Re: The "M" Boat's of Shell Tankers
John I am telling you as it was in Ocean Fleets, they had a BAKER onboard as well as Ch Cook and 2nd cook, with Chinese they even had a Chinese crew cook. With Pakistani or Bangladesh crews there was also a crew cook or Bhandary, always made the best Curry and Chipatas.
Re: The "M" Boat's of Shell Tankers
Was it in the late 50s or late 60s that the evil word of Time and motion man got around .I know after the strike of 66 we had a visitation by a government official and I took him around the decks. One of his recommendations was that we took the heavy rope tails off the back springs so that one man instead of 3 could handle. This was the start of the demanning process . Everything else is history . Later what I saw were zombies where there had been human beings with human feelings and human failings. My son asked me last time I saw him , why I had never spoke to him about a life at sea , one of the reasons was that I wouldn’t promote such a life as I saw on the horizon as regards British Shipping and the same would apply if I could go back 40 years , JS
Re: The "M" Boat's of Shell Tankers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lewis McColl
John I am telling you as it was in Ocean Fleets, they had a BAKER onboard as well as Ch Cook and 2nd cook, with Chinese they even had a Chinese crew cook. With Pakistani or Bangladesh crews there was also a crew cook or Bhandary, always made the best Curry and Chipatas.
Do not doubt you Lewis, but on most cargo ships I knew it was second cook and baker.
Re: The "M" Boat's of Shell Tankers
That is right even Blue Star with 12 bloods, Cook, 2nd Cook and Tabnabs, and Galley Boy
Never saw "Baker."
Re: The "M" Boat's of Shell Tankers
Well maybe that is why Ocean fleets ships were known as good feeders then. You did a spell in Blue Flu Brian and you cannot remember a Baker? You do surprise me!!!!I am sure when the Ebani carried 12 passengers the catering department had even 2 extra stewards as well. So a Blue Star ship with 12 Passengers only had 3 in the galley? , Cook must have been a Busy man then.
Re: The "M" Boat's of Shell Tankers
I only did one 6 month trip in Blu Flu, 1959/1960. that was a Sam Boat all the galley staff were Chinese, Have not a clue who was who, 9 sailors and a Bosun and Lampy. on deck English, rest of crew all Chinese.
One trip in 1953 on TARKWA of EDs , 12 Passengers , galley Staff all West Africans so again never knew who was what.
I joined the New MELAMPUS June 1960 maiden voyage, a Band and flags flying etc, and walked off just as she was sailing, due to the Seamens Strike,.
SACKED FOR EVER.
But on every cargo ship I was on in the 50s only three in the Galley
Re: The "M" Boat's of Shell Tankers
Why the argument about galley staff, or any other manning for that matter, different companies and even different ships in that company will have different manning scales (normally the minimum) to suit that vessel, so only experience of what you have experienced is probably the best yardstick. However I do think an AB whose messroom is normally next door to the galley would be more aware of the galley staff numbers than an engineer, no disrespect to engineers intended. On the PSNC 'S' Class 12 passenger ships it was normally Ch Cook, 2nd cook/baker, 2 assistant cooks, galleyboy, on the 'S' Class 3 passenger ships (Samanco and Sarmiento) their was only 1 assistant cook.............horses for courses comes to mind.
Re: The "M" Boat's of Shell Tankers
The duty mess was beside the Galley, no one is arguing, as you say different companies different crews. Did you ever sail for Blue Flu or ED's Ivan?
Re: The "M" Boat's of Shell Tankers
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lewis McColl
The duty mess was beside the Galley, no one is arguing, as you say different companies different crews. Did you ever sail for Blue Flu or ED's Ivan?
No Lewis, I was very lucky! :rolleyes:
Re: The "M" Boat's of Shell Tankers
Well then you don't know what you missed, some stiff shirts in Blue Flu. But paid better than most, not as well as Tanker companies I suspect. You could even get a mortgage at reduced rates above a certain rank, think it was from Ch Off/2Eng. I imagine it was probably a bit like Cunard or P&O some of the senior staff a bit up there own backsides.