Career At Sea

[Red Lead Ted]

DHUs started during the 1955 strike, they were used to take out the liners stranded in Liverpool, I first came across them after the strike when I joined the Empress of Scotland.
They were mostly ex army, but useless on deck. They were on £4 a month less than an AB, but on the same overtime rate, and a lot more than a skilled SOS.
They were not allowed to go more than four feet above the deck.
I had a lot of trouble with them and didn't agree with the system, OK as Deck Labourers.
Brian

IRONIC, You mention Deck Labourers Brian, I remember only to well, An EDH Going aloft on a Strath boat the bosun told us all that the guy to tender our needs aloft was a D H U and didn't find him confident enough to send aloft, With that the E D H came down the mast and went straight to the mate on the bridge, We were working overtime all guaranteed 6 hours pay job and finish, Said those very words if I wasn't confident enough to go aloft or refused I would one be down rated or two get a D.R. The fact that a deck labourer was signed on isn't our fault he is on the same pay as me and should be up there with me. Or paid off asap, The mate never stood him down or argued with the E D H As he was a mate who worked his way up from boy to mate, And the way I saw it he agreed with his comments. Terry.

[Rodney Mills]

I am as you say John an avid reader, I've actually read 12 books so far this year, I start number 13 tonight. I'm keeping a list to look back on come Dec.31.

Number 12 was an interesting book called "Echo of Lions" by Barbara Chase-Ribould. It was about African slaves who took over a sailing ship called "Amistad" and by trickery ended up in New England rather than their intended goal Sierra Leone in Africa. It continues about their subsequent trials, and their defense by John Quincy Adams former 6th President of US.

I shall definitely be hunting for a copy of the book you recommended. I have a love of reading books in the places where the story happened e,g, "A Tale of two Cities" half in London and half in Paris, "Lorna Doone" in Doone Valley, Somerset. etc. ect.. In Oz. I read "A Town like Alice" in Alice Springs, "A fatal Shore" in N.S.W., "For the Term of His Natural Life" in Tasmania, and "We of the Never-Never" in Mataranka up in the Territory, plus heaps of others.

The one you recommend though, sadly, I would have to use my memories when reading it of your remarkable and lovely country that has a very special place in my wife's and my heart, a close second to my own country.

Attaching a photo of my wife and me in Doone Valley.

Thank you once again.

Cheers Rodney

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry, scanner is acting-up again so cannot attach photo.

Rodney

[Rodney Mills]

She's fixed the scanner.

Cheers, Rodney

Doone Valley 001.jpg

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Terry.
We had two of those unqualified blokes ex army on a tanker I was on, we were painting the masts and the same thing they couldn't go aloft as they were untrained, but the bosun who should have known better said they could do the lowering, I said no way, I didn't want an unqualified man lowering me down a sixty foot mast, I would sooner have the JOS or the SOS do it, and that's what happened.They were nice enough blokes and no doubt they would have, if they stayed at sea made good seamen, but it was their first trip, and as I told the bosun, you wouldn't put the deck boy on it.
Cheers Des


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[Red Lead Ted]

Terry, ref 18, i also did 3 months in Gravesend, and came out with the grand title of deck boy and spent the next couple of months as *peggy*, nowadays as i have read after training they come out with an EDH ticket,and zilch experience KT

Keith, Only just spotted your reply mate, It seems after speaking with a good mate of mines son, They came out of Gravesend with EDH Stamped in there book but where not signed on as EDH They had to have I think its 18 months sea time in before they were signed on or made up to EDH, They signed on and off as we did with there book monitored Deck Boy, J O S , S.O.S. Then once competent EDH. I cant see anyone doing 2 weeks at any school and having A.B. Anywhere in there book as Brian claims but hey mate nothing these days would surprise me. Regards Terry.

[Red Lead Ted]

Hi Terry.
We had two of those unqualified blokes ex army on a tanker I was on, we were painting the masts and the same thing they couldn't go aloft as they were untrained, but the bosun who should have known better said they could do the lowering, I said no way, I didn't want an unqualified man lowering me down a sixty foot mast, I would sooner have the JOS or the SOS do it, and that's what happened.They were nice enough blokes and no doubt they would have, if they stayed at sea made good seamen, but it was their first trip, and as I told the bosun, you wouldn't put the deck boy on it.
Cheers Des


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Des, I had a similar scenario Bosun gave me the job of white tallow on the forestay aboard the Windsor Castle 2 days out homeward bound, Take him with you work the drum end, He told me he had never done the job before, So I called the Bosun back sorry Bo, either let me have a qualified S O S Or better otherwise I will send him aloft and I will guarantee he will get up there and back down on a pin shackle, But he has never done the job before and we both know the consequences if by any chance he balls up, I ended up being sent aloft by the Bosun himself. That was Union Castle and I agree with Brian they could be a hindrance not all I must add but quite a few yes Regards Des Terry.

[John Arton]

Good morning all. I requested some help in October last year. My son was considering joining the merchant Navy and claiming an interest in navigation. He is 18 in June and sits his A levels in a couple of months. The response was overwhelming and very helpful. As parents, we can only offer so much advice. Especially, when we have no background knowledge of a life at sea. Could I ask for some more input from members please? I would like to know if our son would need previous sea faring experience? He currently has non. Also, should he choose more than one shipping company to apply to for sponsorship (he seems to prefer the cruise option but can't tell us why). Finally, could members offer maybe 5 (or more if appropriate) questions that they would ask him to establish if the he was genuinely committed to a career at sea. Thank you very much in anticipation. Craig Smith.

Never heard any update on this original post but if the son of the poster is still looking, today {April 2nd 2015} I received an email from Viking Maritime group of companies, and there sister company, Chiltern Marine. They are actively advertising for young men and women to train as deck/engine officers. They provide manning for cruise ships and general cargo/tankers etc.
Would be nice to know if his son gained a position or does Craig no longer log in.
rgds
Ja

[Captain Kong]

This happens a lot.
someone writes in asking advice and they are never heard of again after members give their time doing research for them,

Cheers
Brian

[j.sabourn]

#48...To be honest Brian if anyone had just asked me about myself I would have said I would do it all again I would just say Yes. If they had said would I do it now knowing the present set up at sea I would have said no. There is a new post from some young lady doing research on hours. This was done or should say mis-done 30 years ago to the shipowners benefit. She will never be able to put in her thesis or whatever she is writing the poor and illiterate standards of some of the cheap foreign labour employed some of which you are unable to communicate with. The best in some cases one can hope for is to try and keep them long enough so as to train them yourself. That is not what a career at sea is about, you want people around competent in their work. This is very rare at sea now, unless in I suppose some of the better companys if such exist these days. When I retired it was like a load being lifted off your mind, even though I do get the urge to be on the go again, sober thoughts bring me back to reality. As a parting shot Whitley Bay. That thought should see you through the day. Regards John S