By registering with our site you will have full instant access to:
268,000 posts on every subject imaginable contributed by 1000's of members worldwide.
25000 photos and videos mainly relating to the British Merchant Navy.
Members experienced in research to help you find out about friends and relatives who served.
The camaraderie of 1000's of ex Merchant Seamen who use the site for recreation & nostalgia.
Here we are all equal whether ex Deck Boy or Commodore of the Fleet.
A wealth of experience and expertise from all departments spanning 70+ years.
It is simple to register and membership is absolutely free.
N.B. If you are going to be requesting help from one of the forums with finding historical details of a relative
please include as much information as possible to help members assist you. We certainly need full names,
date and place of birth / death where possible plus any other details you have such as discharge book numbers etc.
Please post all questions onto the appropriate forum

-
26th April 2025, 05:45 AM
#11
Re: Shipping Federation
From what i know going to the Seamans Mission here in Melbourne most seamen go direct to the shipping companies of their own country or one close by.
For crew on most cruise ships, they contact a site set up by the various companies, some time sin their own country.


Happy daze John in Oz.
Life is too short to blend in.
John Strange R737787
World Traveller

-
Post Thanks / Like
-
26th April 2025, 07:33 AM
#12
Re: Shipping Federation
A question are there any ex members of the RMAS on board. The letters stand for those who don’t know Royal Maritime Auxilary Service .This service attached to the Royal Navy. Reason the lady who cuts my hair often asks me if I knew her father when I worked for Naval Party 1007 I have seen his photo but doesn’t ring any bells.He was chief engineer deep sea , then went for the nearest thing to a shore job hence the RMAS.He was in his sixties when died a number of years ago..She has a number of his books which after these long week ends are over she says will show me what ships he was on,,so,may have to pass on his name and particlulars to see if others knew him. Thanks in advance whether successful or not. Cheers JS.
Last edited by j.sabourn; 26th April 2025 at 07:34 AM.
R575129
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
26th April 2025, 03:01 PM
#13
Re: Shipping Federation
Clyde Marine Recruitment Ltd. Glasgow Scotland.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
26th April 2025, 05:56 PM
#14
Re: Shipping Federation
Also note that the RFA appears also to be a way of joining the merchant navy these days, check out their web site, which is good to know so come on guys lets go !!!
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
26th April 2025, 08:05 PM
#15
Re: Shipping Federation

Originally Posted by
George Gunn
Also note that the RFA appears also to be a way of joining the merchant navy these days, check out their web site, which is good to know so come on guys lets go !!!
RFA was manned by Merchant Navy for a long time.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
27th April 2025, 02:00 PM
#16
Re: Shipping Federation
Yes I Did a trip on the Wave Prince way back 1965.
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
28th April 2025, 12:57 AM
#17
Re: Shipping Federation
Wave Baron 1952, Five months trip Aruba to Gib Malaya, then the gulf and back to Grenock.
Des
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
Re: Shipping Federation
#12 As in a recent post have received 3 discharge books and. Books for perusal and maybe somewhat out in the info. I gave. The lady has loned me the books plus photo albums of her father both at home and at sea. As
Already explained he is now very much dead but still in his family’s memorys so anyone who knew him it would be nice for them to know. She has matched my books up with his but at the moment our paths never crossed.
This post will be in instalments as will be too long for me to do in one go. So any info. On this person would be appreciated by all parties.
Name. Mathew Broadway R 552310 D.O.B. 18.3.34. Plymouth!.National Sea School Gravesend 13/7/51.
First ship Wave Protector as Catering Boy. Followed by British Dragon, ..RFA Teakol ,..Flammulina ( catering boy),..John W.Mackay ( asst. stwd. ) Black Ranger..British General..Brown Ranger..Green Ranger..British Trust..
STS Capulus, ..RFA Eddybay..STS Hatasia,.. “ Llandaff” Cardiff,..British Patrol ..RFA Birchall,..Black Ranger,..
British Princess,..RFA Retainer,..RFA Tidespring,..Wave Ruler,..Wave Resurgent,..SS Tulipfield,..Vivienne Louise..
RFA Eddyfirth,..Regent Falcon,..ESSO Wandsworth,..Aragon’s,.. Wave Prince,..F.A. Retainer,..Beriality,..
R.A.Robert Dundalk,..RRS Discovery,.. RRS John Murray,..Cable Restorer,..RFA Olna Ardrossan,..RFA Lyndsey,.Parthia Liverpool,..Rotherwick Bartle,..RFA Eddyfirth ,..
This book number 1 full ends 22/8/71.
Sometime in the course of events he came to be a donkey/ greaser and continues as engine staff will find out later,
This is a book to be proud of and see why his daughter is loathe to loose sight of. And is a typical example of a British seaman of that era.
Cheers JS
Last edited by j.sabourn; Today at 05:08 AM.
R575129
-
Post Thanks / Like
-
Re: Shipping Federation
#18 continued ….seems according to book 1, he went from assistant steward to fireman on the John W. Mackay in 1954.
Book 2. RFA Lyness,..RFA Regent,..RFA Resurgent,…RFA Lyness ….. in 1973 last discharge in new book, as the books of the present day came into commission the ones without the public statement of report on ability and conduct.
Going back to book 1 , has a 4 engineers discharge from the Berialty whereas signed on as Dky/Grs. Which is very feasible as she was only an 800 HP vessel.
Book number 3 shows again the RFA Lyness as D/Grs. ….the same as RFA Retainer ..last discharge 9.11. 73. I must assume this was when he joined the RMAS and is quite possible he was as his daughter says chief engineer with the same. I will ask her when I give her the books back on Monday. I still have all his RFA payslips to go through as they had their own system apparently , maybe there may be some slips also from the RMAS.as they too had their own system of accountancy no doubt. Cheers any relevant information gladly accepted but the general idea of posting this was to find out if this seaman was known to anyone as the family would be only too pleased to knows I am sure. Cheers JS
Have just been reading his NUS book also his general service Contract and even at my age have a few belated
Mysteries solved the likes of political levy’s etc. JS
Last edited by j.sabourn; Today at 06:37 AM.
R575129
-
Post Thanks / Like
Tags for this Thread
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules