longest time between ports
Hi Ivan,
I have no doubt you are right about the blue peter, I am only going off what was explained to me at the time. I remember being told that the P flag was to indicate the vessel would be leaving in 24 hrs. I did see a Blue Flue ship turn round in a day so I swallowed the info. Maybe it was one of those courtesy calls to keep the trade open.
I have also waited for a berth at Lagos when I was with the Guinea Gulf line on the Florence Holt, sometimes we used to anchor off Diamond Point ? and the duty officer on anchor watch used to have the Aldiss lamp handy to spot agmies trying to climb aboard in the night. It was rumoured that he also had a 2-2 rifle !!
I better leave this;; we are getting off the thread!
Kevin
Longest time between ports
Hi Kevin
Its when we go off thread some of the best stories surface, so don't worry about it, sitting round the messroom or saloon table we always went off thread, I think the threads alternated between women and bars, were there any other subjects discussed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ivan
Longest time between ports
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dennis McGuckin
My understanding was. When the blue Peter was hoisted, we were due to sail in 24 hours.
Bad news if you were in a good port.
Den.
Hi Dennis, in the International Code of Signals
"P" = "All persons are to report on board as the vessel is about to proceed to sea"
But you are quite right, it was hoisted 24 hours before the vessel was due to sail, the reason being in the old days most crews lived in sight of the docks so it warned those on leave that their leave was at an end and they should report on board to prepare the vessel for sea, which used to be a long job in the old days of sail.
In the eras after sail to 70's it was still traditional to fly it even though crews lived further afield and it was always flown in foreign ports, hoisted as soon as the vessel berthed if the vessel was to be in port less than 24 hours. It was a kind of signal for "alright lads you have been warned, don't go making any arrangements for any all-nighters!" to re-inforce the gangway notice. Always remember being sent off the bridge as a cadet before the pilot left to hang the "shore leave expires at ---- hours" before any crew hoofed it down the gangway, the Blue Peter re-enforced the message.
Ivan