Coasters

[Des Taff Jenkins]

The Leadsman Possibly one of the happiest ships I was on, small crew going from port to port with petroleum products, tying up in or near the town's centre sometimes, great.
Des




Leadsman1.jpg

[Julian Norman]

As a former Pilot (now retired) I was struck how pleased Masters of Capesize bulk carriers were to have you come aboard after 7 weeks at sea from Australia to UK. You could sea the weight lift from their shoulders due to voyage length and proximity to coast. Funny really as with a 17m draft they were miles from the coast when boarded.

[James Curry]

Maybe they were glad the voyage was over without the ship falling apart like a lot of cape size bulkers have done?

[Ivan Cloherty]

As a former Pilot (now retired) I was struck how pleased Masters of Capesize bulk carriers were to have you come aboard after 7 weeks at sea from Australia to UK. You could sea the weight lift from their shoulders due to voyage length and proximity to coast. Funny really as with a 17m draft they were miles from the coast when boarded.

Maybe it was the worry of orders from HO such as 'slow steaming' (7 weeks) knowing you had crappy engines, or a crappy crew, or that creaking of bulkheads in a seaway, so many factors that could lift a bit of weight off your shoulders when the pilot boarded, but it could also increase if you got a crappy pilot.

[Mike R868356]

Worked shoreside with quite a few RN guys standing joke with them ie names was that the MN was the real Navy. I often get sight of coasters navigating down the Humber to Goole no mean task.

[Brian Moyle]

Did 10 weeks at Vindi, imagining big ships and sunny isles. Reality,was turning up at Blyth coal loading docks on a freezing cold wet February day in '66. Mv. Harfry. high in the water and having to climb up a ladder with my suitcase. No 'elf and safety them days (thank god). My first ship, great welcoming from all the crew, up and around the British isles and occasionally France and Belgium. Great times and experience until I departed at the beginning of the seaman's strike.Never came across snobbery tho, unless you came across those unfortunates that worked on an Everards ship. lol.

[Graham Shaw]

Did 10 weeks at Vindi, imagining big ships and sunny isles. Reality,was turning up at Blyth coal loading docks on a freezing cold wet February day in '66. Mv. Harfry......

INFOLINK /PHOTOS for m.v.HARFRY -originally m.v.TANA (O.N. 184041)


Her final voyage (as EVANTHIA K.)-Extract from a Lloyds report.

[The Panamanian motor vessel Evanthia K. was on route from Sibenik,Yugoslavia(now Croatia) to Alexandria ,with a cargo of 1,615 cu.m.of beechwood,when she was in collision with the 28,754 dwt Israeli bulk carrier m.v.Har Sinai,off Sitia,Crete on 8th March 1976. As a consequence the coaster sought shelter and ran aground off Grandes Isl. off the east coast of Crete on 9th March.Her holds #' s 2 and 3 and Eng.Room flooded through numerous cracks in her hull.Abandoned as a constructive total loss

[Brian Moyle]

Coming on to sixty years since I left her it's sad to learn her fate, thanks for the info though.

[Phil Hughes]

Yes, I went rock dodging a few times usually IF we had a hot summer in the UK but normally while waiting for a specific ship / run. Spent time of Everards but my best coasters were the Esso Coasters for great accommodation, good food and good pay. Great days. Phil Hughes R698842.

[happy daze john in oz]

Yes, I went rock dodging a few times usually IF we had a hot summer in the UK but normally while waiting for a specific ship / run. Spent time of Everards but my best coasters were the Esso Coasters for great accommodation, good food and good pay. Great days. Phil Hughes R698842.

Depends what you call a HOT summer in UK