Pacific Envoy / Loch Ryan

[Pat Marshall]

Loch Ryan must have been the unhappiest ship I've ever sailed on. One trip up the West coast...have a feeling it was the Old Mans last one too..... squashed a lighter whilst loading prawns off San Salvador...an EDH took a knife in the ribs ashore in Stockton barely a couple of hours after being told the place wasn't safe for a run ashore and on the way back down the coast whilst loading cotton at Guaymas a lady of easy virtue came aboard for a few days resulting in a queue for the Doc by the time we got to Panama. The thing that most upset the Old Man was the presence of the Chippy also waiting for the Doc. Chippy had been 64 for many many years so it was said and was considered to have set a bad example for a man of his years!
The final upset came whilst riding out a severe gale off Ireland when the 3rd Engineer got caught in a blow back from the donkey boiler..a nasty business but a couple of days later the Navy came along side and took him off.
I was quite glad to get off when we finally made it to Tilbury.

[Gordon Paul]

Several that I sailed with said the same thing, did one trip that was enough for me seven hours of winch down time around the uk, Not enough spares to fix but the coastal C/E got enough for deep sea which was great, but when the deep sea Chief went through the invoices he nearly fainted stating that we had destroyed his record of being the most ecconomical of the fleet. Ill say no more , glad to get off.

[Richard Masson]

How's this for a narrow escape? Got appointed to the Loch Ryan but before I got there Royal Mail sold her. Went to the Loch Loyal instead. Now there was a really smart ship

[Pants]

Just wondered when that was I spent 2 1/2 years on her, yes she was the dirtiest and most hard working ever, also noisy those bl**dy turbines used to scream but have to add I enjoyed my time,in fact I stripped her out and stood on the dock as she sailed out of Vic Dock having been renamed Fair Ryan off to Japan for scrap

[Gulliver]

Hi Pants and Saltie, really great to hear some older memories. Always nice to hear.Being perhaps just a tad younger than you(57) it reminds me that you were the kind of guys(of whatever rank or rating) that I used to look up to and learnt so much from.
I realised this when Pants was talking about Loch Ryan(Loch Ruin!) and thought it was the one built in 57,when in actual fact she was the previous one ex-Empire Chieftain of 1943.
Isn't it great that 50 years or so on we're talking about this on our computers.
Good on you,shipmates!
Davey(Gulliver)

[Gulliver]

And Paedrig too! Sorry,I meant to mention you too.mate.
8 Bells time (x 4 !!) down in 'Ye Olde Faggott & Firkin',methinks
Gulliver

[wilky]

Hi Gully , pants and saltie. I have some great memories of the Loch Loyal. From being banned from Hamburg , serving as night watchman in L.A and going ashore during the day with some of the catering staff to places like Disneyland , marineland and Knotts Berry farm . To half inching a stacker truck in Van couver docks and turning it on to its side.

[Gulliver]

Hey!.! My mate Wilky, just looking at your avatar,I don't doubt you! Behind that shaven-headed ! picture of genteel respectability of today,who thinks it 'normal' to initiate a whole forum dedicated to Black Puddings!.......I see the shipmate of old(a good one!,whose middle name was 'Borstal' .
Good on 'Yer, mate.! I'm delighted to know I wasn't the only one who left a trail of destruction behind me.
Davey(Gulliver)