Writing a novel featuring 1930 Burnyisland Economy Steamer

[Frank Burroughs]

I remember that movie. Must download it and watch it again.

I don't mind your warnings about this project. Being disabled, I routinely do the amazing. First wanted to write this in 30 days. Found out "amazing" will take awhile. Research is what it takes. Also devouring books on writing. I wrote many papers at university. A novel needs more brought to the plate before the first "It was a dark, stormy night...". Not enough hours in the day. I love it

[Captain Kong]

Ifr you need the Atlantic chart , here it is

[Frank Burroughs]

the Sea chase (1955)

As World War II begins, German freighter Captain Karl Ehrlich tries to get his ship back to Germany through a gauntlet of Allied warships.

think this is the movie you were thinking of. Watching "Long Voyage Home now. Try to get today's kids to watch a black and white movie.

[cappy]

the Sea chase (1955)

As World War II begins, German freighter Captain Karl Ehrlich tries to get his ship back to Germany through a gauntlet of Allied warships.

think this is the movie you were thinking of. Watching "Long Voyage Home now. Try to get today's kids to watch a black and white movie.

Thats the one many years since i saw it but was memorable to say the least ...the days of many on this site were long long ago now ....we were a different youth ...we had lived through hard times ...and lived life to the very very full fearing nothing ,,,,taking the world by the nuts and all it had to offer ....iwas proud of who i was and proud to sail with fellow seamen and live like brothers to most of them ...it truly made me the person i am now ...regards cappy R683532

[Keith at Tregenna]

The earlier seamen, were a different again breed of men. Recorded and repeated often that
never did a ship not sail for a lack of crew, these heroes left knowing they may never return,
some returned then left knowing they may never return, then some returned then left knowing
they may never return etc etc. The Heroes of the Red Duster: The British Merchant Navy.

None of the Allied services engaged in World War II was in action longer or suffered a higher
percentage of casualties than the British Merchant Navy.

K.

.

[Ivan Cloherty]

[QUOTE=Frank Burroughs;363428]The 3rd mate is a young man who came up through the ranks. He put in hi sea time and passed his exams. /QUOTE]

In an earlier post you said the ship was British and had British Master and mates, Now this raises a question for us seafarers. Why would a certificated (licenced) American seafarer join a British ship where the pay rates are far inferior to those on American ships, is he someone who has been wrongly accused of a crime and needs to disappear, as everybody on board would think so, whether it be true or not. Just an observation.

Mind you most American ships were falling apart in that era, as USA records show that only 3 (yes 3) merchant cargo vessels were built between 1919 and 1937, the rest being tankers, naval vessels and passenger vessels, the latter being for Grace Lines, Matsons, and President Lines and like British Liners promotion rates were dead men's shoes system

[Doc Vernon]

Quote by Keith Rather than try to explain pic uploading, our senior moderator Doc will be on board later and
am certain will assist, he has the instructions already and may post or request you e.mail them
and he could add for you.


How do I add a Picture to my Post (merchant-navy.net)

[j.sabourn]

Cappy and his Leper Colony.... Believe looking at my old school Atlas the Island North of Bali was in the Kangean Group, some are just pinheads on the scale of the map. There was no jetty there just a boat ramp which we had to back up to and the crate was driven onboard with a forklift. There were a few ragamuffins there wanting to know if I had their Daddy on board a bloke called Krapti but said I had never heard of him. I reckon you owe me. Their mother was the size of Jumbo the pink elephant that you see after a heavy session on the lemonade. Hes only pink if your not colour blind however. You must be getting ready for your second shot of the elixir of youth by now, does it really do things for your virility. ? They reckon thats what kept Sabu youthful in Hollywood for so many years. Cheers JS

PS Additives looking through some of the correspondence. there might be a few misquotes there.
1. There is a qualification for 3rd. mate in the American Marine world, Not in the British.
2. Marine rates of pay may have been in front of Britain in earlier years , but were certainly well astern of Australian ones in the 1990s , having sailed with Americans on their own flagged ships , at the time of speaking 1995 an Australian AB was earning in excess of an American master on Offshore vessels. Most Americans I met when in their country had at least two jobs if working ashore , there is a difference between Hollywood and real life. There were even a couple of American masters in the North Sea who used to commute for jobs on the stand by vessels and on British wages and we all know what they were. Americans are not as well paid as some would have you believe. JS..

[happy daze john in oz]

Do not forget the seasons in different parts of the world.

Dry , Wet, Hurricane, Typhoon, Cyclone etc etc.

eg West Indies August to end of November is Hurricane season. and these creep up the East coast of the US and end up as storms in UK
Pacific,.,.,... Hawaii to Tahiti January to end of March , wet season and so on

And you will know when it is summer in England as the rain will be warm.

[Frank Burroughs]

[QUOTE=Ivan Cloherty;363620]

The 3rd mate is a young man who came up through the ranks. He put in hi sea time and passed his exams. /QUOTE]

In an earlier post you said the ship was British and had British Master and mates, Now this raises a question for us seafarers. Why would a certificated (licenced) American seafarer join a British ship where the pay rates are far inferior to those on American ships, is he someone who has been wrongly accused of a crime and needs to disappear, as everybody on board would think so, whether it be true or not. Just an observation.

Mind you most American ships were falling apart in that era, as USA records show that only 3 (yes 3) merchant cargo vessels were built between 1919 and 1937, the rest being tankers, naval vessels and passenger vessels, the latter being for Grace Lines, Matsons, and President Lines and like British Liners promotion rates were dead men's shoes system

I think that is a good point overlooked. My assumption was all deck officers had a license. So, this adds to the character. He had to take the first ship out. I wanted to contrast British ways with the lone American also. I've traveled from Mexico City to Anchorage, Alaska. Thought this would let me learn about other people across the pond.
It did seem to me American shipbuilders were slow between the wars. I am started ships last 30 years or more. Very complex items.