times past at the table, my mother never failed to feed them. Yes today's world just does no know how much they depend upon seamen and ships and one without the other in today's world is useless, though the future may be different. Currently there are 100,001 merchant ships (over 100 tonnes grt) with an average cargo capacity of just over 23,000 tonnes plying the world's oceans. Now if all those seafarers decided to go on strike at the same time, then maybe the world would just start to realise how valuable they are, alas as we say at sea 'you'll just be pi**ing into the wind' because it will never happen, and seamen will remain the unseen commodity, not forgotten as most don't realise they exist in the first place.

Once again thankyou.

- - - Updated - - -

This one for Ivan: https://www.theage.com.au/national/t...03-p577ke.html

Thank you Marian, that was an echo of times past at the table, my mother never failed to feed them. Yes today's world just does no know how much they depend upon seamen and ships and one without the other in today's world is useless, though the future may be different. Currently there are 100,001 merchant ships (over 100 tonnes grt) with an average cargo capacity of just over 23,000 tonnes plying the world's oceans. Now if all those seafarers decided to go on strike at the same time, then maybe the world would just start to realise how valuable they are, alas as we say at sea 'you'll just be pi**ing into the wind' because it will never happen, and seamen will remain the unseen commodity, not forgotten as most don't realise they exist in the first place.

Once again thankyou.

[Lewis McColl]

The world has stood still over Covid and crew reliefs. Very few countries still will not permit crew changes. The number of suicides at sea are increasing at an alarming rate. Some crews have been stuck onboard for two years with no shore leave at all for at least a year. I have two friends I sailed with in NGSCO both are top of the tree One Master and the other Chief Engineer. Graham has just got home after 273 days away. Yes I can hear the old hands laughing 273 days I have been longer on a wave. 273 days equates to a 200 day extension on a 10 week contract. The ship was in China(I think I posted photos of her while she was in Dry Dock. China would not allow shore leave or crew reliefs. Ship owners are in no rush to solve the problem , no matter what they say. They are saving a fortune on crew flights as usual the seafarers are shafted yet again by governments and owners. I am glad I am out of it.

[Ivan Cloherty]

The UK Government has announced that no seamen will be prevented from leaving or joining a ship in British ports, all they ask is that they have a covid test before travelling. We have seen a lot of to-ing and fro-ing to quayside by tenders from the seven cruise vessels in our bay lately. Nearest operative airport at this time is Bristol +/- 100 miles, then Heathrow (130') and Gatwick (220'), Exeter 30 miles still not operating.

Where there's life, there's hope, lets hope its getting better for them.

[Malcolm Lawrence]

You are correct Keith, I was with Fyffes 1973-4 and we often had passengers (mostly Americans) on our trips around central/southern America, could only give them a rough itinery as it all depended when the banana's were ripe, maximum of 12 pax due to the necessity of having a doctor on board with number above that.
They were well looked after and pretty well had a Steward for each cabin (six on Steamers I was on)

[Keith Tindell]

Hi Malcolm, I don't know if you or any other members, remembers a program, guessing some 50 years ago, where a doccu was made on the Fyffes banana boat and its passengers at the time. I know its a long time ago, but remember watching it on TV, and was interesting from the passenger point of view, and how they got on. Would love to see it again, kt

[john walker]

Keith #19 there are a few short films on YouTube about fyffes and Geest banana boats with passengers onboard which you and others might enjoy ?? I have no Idea how to post the link possibly somebody else could do it for me ?? or just google yourself Youtube Fyffes Bananas.

[Keith Tindell]

Hi John W, thanks for that, think that is the one i was talking about, anyway someone may enjoy days gone by, kt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuP01ssActk&t=49s