How it changed

[happy daze john in oz]

I have on mt computer monitor a collection of black and white ships.
Not sure where the bulk came from out there are many photos I took and added.
Looking at the ships from then and comparing to those of today shows just how much the industry has changed.


Amongst the collection are a number of very old coal burners from I suggest may be pre WW1 or just after. Sadly the names are not clear enough to read.
Amongst them one of Le France as a WW hospital ship.


Then ships from our era, in particular a large number of castle ships.


The intermediates such as Braemar, Rhodesia, Kenya and some early ones such as Dunnottar, Arundel, Durham,Warwick and others.


But many still look as we knew them, sleek and clean, well almost.


Then I began to think of the massive changes in shipping during our life times.
Gone the coal burners and some oil burners to be replaced by ships using LNG andalmost all electric.


Gone the sleek liners such as the Queens where elegance was the name of the game, or to the humble cargo ship with maybe 8 or 10 bloods on board.


Gone the ships used to haul immigrants to Oz and other countries, the Southern Cross,Orion of P&O and so many others which I am sure you all can recall.


Gone now the cargo ships where goods were loaded by slings, replaced by unsightly container ships, no more smoko on hatch 5. Unloaded by cranes very often worked remotely in another country not the one where the shipis.


Gone the elegant liners replaced by cruise ships many of which are considered to beno more then ‘pigeon coops’


It is called progress and for many it surely is.
But to those of us who sailed when we did the memories of shipping we knew and sailed on will always remain.

[James Curry]

During my time the oldest I sailed on was Blue funnels Autolycus built in 1949. That was in 1972 so an old lady then. Double acting opposed B&W engine, interesting to say the least.
But what sticks in my mind was one time while loading a cargo of explosives from the coaster Saint Bridget. The cargo was leaking
Nitroglycerin. Loading stopped odrered to leave the anchorage think it was Falmouth. A load of experts arrived from ICI Scotland.
Decision made to back load the cargo onto the Saint Bridget. Ended up the Saint Bridget was moved out beyond the Lizard and a team from the Royal Navy placed charges on her and blew her up. For those of us that stayed on the Autolycus , Blue Funnel gave us all new White Boiler suits and we were told to wave to the nice menof the press and the Helicopter crew with the TV cameras onboard, they really pushed the boat out as we also had a free bar.
So for me I went from an old bluey to brand new LNG Carriers. Truth be told apart from the big improvement in accommodation I preferred the old timers with all Brit crews on deck and Hong Kong Chinese down below.
Happy days.

[Des Jenkins]

Hi John
That's called nostalgia, I was on a ship with chain and rod steering, then upgraded to a newer model like an old coal burner with a woodbine funnel. But I was lucky with my first ship on which I did two years. These days a shudder to think of the days when carrying deck cargo's 0f logs across the North Atlantic in Winter, but hey we enjoyed the days, I think. I have seen a few nice looking ships in later years but not many . We had the best of times.
Des

[Joe Earl]

PROGRESS
PROGRESS

Master and Commander standing there at ease

Braced upon his quarter-deck eying up the breeze

Mainsail tight, ballooning, disciplined and squared

Sheets hauled aft and ready, belaying pins prepared

Men upon the futtock shrouds scrambling to the yard

Braces taught and straining bowing very hard.

　

Captain in his swivel chair radar by his side

Pushing coloured buttons to manoeuvre in the tide

Thrusters pushing easily taking it in turn

Automatic sensors at the bow and stern

Seamen wearing plastic hats and overalls that glow

Pulling little levers that make the winches go.

Progress !!!

[Des Jenkins]

Hi Joe.
Still putting out brilliant poetry about the sea, thanks.
Des

[Gerald Farr]

Have been looking for the post where it said about a body being found in the fresh water tank when opened up for new cement washing. Brought back memories of my short course at King Ted's in London, Autumn 1955. One of the instructors, Capt. McBride, ex Ben Line, when taking us around the Docks and showing us over any one of his beloved Ben Line ships gave us this very sound piece of advice which stayed in my mind for ever, If you ever have to go into a tank, water tank, double bottom, cofferdam etc. and you are working on your own, take the cover plate in with you to at least as far as the first lightening hole, this way you can never be locked in. He actually gave us an example of where such a tragedy happened, I don't remember where it was but I did remember the simplest way of avoiding it happening to me.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Have been looking for the post where it said about a body being found in the fresh water tank when opened up for new cement wash,

The ship it happened on was the 'Levenpool', I sailed on her.

[j.sabourn]

Did anyone serve time at Leavenworth or Alcatraz , I served time on MV Dartmoor. Usual call from other passing ships in the Suez Canal was “ how long you in for “ or those who knew the vessel was a NE coast vessel was “ any Geordie’s on board” , and the answer back from none Geordie’s was “ no we’ve been fumigated “. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

There was a story about the Windsor castle, well two actually.

One was about a knocking sound coming form behind a bulkhead.
Went on for the whole voyage and reported to the company.
WE heard the remains of a body were found in a space in the bulkhead somewhere.
How he got there was the question, never did hear any more after that.
Was it true or just a story?

Second one they discovered another tourist class stewards cabin hidden away.
Apparently when fitting out a door was not fitted to the cabin.
Only discovered from the outside a shore gang member doing work on the ships side discovered it.

[Doc Vernon]

Did anyone serve time at Leavenworth or Alcatraz , I served time on MV Dartmoor. Usual call from other passing ships in the Suez Canal was “ how long you in for “ or those who knew the vessel was a NE coast vessel was “ any Geordie’s on board” , and the answer back from none Geordie’s was “ no we’ve been fumigated “. JS

Oh No! You sErved at Alcatraz! and Dartmoor , how long for ! LOL