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First Trip Cadet - Just Joined!
Actually, I served my time with the P&O Steam Navigation Company from 1961-63, having completed three years training aboard the cadet ship Worcester. Early years at sea were spent in cargo and cargo-passenger ships on the Australian wool run and Far East general cargo (break bulk) trade. I completed my indentures aboard the RMS Strathmore and SS Oriana. Passing for 2nd Mate in London, at the King Edward VII nautical training college in late 1963, I then completed 6 months training as a Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve, followed by watchkeeping duties in a Type 12 frigate. Then back to P&O as Fouth Mate of a cargo ship on the Far East run for a year, then to Orcades (Orient Liner) as Senior Fourth Officer. In those days all Orient Liner deck officers held a full Class One Masters Ticket, and as P&O had just amalgamated, we of the P&O were treated as second class junior watchkeepers until the takeover was complete and the ships fully manned by us P&O blokes! Promoted Third Officer, I completed my time for First Mates, which I took at Sir John Cass, London in 1966 - a year over my sea time as P&O found it impossible to find me a relief! Back to the Navy for 6 months, I qualified in conventional submarines at HMS Dolphin, before being appointed to HMS Otus as Fifth Hand. After that, I rejoined P&O as Junior Second Officer of the SS Oronsay, on the Australia and NZ run. As J2/O I was the ship's Navigator and apart from normal watchkeeping duties, tasked with route planning for scheduled voyages one year hence. As these included West Indies and Alaskan cruising, it made for interesting work - but undertaken outside of 12-4 watches, unless on ocean passage, when the Junior Officer of the watch could run the deck. Promoted Second Officer, I stayed in Oronsay for another year, before sitting my Masters Foreign Going at Sir John Cass in 1969. Returning to P&O after another stint in submarines, I was appointed Second Officer of SS Chusan, then promoted First Officer at the tender age of 27! On completion of the Chusan 1971-72 World Cruise, visiting 64 ports of call, we were advised that the ship was to be scrapped in Taiwan and my next berth was to be as Chief Officer of the new building Spirit of London, sailing out of Miami on West Indies cruises. Faced with that awful spectre - I promply resigned and joined the Royal Naval College Greenwich for the long nuclear submarine course, passing out in January 1973 and joining the nuclear hunter-killer HMS Valiant. In 1974 I worked in Norway with Norcontrol, on the first computerised merchant ship project, before joining the staff at Plymouth Polytechnic, School of Maritime Studies, lecturing in electronic navigation and researching my thesis on the deep diving submarine's application to the offshore oil and gas industry. On completion, I joined InterSub of Marseille, France, eventually operating 11 manned subs and five support ships. My first ship was the Jacques Cousteau - designed deep diving support ship 'Le Nadir'. As Chef de Mission, my job was to run the operation of a deep diving submarine engaged on offshore oil and gas missions in the Norwegian Sea, on behalf of Elf and Statoil. I then spent time as submarine operations Manager, all over the world, particularly the Med, Middle East and off Newfoundland and Labrador. 1982 found me recalled to the Royal navy, for the Falklands War, where I served as commander on the Task Force Commander's Staff, with responibility for STUFT - Ships Taken Up From Trade. On completion, the Navy extended my tour of duty and I joined the post-Falklands Operations Evaluation Group. From 1983-1992 I was involved with Amphibious Warfare, commanding a number of requisitioned merchant Ro-Ro ferries and passenger ships involved with NATO Northern Flank Operations - after all, it was still the Cold war! My day job was as Head of International Naval Sales and Marketing with the Plessey Company, where I worked until the company was taken over by GEC.
I am a Founder member and elected Fellow of the Nautical Institute and a Freeman of The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.
I am a Founder member and elected Fellow of the Nautical Institute and a Freeman of The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.
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