After having a look through the forum decided to join. My name is Andrew and currently a Chief mate with Targe Towing holding a Chief mate unlimited CoC. Previously worked for Gearbulk on self geared general cargo ships.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Hi all
Collapse
X
-
Originally posted by AndyE View PostAfter having a look through the forum decided to join. My name is Andrew and currently a Chief mate with Targe Towing holding a Chief mate unlimited CoC. Previously worked for Gearbulk on self geared general cargo ships.
Ian"Any damn fool can navigate the world sober. It takes a really good sailor to do it drunk." - Sir Francis Chichester.
"Waves are not measured in feet or inches, they are measured in increments of fear." - Buzzy Trent
"Careers at Sea" Ambassador - Experience of General Cargo, Combo ships, Tanker, Product Carrier, Gas Carrier, Ro-Ro, Reefer Container, Anchor Handlers.
-
Originally posted by HarmlessWeasel View PostHi Andy,
Any chance you could tell us what life on self geared general cargo ships is like these days? So far I've only ever heard people talk about working on them in the good old days and "during the war..." like the above person...
I also have the ear of a couple of your employers staff......"Any damn fool can navigate the world sober. It takes a really good sailor to do it drunk." - Sir Francis Chichester.
"Waves are not measured in feet or inches, they are measured in increments of fear." - Buzzy Trent
"Careers at Sea" Ambassador - Experience of General Cargo, Combo ships, Tanker, Product Carrier, Gas Carrier, Ro-Ro, Reefer Container, Anchor Handlers.
Comment
-
I left in 2006 so a few years since working on them. The work was enjoyable and very hands on (no sitting in a cargo control room). We still had alcohol on board so the ships with bars had a good atmosphere with the 5pm bar meet, dinner then back to the bar. Sunday was generally a half day BBQ with a 'few' drinks. All on sea passages of course. Sadly my last few trips were on newer ships so no bar, no Brits and no atmosphere but still beer for company. We still managed some lengthy stays in port due to weather depended cargoes or crap stevedores not being able to operate cranes or work cargo. I loved the varied cargoes and varying trade routes. Sadly as mentioned I was the only Brit on my last trip for 5 months which was pretty depressing and lonely so moved to other pastures.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Hatchorder View PostWatch it you - remember I have your address and know where you live and reside term time.....
I also have the ear of a couple of your employers staff......
Originally posted by AndyE View PostI left in 2006 so a few years since working on them. The work was enjoyable and very hands on (no sitting in a cargo control room). We still had alcohol on board so the ships with bars had a good atmosphere with the 5pm bar meet, dinner then back to the bar. Sunday was generally a half day BBQ with a 'few' drinks. All on sea passages of course. Sadly my last few trips were on newer ships so no bar, no Brits and no atmosphere but still beer for company. We still managed some lengthy stays in port due to weather depended cargoes or crap stevedores not being able to operate cranes or work cargo. I loved the varied cargoes and varying trade routes. Sadly as mentioned I was the only Brit on my last trip for 5 months which was pretty depressing and lonely so moved to other pastures.
Comment
-
Steady on you lot! I have to say that thinking 20 years ago being the heyday is a bit of a romantic notion. Even when I joined in 1981 things were on the decline for UK companies. Many Companies had already gone to the wall and flagging out was already happening. 2 years before I joined 50 cadets were taken on by Ocean Fleets. The year I joined it was 6 and we were all made redundant at the end! We still had fantastic times though with GC ships, many days in ports, tramping, bars on ships and 6 or 8 cadets on some ships.
Ian"Any damn fool can navigate the world sober. It takes a really good sailor to do it drunk." - Sir Francis Chichester.
"Waves are not measured in feet or inches, they are measured in increments of fear." - Buzzy Trent
"Careers at Sea" Ambassador - Experience of General Cargo, Combo ships, Tanker, Product Carrier, Gas Carrier, Ro-Ro, Reefer Container, Anchor Handlers.
Comment
-
Originally posted by HarmlessWeasel View Postah well that doesn't really bother me to be honest. I'm with the borg at the moment so already dry. What about the changes in manning? From some of the talk on here, it seems like there isn't a single sector of the industry that isn't replacing European/British Officers with cheaper labour.
Comment
Comment