Merchnt Navy to be discussed

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Following on the Covid disaster in Australia there was an inquiry by a Govt Dept as to why we didn't get certain things owing to foreign ships with Covid not being allowed to berth in Aus, the inquiry was instigated, and now from that comes the news today was a suggestion? that 30 ships be built and run in Australia. As stated in the bulletin America has thirty merchant ships under their flag, and Trump said he may build thirty more. Now Britain is also from all accounts thinking on the same lines. I will post more if any more news comes to light.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Des, a sensible concept which means with our lot a no goer.
But if it does get up the union men will be happy, thought if they continue in the 1960 style they may not last long.
Then of course the question of where the ships will be built!!
The only yard left to my knowledge is in South Oz, the Vic one is now closed.

Of course we could always buy them from China, every thing else we buy comes from there.

[James Curry]

Must admit not heard that the UK are looking at building up the Numbers of British Merchant ships. Be great if they did and manned from top to bottom with with British seafarers. Thing is it will be easier to build the ships, than to get the crews. But I suppose the length of time it takes to build a ship in the UK they could start training ships crews now and then press gang them into the RN & RFA until such times a new MN Ship is built. Another plan possibly would be to approach Maersk line and get British trainee seafarers , Deck officers & Engineers to totatally man some of there ships. I know Maersk line do employ a lot of British deck & engineer officers not sure about crews though.

https://rina.org.uk/publications/the...building-boom/

Take the time to read this attached article sounds wonderful but a lot has changed since this article was published.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Foreign shipowners are already saying it isn't necessary as there are plenty of shipping around, {At what cost}The was a lot more on the news but as it is only in the thought process stage and we all know hw long a thought processor takes with a politician we can only wait and see, I may be able to sign on when I reach my 100th birthday LoL.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Des, foreign owned ships will not take on Oz crew from an Oz port, if they did they would have to pay them at Oz rates, that is far too high for them.
It taken on overseas they are paid at that ships rate.

[j.sabourn]

#5 By the same token John foreign seamen were not employed on the Australian coast in the 1990s. It was a closed shop. My final year in the North Sea I had been on 32 pounds a day and some of the stand by companies were paying less, no recognised leave , no unions, it was the lowest of the low regarding employment. However it was a job take it or leave it.My first ship in Australia was 76,000 Aust $ per annum and this was for a 6 months working year. There’s no one learned the rule book at that time faster than me.
I have no complaints about the Ozzie system at that time. However as usual it was taken out of others hands and the poxie Polly’s got control once again with of course the assistance of the bad press. Cheers JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

I wouldn't join one of those foreign ships, did you see the way they payed off that bloke in Newcastle NSW? Just gave him his book and threw him over the side, and witout a train ticket home.
Des

[j.sabourn]

Des the press gangs were still in existence in the 1980s in Aberdeen in the safety ships. As previously posted I sailed with one being thrown on board via the pub by an office member to make the number up small as it was. Coming to the next morning on location he had the DTs . Regardless He was part of the boats frc crew. I weened him off the drink and on return to Aberdeen he was as clean as a whistle and came and thanked me for himself being in that condition. Fortuanetly he was an ex seafarer so knew the real score. JS.

[j.sabourn]

#2 let’s hope they don’t have bombs or listening devises built in John. Maybe already there ? Cheers JS

[Art Wadsworth]

Hello Des --- Those American ships are old enough to have voted for Trump. Art from Baltimore