Scary moments

[Red Lead Ted]

Alays remember one guy we had with us on a South American run, He was as quite as a mouse at sea as soon as we got ashore for a few beers you couldn't shut him up { SCARY } We christened him the talking horse, Never seen a set of teeth or a jaw like that before in my life. Iam convinced he could jump 4 miles around Aintree race course Terry.

[Tony Wilding]

Its strange you said that, instantly brought back memories of someone we called The Talking Horse, but for the life of of me i cannot put the name to a Ship, i seem to remember he was from london, but could be wrong, would that have been with Royal Mail or PSNC, ?

[Red Lead Ted]

Neither mate, We where tramping the Mexican Gulf/ South American coast, And Caribbean, Hains Trevaylor. Brilliant trip 7 knots full ahead both lungs didn't give a hoot in them days life took us were we tied up Happy Days Regards Terry.

[dixie dean]

Made me think you lads had just a taste of being aloft now you can imagine what it must have been like in the old sailing ships in bad weather taking in sails,hanging in with knees while using both hands to stow canvas.

[j.sabourn]

July 6th. 1988 2300/2400. Fireballs missing by feet. Underwater explosions lifting vessel feet at a time. Unbelievable heat and at times choking smoke, certainly not scary. Bloody terrifying. Cheers John Sabourn

[Robert T. Bush]

This one with another Winchester. The City of a fine looking general cargo vessel.

In Saugor Roads Hooghly river in a bad cyclone was forward calling out the direction of the anchor chains on a non gas free product carrier. C of W dragged past us a half a ship's width away on our starboard side. Our starboard anchor was right ahead if she had snagged it and hit us it would have been a disaster. There were four ships in the anchorage and two dragged.

The Sand Heads lightship was found three days later miles off station with the crew saying their prayers. There was a large loss of life among those living in the area and on small craft.

[Robert T. Bush]

Three dangerous occupations but I believe that of Fishermen is the worst.

Those guys really earn their money.

Lifeboatmen have my admiration too, and so do the Helicopter Pilots who save life at sea.

Always preferred small ships never thinking they are probably the most accident prone.

[vic mcclymont]

Had many scary moments at sea.
Returning home on the SA Vaal, the engineers alarm sounded every ten minutes or so it seemed.
Got home on leave, went to the pictures with mates, picture was boring, I fell asleep.
Awakened by the sound of a klaxon from the film, I jumped out my seat, and it felt like everyone was looking at me. Slunk back down and forced myself to watch the film.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Three dangerous occupations but I believe that of Fishermen is the worst.

Robert from the posts read many on this site have had some very scary moments in all kinds of ships, fires at sea and oil rigs amongst the worst in these modern times. On a generality deep sea fishermen working in the North Atlantic, Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, White Sea etc probably face the most constant danger because of the constant inclement weather in those areas. The icing up is rapid and relentless in those areas, more so than the Bering Straits and Beaufort Sea off Alaska, although none of the areas are a picnic. Having sailed on trawlers I would say that the trawling is far more dangerous than the Alaskan crabbers portrayed in recent television series whose fishing equipment is much lighter and easier to discard than the deep water trawlers when it has to be abandoned, the weight of a full net, Otter Boards and associated gear has dragged down many a sound trawler when they have become snagged, there is no warning the vessel is broached-to in an instant and if masts are iced up there is no chance of righting herself.

Other jobs perhaps are probably just as dangerous on occasions, but they don't have the constant danger and unpredictability of those afore mentioned seas that the deep sea trawler boys work in.

[j.sabourn]

Ivan, agree with what you say. Have had quite a bit to do with fishermen, and my own backgound a couple of generations ago came from a fishing family. They are very good seamen, good ship handlers, and usually very forthright in their views. As most seafarers they are hard players as well and try to cram in a month of living in a day on their infrequent stays ashore. At sea you couldnt ask for better. Unfortuanetly is a dying breed due to our faithful allies on the continent fishing quotas etc. mainly to others benefit. Used to have many a friendly argument with some of them, especially with the Skipper (Full) as according to the certificate he could take any fishing vessel anywhere. Used to say put fishing gear on the Queern Mary and will take that away. Cheers John Sabourn