unusual cargo

[Neville Roberts]

I remember once we carried 2 prize bulls on the deck of the manistee in big crates to kingston ,for errol flyns estate there and his mom and dad came down too the ship too see them taken ashore .

[Keith at Tregenna]

RE: "We were throwing out some of my Dads old papers out when I came across some news articles about the SS Fort Stager delivering pedigree sheep from Melbourne to Durban in 1946. There was an almighty storm through the Australian Bight and the ewes went into labour giving birth to 29 lambs which the crew had to spoon feed, the ship was 5 days late".

LINK: http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/f...t-stager-4600/

K.

[Ron Kendall]

I remember once we carried 2 prize bulls on the deck of the manistee in big crates to kingston ,for errol flyns estate there and his mom and dad came down too the ship too see them taken ashore .

Did you know that Tasmanian born Errol Flyn was the great,great,great great grandson of the mutineer Fletcher Christian? not a lot of people know that!!!!! regards, ron

[Dennis McGuckin]

Think it was the Riebeeck Castle. Took some prize steers, along with their handlers, to Cape Town or Durban.
Smelly buggers.[steers not handlers-then again?]
Den.

[Duke Drennan]

Brought polo horses back from BA in stables built on deck of the Defoe (L&H) Mind you, I think that was quite common on that run.

[Duke Drennan]

This is not an unusual cargo, just a ruined one.
Loaded a cargo of Jaguars and Morgan sportscars in Immingham bound for Newark. Couple of days out, they flood the deep tanks to take her down a bit. Next morning, we're told to open number 4 and there, glistening under the water was the cars. Whoever flooded the tanks, maybe the chippy or an engineer, can't remember, got drunk the night before and forgot about it. We were hanging over the coamings laughing our a---e's off. Anyway, when the water was pumped out, we had to open the car trunks and doors, letting the water run out and then put clusters inside the cars hoping that the heat from them would dry them out. Fat chance, the guages were all full of water, leather seats saturated, totally ruined. I never heard what happened after we unloaded in Newark but I'm sure that somebody took it up the deaf and dumb for that screw up.

[Captain Kong]

I remember once we carried 2 prize bulls on the deck of the manistee in big crates to kingston ,for errol flyns estate there and his mom and dad came down too the ship too see them taken ashore .

I remember Errol Flynn in Jamaica, His Dad was a world famous Marine Biologist, Professor Flynn, We had just tied the Tilapa on the little wooden jetty in Port Antonio, we had just sailed past his Yacht ZACCA moored at Naval Island in the lagoon
When we lowered the gangway Errol was the first to climb up it. He asked us if we could get any Scotch whisky, Whisky was in short supply in those days. 1954, He owned a Hotel in Port Antonio, Sunset Lounge,
We told him we couldnt get a can of beer on this one. The Captain was a screaming Bible puncher, and we were a dry ship.While we were talking to him the Captain came down from the Bridge to the prom deck. What do you want he says to Flynn.
Errol asked him could he buy a supply of whisky for his hotel, Get off my ship , the Captain screamed,
I said to Flynn, that is why we dont get a beer on here. He then said I will send the boat over this evening and you can come on the ZACCA and have a drink.
He had a Puerto Rican crew and they came to the jetty and took us over. What an incredible yacht that was, the Appletons Estate flowed like water. Flyn showed us around the accommodation.and his famous cabin.
He had just been cleared of pushing a girl on bunk and raping her. The Bunk was over four feet tall with drawers underneath, and it was impossible to push anyone onto it. So he got away with it. He told us that he would take beautiful young ladies around the Caibbean and then at the end they would demand payment for the favours recieved. if he didnt pay up they would shout Rape.
We asked him for a job on his Yacht, No chance, not having you lot taking over my young ladies. At the end of the night, he poured us all into the boat and we were taken back to the Tilapa. A good night out.

I met him again in Palma Majorca in 1957 , and that is another story.
I liked Flynn, a real character,and was sad to hear on the radio when I was in Curacao in August 1959 that he had died in bed with 15 year old Beverley Aadland in Vancouver, he was coming and going at the same time.

Cheers
Brian

[Captain Kong]

Did you know that Tasmanian born Errol Flyn was the great,great,great great grandson of the mutineer Fletcher Christian? not a lot of people know that!!!!! regards, ron

Yes I did know that Ron, not a lot do though.
Thanks
Cheers
Brian

[Capt Bill Davies]

Nothing really unusual in the cargo itself except in the condition the cargo was delivered.

The incident happened on a china 'P' boat in the 60s I am told. Prior to sailing from Kobe, Japan homeward bound a last minute cargo of transistor radio's for HK were loaded and the mate decided for his own and security reasons to place the cargo in the No. 3 Lower Hold Deep Tank. The vessel sailed for Hong Kong and experienced heavy weather. During the first morning watch the Second Engineer asked the Mate could he do something to reduce the ships rolling. The Mate advised that the Deep Tank should be filled. This was done and the Master complimented the Mate over breakfast regarding whatever action he took the reduce the effect of the weather. I will not try and guess when the inevitable dawned on the Mate but, needless to say he never sailed in another china boat and all reference to him was made under the name 'Deep Tank xxxxxx'

[stewart morrison]

I remember one trip on the Ceramic to New Zealand we had a prize ram in a crate lashed to the deck which was no trouble as the weather stayed good all the way to kiwi. The biggest problem we had was that the crate was interfering with our deck golf taking up a couple of holes...... oh the hardships we had to put up with in those days!!!!!!!