Hello everyone.

[Bob Hay]

I've been a Member here years ago and just rejoined (I hope).
Bob Hay ex Booth Line, Lamport and Holt etc

[happy daze john in oz]

Welcome back, hope you enjoy all we have to offer now.

[Des Jenkins]

Hi Bob
Welcome back mate, give us some of your adventures as some of us are to old to remember when last you where on the site, and tall tales are always welcome.
Des

[Bob Hay]

Hi Des. thanks for the request. This is not a tall tale. I was 2nd Engineer on the Booth boats 'Valiente' and 'Viajero' in the '60's running up and down between New York and Iquitos in Peru.
We were tied up in Belem one time behind either the Veloz or Venimos and having a drink with their lads they asked us would we take some rifles and ammo up to Manaus for them as their run had been rescheduled down the coast and not up the Amazon. All seemed straight forward as some bloke had been arranged to come down and pick them up there.
Unfortunately , someone around the wharf had seen them being transferred to us and into our dunnage hatch before we went up the road for a good time.
About 7a.m. a squad of Brazilian Marines clambered aboard and made us stand out on the deck while the rifles were brought into daylight. I really thought we were for the high jump, but couldn't believe our luck when they went away with them.
However they had gone aboard our other vessel and some were arrested for 'illegal arm smuggling' and the British Consul had to come up from Rio to get it all sorted out, which it was, as apparently the guy in Manaus was contacted and proved he had ordered them (supposedly for hunting). This was at the height of the Cuban / Russian missile crisis so the Brazilian authorities were a bit on edge.
We only found all this out after we proceeded from Belem up the river and to be honest, myself and the 3rd were seriously considering jumping ship in Iquitos.

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Thanks John. I've been in Oz myself and family since 1972. Seven years for Adsteam tugs in Port Hedland and three years for Lombardo Marine on supply boats out of Darwin and Sedco Drillship off NorthWest Shelf, before coming ashore.

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Thanks John, I thought I'd replied to you. I've been in Oz with my family since 1972. Seven years foron Adsteam tugs in Port Hedland and three years with Lombardo Marine on supply boat and Sedco drillship before coming ashore.

[Bob Hay]

Welcome back, hope you enjoy all we have to offer now.

Thanks John. I've been in Oz myself and family since 1972. Seven years for Adsteam tugs in Port Hedland and three years for Lombardo Marine on supply boats out of Darwin and Sedco Drillship off NorthWest Shelf, before coming ashore.

[j.sabourn]

Hi Bob , I started off much later than you but with Total Marine of Fremantle, sailed with Vince Lombardo think he was the nephew of the older Lombardo who I relieved on the NW shelf think it was the Miclyn Pride . They were securing a pipeline on the bottom. Went from there to Mermaid marine and also worked for Tidewater. Some of Total marine ships belonged to Swires of Hong Kong and they had their own Superintendant but he was
only allowed 12 weeks at a time in country and had to keep going back and forwards, he asked me how I managed to stay in country permanently, I said the usual had the brain removed.!!! Knew someone in UK who put me in touch with the super for Adelaide Steamship Company and he gave me a ref . To emigrate to Oz, said I would have no trouble with employment , the only hard part was getting into the Guild. Cheers JS