Is this a fair wage for an deckhand trainee and ratings?

[Colin Hawken]

Agree with you there Pete.Like I said,"Do it all again if I could."We all would I guess.

[robpage]

I till remember the dissension in Northern Europe when the Zulu Crews were noted as having lower wages than the British equivalent , the European courts gave them equal pay , they all paid off in Durban and were replaced with British based crews , a Pyrrhic victory for them . Clan line ( British and commonwealth ) just proved what we all knew , the British crews were not he cheapest , but they were the most professional . Now thanks to Government regulations ,l and I'll leave JimmyS to explain the ins and outs of that British ships often now don't have one British subject on board , not even the Skipper .How times change !!

[jimmys]

There is a difference between a British owned ship and a British flagged ship. The British owned ship can have any flag the owner likes and the British flagged ship goodness knows who the owner is.
When you go to inspect a ship it is not easy to ascertain who the owner is. It is usually an offshore company, Cook Islands , Bermuda, Gibraltar, a front company. All the certificates are issued by class ie Lloyds to this company. Hull and Engine and P&I insurances are the same. It is for the owner to hide behind limited liability in case of accidents.
Thousands of ships come into UK ports and nobody has a clue who the actual owner is. You have problem and contracted managers handle it not the owner.
The flagging and personnel on British flagged ships was a political decision and all the regulation was given to IMO. I was in post in Glasgow Marine Office at the time and the MCA, the British administration had no say.An out and out political decision. It started after the Falklands, Mrs Thatchers Government.

regards
jimmy

[happy daze john in oz]

Very true Jimmy, we have P&O cruise liners down here in Oz owned by a US company but flying the Red Duster and registered in London.

[Charles Bryan]

Yeah! and no doubt with a multiracial crew paid a lot less than the going Oz rates of pay,I bet the I T F are not on board the vessels to often either...
REGARDS TO CHarles (Kalibah)

[Gordon Turnbull]

£36 a month with Union Castle at beginning of '72. But that was a lot of money to a 16 year old. Would also manage to get about the same in "dropsies". Anyway, when I moved to BP in '75, by that time a steward, I remember having a huge argument with the 3rd mate who thought £300 a month was absolutely scandalous for ratings to be earning. Reckoned it was more than him. Still remember his name but won't post it :-)

[robpage]

1972 I was a Junior Engineer on the Pendennis Castle at £98 per month , Changed to Gulf Oil in 1973 and as a Fourth Engineer my wages jumped to £250 a month , so good old Union Castle was not a great paying company .

[Charles Bryan]

Check out the latest pay rates for tghe Tugs and TOWAGE AGREEMENT AUSTRALIA,At the same time
check out the daily rate for non towage line voyages or emergency call outs,,I bet there are no UK shipowners paying these rates of pay.
Charles (KALIBAH>

[Captain Gordon Whittaker]

As I am sure you all recall, we were always aware of salary before actually "Signing on", and it was a personal choice. We all had a pittance when starting off, whether as Peggy or Apprentice. I do know that Deck boys were paid more than first year apprentices, but the training was thorough and free! It seemed all very worthwhile standing on the Bridge of my first command in 1974 at £200 per DAY, after starting off at £9 per MONTH in 1957. All that "deprivation", paid off in the end.( The food in Cunard and Ben Line was wonderful). Today a DPO, (Dynamic position operative), on a dive support vessel is on £350 per day. 1 month on - 1 month off on full pay. All expenses paid, door to door.
We must also remember that we could get a pint for about a shilling, ( 2 1/2 p). Try less than £3 now !

[Keith Tindell]

Hi, I remember my first pay packet as a deck boy was £12 a month, but life was good, that was all found, with cigs 10 shillings for 200, and i thought i had the world by the tail. I remember the excitement joining various ships, what part of the world would i be seeing etc. remember in the late 50`s no one travelled, no package holidays. On returning from a voyage to my village in Surrey i was jack the lad. What a life, would not have changed a thing. Best regards Keith Tindell