Seamens Clubs & Missions

[Mark Thacker]

Morning all you old sea dogs does anyone remember the old doorman at the mission in Takoradi in Ghana,I was there in 1975 at the beginning of my seafaring days.This particular gentleman used to sit outside the mission on an wooden high backed chair wearing an old officers hat with loads of gold braid brandishing a huge old naval cutlass, any local who dared to approach without permission was greeted with a stern "Halt who goes there"....We had some great nights in that club, and needless to say there was never any trouble....

[Robert Arlington]

I was 3ON on Jervis Bay in early 1980. I believe she ran aground off Bilbao or Santander and then broke her back whilst under tow! possibly 1981?

[j.sabourn]

#51... John if it is a 12.5 hour a day you can bet your bottom dollar the next time you look it will be 13 hours a day.. for those who can remember after the strike on British Shipping. It went up to 9 hours a day, the extra hour we were told was for sanitary duties . I went foreign flags for a few years but on my return or shortly after the industry had a 10 hour day and today is or was 12 hours a day and a consolidated wage when I left. However this applies to most ships of whatever fllag. Working offshore there was never any such thing as hours that I saw , if there was it was before my time. As regards the watchkeepers it would never be practical with a master and mate only and a chief and second , 2 into 24 equals equals 12 and that’s before you start doing any work. As mate on aship it would be a boon to have no overtime sheets to do. However looking on the other side of the coin ,myself I don’t think most workers on a ship got much of an increase in the conditions and payments of service.
Others may think otherwise and pleased they are happy with the results. Cheers JS