NE Agreement.

[jimmys]

In the mid 1970's during one of my punishment periods on the Texaco Great Britain a VLCC we changed crew at Canvey Island. I was 2/eng.
The officers were all on the normal running agreement but the crew were not.
They were signed on at Dock street pool without anyone from the ship present and without them seeing the ship and bussed from London to Canvey. On the sight of this heap of scrap a number of them disappeared.
The only thing I know about those articles were it was a shambles. Some crew were told it was a passenger ship.
Not long after she went to Indian crew.

regards
jimmy

[Duke Drennan]

Duke

I think the full name was - William France Fenwicks - , my father Ivan Cloherty R96096 sailed with them on numerous occasions and remember going on the "Cornwood" in Hull when I was a youngster

Rgds

Ivan

I hadn't heard either name in 40 years and yet when I saw them in your post, I immediately remembered them from the '60's. The nostalgia never ends, eh !
Thanks Ivan.

[Ray McCerery]

Hi Jan

Articles of Agreement were the same for all vessels operating in Home Trade waters namely "Six Month Running Agreements" I signed on these type of "Articles" in Stevie Clarkes, CEGB, Everards, London and Rochester, Comben Longstaff. The Watch Ashore/Onboard was unofficial and was a system that owners allowed their Masters to operate, so that vessels had regular crews, it apparently had no basis in law and crews could not demand its operation, but it would have been a foolish company which did not allow it to operate. Stevie Clarkes and CEGb tried to balance their crews on the vessels which were on Bus route runs to Power Stations with a mix of Southern and Northern Crews, this was even better for the crews

There were only two Official types of Articles

(1), "Six Month Running Agreements" were you could sign off or on under an ENG2 endorsement, which didn't require the services of a Shipping Office Official, but could be done by the Master of the vessel and the Articles presented at the next British convenient port of call, this allowed the vessel to change crews at weekends when Shipping Offices were closed.

(2) Foreign Going Agreements" when a Shipping Office Official was always required, even for a HT run, but your Discharge Book was endorsed "Home Trade" in the type of voyage section.

But as always I stand to be corrected, but having been a Supt for 20 plus vessels on HT Six Month Running Agreements. I had to operate the system and manage the crews

Regards

Ivan

I think you will find that it was only the colliers that had watch aboard/watch ashore, and all on HT running agreements. Also forgot to mention Hudsons Colliers. also most of the colliers were manned by Stevie Clarks and I would think about 95% were from the North East of England:- Hartlepool to Blyth

Ray

[Ivan Cloherty]

I think you will find that it was only the colliers that had watch aboard/watch ashore, and all on HT running agreements. Also forgot to mention Hudsons Colliers. also most of the colliers were manned by Stevie Clarks and I would think about 95% were from the North East of England:- Hartlepool to Blyth

Ray

Hi Ray

I can only speak from personal experience in the 50's and 60's I sailed on numerous Stevie Clarkes and also CEGB and all had mixed crews North/South, also served with Everards and Longstaffs where we worked a Watch Ashore/Aboard system with mixed North/South. But probably like us all I can only speak from "my own" experiences and not others so am not in a position to comment as an authority on the subject. But upon coming ashore and looking after 22 plus coastal none collier vessels gave me a fair idea of the system we operated. Others may have had different experiences and I respect that, and the differences is what made our chosen profession interesting and gave us something to talk about across the messroom and saloon tables.

That is why this site is so good, if gives us chance to share our experiences

All the best

Ivan

[Ray McCerery]

Hi Ray

I can only speak from personal experience in the 50's and 60's I sailed on numerous Stevie Clark's and also CEGB and all had mixed crews North/South, also served with Everards and Longstaffs where we worked a Watch Ashore/Aboard system with mixed North/South. But probably like us all I can only speak from "my own" experiences and not others so am not in a position to comment as an authority on the subject. But upon coming ashore and looking after 22 plus coastal none collier vessels gave me a fair idea of the system we operated. Others may have had different experiences and I respect that, and the differences is what made our chosen profession interesting and gave us something to talk about across the messroom and saloon tables.

That is why this site is so good, if gives us chance to share our experiences

All the best

Ivan

Hi Ivan

I was talking to some friends who were on the colliers for over twenty years, mainly SEGB and NTGB -CEGB and of course Stevie Clarke's. Stevie Clarke's manned all the vessels except SEGB, I asked them were the Everard vessel on the same agreement, most said no they did not run a regular service from the NE to the power stations on the thames and SE coast and back like the colliers. Only repeating what I understand to be true.If you go to Ships Nostalgia plenty of collier men onboard.
Cheers
Ray

[Ivan Cloherty]

Hi Ivan

I was talking to some friends who were on the colliers for over twenty years, mainly SEGB and NTGB -CEGB and of course Stevie Clarke's. Stevie Clarke's manned all the vessels except SEGB, I asked them were the Everard vessel on the same agreement, most said no they did not run a regular service from the NE to the power stations on the thames and SE coast and back like the colliers. Only repeating what I understand to be true.If you go to Ships Nostalgia plenty of collier men onboard.
Cheers
Ray

Hi Ray, as said earlier I can only recount "my personal experiences" and certainly wouldn't presume what I experienced was the experience of others or written in stone. Have never said anywhere in my messages that Everards or Combens were on the regular collier runs to power stations but we had some fairly regular trades where we operated similar watch ashore/onboard systems. Anyway thats enough from me on the subject.

All the best

Ivan

[Jim Brady]

A bit different but all about the same thing realy.I've just been having a pint with a guy,he said he docked in Swansea(makes no difference about the port)The ship was tied up and finished with engines at 7.30 a.m.on a Sunday morning so they were only paid half a day of " Sunday At Sea".He reckons you had to have at least 8 hours at sea to qualify for a days leave for a "Sunday At Sea".Anybody ever heard of this one?
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Ray McCerery]

A bit different but all about the same thing realy.I've just been having a pint with a guy,he said he docked in Swansea(makes no difference about the port)The ship was tied up and finished with engines at 7.30 a.m.on a Sunday morning so they were only paid half a day of " Sunday At Sea".He reckons you had to have at least 8 hours at sea to qualify for a days leave for a "Sunday At Sea".Anybody ever heard of this one?
Regards.
Jim.B.

That was the way it was Jim in the late 60s and 70s a full day at sea to get the exrta days leave. half day Saturday and full day on Sunday, that's why all or most crew liked weekend at sea.

Ray

[jon dee]

Hi Jim, In Harrisons & Moss Hutchison you had to dock after midday on a Sunday to get the full days pay at sea (1950s / 60s). In Moss's there was many a Sunday morning when we the first past the 'Rock' and the skipper took us up the Mersey to Garston to turn around to dock in the Alex by which time there would be a queue for the loch. ( usually Lamports ). ... .... .jd.

[Albert Bishop]

Bit surprised at questions about Sundays at sea. Thought it was the norm, more than twelve hours at sea on a Sunday gave you a days extra leave and a days extra pay??? I once asked if anyone had ever crossed the international date line, after mid day on a Sunday, and when the clocks went back, were they able to claim another Sunday at sea?? Cheers, Albi.