M.V. Fernmoor

[j.sabourn]

As mention was made of the above ship in another post and I brought up the name will put it in a post of its own so as not to distract from the original posts subject.
News paper cuttings which maybe shortened to fit the story….can’t show photos as don’t know how.
Recent aerial photo shows Fernmoor floundering on a reef about 60 miles SW of Puerto princesa, Palawan , small boats can be seen to take crew members to safety.Final rescue was made by another ship in the area. Date Feb13 1954.
South Wales Echo feb. 5 1954….40 Britons Take To Lifeboats After Grounding. 4 lifeboats carrying about 40 survivors were seen from the air today clustering around British motor- ship Fernmoor aground in the South China Sea. Then the story again too much to print.
The Western Telegraph and Cymric. Has 2 write ups of the Radio Officer and the 2 mate.
The 20 year old R/O is Gareth Llewellyn old boy of Fishguard Grammar School.
The 2 mate was J.R.J . Jenkins son of the late Capt. and Mrs J.R. Jenkins , Hyfrydle, , Aberporth. Another long write up.
Bring any memories back Des ?

Cheers JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
I have a vague memory of that indecent, was up the Gulf on the British Guardian and the skipper was talking to the Mate about it. No relation that I know about, mind you thousands of us in Wales.
Des

[j.sabourn]

That speller on your computer has let you down again Des and they talk about putting robots in charge ? Only way to correct would have been to place incident after indecent . Like it would have been if found groping a strange woman . Cheers JS

[j.sabourn]

Just seen on the TV news that Albany life saving have invested in what I can only call a radio controlled lifebuoy for life saving .I can only congratulate the inventor of such , if anyone asked me what was the most efficient way of rescuing survivors out of the water I would say the simple life buoy with line attached and here we have one controlled by a hand set to go in to the person or persons in the water and bring them back in alongside the ship. Well done ! Someone has at last got it right . JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Thanks John, would hate to be saving someone with indecent behavior.
Des

[j.sabourn]

Des it is a fact that I state and one is restricted on how far one can throw a lifebuoy which I can categorically say is not very far.
With the radio controlled lifebuoy which is U shaped and capable of towing 3 survivors through the water cost I believe $ 13000 and would of saved at least 6 more lives that I was aware of if had of had. In general would have been able to stand off from the target a 100 feet instead of 10. Only saw the end of the news so hope it comes on again. JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

John,
As you say they are heavy, I threw one into Sydney Harbour when we were having lifeboat drill and the davit collapsed; throwing one bloke into the water, he grabbed it but could swim anyway.
Des