union rules

[Francis Ralph]

Here's an odd one. In 1984 I flew out to Nagasaki to join new build " Taiko", on an agency contract as R/O. When I arrived I found only Capt, Ch Eng were British, other officers were Indian, and crew Hong Kong chinese. "Taiko was a unique ship in that she was a bitumin carrier registered in New Zealand. She was to replace an ageing vessel that annually went round the South Island supplying road repairing tarmac during the summer months. A new one on me. The Capt explained to me that BP had decided that the new vessel could operate with fewer crew than the old one, and had had a few cabins removed from the structure as a statement of intent. The Union in NZ had blacked the ship and demanded the reinstatement of the cabins.
A power struggle was joined. Nothing to do with us of course, we had been drawn from agencies to run the ship with the fewer crew so BP could prove their point. First voyage was to Dalien in China to load aviation spirit for Guam U S Airforce base.. Odd arrangement if you ask me !
Taiko had a lovely black and white fern leaf on her funnel and had to have the port of registry painted out on her stern and changed to Hong Kong, obviously some rapidly rearranged paperwork had been involved. On arrival Dalien , the chinese authorities boarded outside the harbour, and started asking awkward questions of the captain, about crew status and red duster flying from the stern. Capt patiently explained that HK was British and thus red duster was legal. Chinese were adamant. No red duster. Ok says the Capt , we will fly flag of Hong Kong as stated on the stern!.
I was at this meeting as capt had seconded me as a kind of mini secretary. he turned to me and told me to get the third mate to put up the Hong Kong flag so we could enter port.
Conversation between me and the third mate quietly over the phone resulted in the embarrassing fact that we didn't have a HK flag !!!!
I had to whisper in the Capt's ear , and he had to usher the delegation of chinese officials off the ship saying all would be well in the morning.
The Indian mate had the brilliant idea of getting the tailor on board to cover up the stars on the NZ flag and stitch on the white disc emblem of HK over them. Hence a HK flag.
How embarrasing not to have the flag of your registry... in China of all places.
The ploy worked and we duly carried out our voyage to Guam, and back to Singapore. There we were met with NZ press all demanding to know what was going on etc and the Bitumin would be soon needed in NZ for the approaching summer. BP officials on board informed the press of our operational functioning, trips to South Africa, the Persian Gulf etc , were muted, charts ordered, food stocked, courses laid off, and all the time we sat idle in Singapore roads, going nowhere. Week after week. I and fellow officers had a few good runs ashore, and a good time was had by all, as the arguments raged both in NZ and in the Capt's office. BP's argument that our chinese crew could operate the ship with the reduced numbers seemed a winner, but the unions held out.
Then one day , I woke up to the sound of hammering and banging. Work was afoot!
That afternoon, a phalanx of Kiwi officers descended upon us, ready to take over. BP had given in.
I amongst my many duties had been in charge of victualling via the agent ashore, and had just taken on board tons of NZ lamb. ( I was licking my lips) for one of our supposed charters.
The Kiwi officer i/c catering supplies, informed me that it would all be thrown over the side prior to arrival in NZ, due to some laws concerning reimportation or whatever. Broke my heart.
Perhaps, with all the antipodean subscribers to our forum, there might be someone out there who remembers this costly debacle of 40 years ago.
Please remember, the Capt/Ch.Eng and I were just pawns in this game of duplicity. "Taiko" was a lovely ship though.

Union Rules OK
Francis Ralph
R692715

[j.sabourn]

That is correct Francis but in fact it was not the union it was government ruling, and still holds true today in Australia . I brought 4 vessels down to Oz from Singapore and fully expected all the foreign meat to be condemned and stored accordingly , needless to say the union tried to make the most of the situation on arrival by demanding shore feeding if stores were not on the
Quay waiting. Cheers JS

[Doc Vernon]

What Post is this reply to please JS ?
You may have posted it in the wrong place??
CXheers


OK i just seen the Thread you were replying to JS.
cHEERS

union rules (merchant-navy.net)

[j.sabourn]

#2 the same as the original post Vernon , as have said continuously some of these posts appear on my IPad in letter form with no means of answering so apologies to the original poster with the title I had to put up to his post which I liked and couldn’t say so. It’s as though someone is deciding what posts I can reply to. If they are, others may notice similar.
JS

[Doc Vernon]

I have now merged all pots JS.
Makes it a lot neater and easier to follow now.
Cheers

[Mike Hutchins]

Hello Francis Ralph!
I relieved you on 'Taiko' in S'pore. Remember it quite well - though it seems a century ago now! I did a couple of years on her (we did 6-weeks-on/6-weeks-off back then) before reverting to one of the Union Co's other tankers. She was a good, comfortable ship & after a couple of months on the NZ coast, we changed from HK to NZ registry (VPFC became ZMIO).
I don't remember the meat saga, but we had an uneventful trip back to Wellington via a NSW port (forget which one now).
Hope you're keeping well wherever you may be.
Kind Regards from Mike Hutchins in Ahipara, NZ.

[Francis Ralph]

Hello Francis Ralph!
I relieved you on 'Taiko' in S'pore. Remember it quite well - though it seems a century ago now! I did a couple of years on her (we did 6-weeks-on/6-weeks-off back then) before reverting to one of the Union Co's other tankers. She was a good, comfortable ship & after a couple of months on the NZ coast, we changed from HK to NZ registry (VPFC became ZMIO).
I don't remember the meat saga, but we had an uneventful trip back to Wellington via a NSW port (forget which one now).
Hope you're keeping well wherever you may be.
Kind Regards from Mike Hutchins in Ahipara, NZ.

Wow! Blast from the past huh!
Thanks Mike for getting in touch it gave me a real jolt. made me more aware that the old memories are still valid. My time on "Tailko" was one of the more interesting variations during my life at sea Looked up Ahipara on Google maps, it must be one of the most beautiful places on the planet, well done dropping anchor there!
Always wanted to go to NZ , one of the few places I never got to. As I am mid 80's now, not much chance anymore.
Anyway, again thanks for contact, and wish you well. Also , How DO you remember those call sins after all this time?
Kind regards from Francis Ralph in boring Lincolnshire UK
R692715