Comments for Life at Sea Weblog http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com Modern shipping compared Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:20:32 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Photos by Tomas Texino http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/photos/#comment-79 Tomas Texino Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:20:32 +0000 http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/?page_id=40#comment-79 I should like to hear more from Elinor. I am very interested in life aboard a ship because I have become ill and must spend a lot of time abed. Thank You I should like to hear more from Elinor. I am very interested in life aboard a ship because I have become ill and must spend a lot of time abed.

Thank You

]]> Comment on Photos by Peter Williams http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/photos/#comment-74 Peter Williams Thu, 29 May 2008 10:58:01 +0000 http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/?page_id=40#comment-74 Ellinore has not blogged since 10 May. She must be too busy. Hope she continues for a while longer. I've been really enjoying it. What splendid English she writes - puts some Brits to shame! Ellinore has not blogged since 10 May. She must be too busy. Hope she continues for a while longer. I’ve been really enjoying it. What splendid English she writes – puts some Brits to shame!

]]> Comment on Photos by Neeraj Bhatt http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/photos/#comment-73 Neeraj Bhatt Wed, 28 May 2008 04:05:56 +0000 http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/?page_id=40#comment-73 How do you post from onboard? Do you have an Internet connection onboard? Could you please post some details about it in some future blog like what kind, how expensive etc? Thanks Neeraj P Bhatt Globe Wireless Installer (ex Radio Officer) How do you post from onboard? Do you have an Internet connection onboard? Could you please post some details about it in some future blog like what kind, how expensive etc?

Thanks

Neeraj P Bhatt
Globe Wireless Installer
(ex Radio Officer)

]]> Comment on What’s that brown fog? by martin minnebo http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/2008/04/27/whats-that-brown-fog/#comment-72 martin minnebo Tue, 27 May 2008 10:15:47 +0000 http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-72 best wishes to all, on and of ships, the brown cloudy, smudge has been around for years on the seapassages between the continent and Britain. sometimes it was so irritating that some officers on cruise vessels and overnight ferries advised pax. to get inside the vessel in the evenings to avoid problems for breathing. Martin Minnebo Belgium best wishes to all, on and of ships,

the brown cloudy, smudge has been around for years on the seapassages between the continent and Britain.

sometimes it was so irritating that some officers on cruise vessels and overnight ferries advised pax. to get inside the vessel in the evenings to avoid problems for breathing.

Martin Minnebo Belgium

]]> Comment on Whales off the US east coast by Tomas Texino http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/whales-off-the-us-east-coast/#comment-58 Tomas Texino Fri, 23 May 2008 02:00:08 +0000 http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/?p=95#comment-58 Thank you for the interesting blog. Merchant Shipping is of great interest to me and I am very happy to have found some first person information. Best, T. Texino Thank you for the interesting blog. Merchant Shipping is of great interest to me and I am very happy to have found some first person information.

Best,

T. Texino

]]> Comment on Whales off the US east coast by Maritime Monday 111 | gCaptain.com http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/whales-off-the-us-east-coast/#comment-53 Maritime Monday 111 | gCaptain.com Mon, 19 May 2008 11:21:59 +0000 http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/?p=95#comment-53 [...] Life at Sea Weblog is blogging from the car carrier FIDELIO and calls the Port of New York in “Whales off the US east coast“. [...] [...] Life at Sea Weblog is blogging from the car carrier FIDELIO and calls the Port of New York in “Whales off the US east coast“. [...]

]]> Comment on Whales off the US east coast by John http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/whales-off-the-us-east-coast/#comment-21 John Sat, 10 May 2008 05:11:58 +0000 http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/?p=95#comment-21 I haven't been back to my hometown, NYC, in almost a year... thanks for the updates! I just found this blog today but it's very enjoyable indeed! Then again I might be biased considering you share the name of our 6 week old daughter. -John gcaptain.com I haven’t been back to my hometown, NYC, in almost a year… thanks for the updates!

I just found this blog today but it’s very enjoyable indeed! Then again I might be biased considering you share the name of our 6 week old daughter.

-John
gcaptain.com

]]> Comment on Captain’s life: a paper world by Scott McEwan http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/captain%e2%80%99s-life-a-paper-world/#comment-16 Scott McEwan Thu, 08 May 2008 13:11:47 +0000 http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/?p=48#comment-16 What a wonderfully sensible idea to standardize paperwork. Better still, find ways to reduce it when much of it adds no value and technology such as AIS makes paper reporting redundant. Sadly, the IMO's noble objectives are often undermined by powerful flag states e.g the USA. I am a former Wilhelmsen emplyee and these days I lecture to CSOs & SSOs in Australia. I would really like to have your thoughts on whether you feel that the ISPS Code is effectively enhancing your ship's safety / security. What a wonderfully sensible idea to standardize paperwork. Better still, find ways to reduce it when much of it adds no value and technology such as AIS makes paper reporting redundant.

Sadly, the IMO’s noble objectives are often undermined by powerful flag states e.g the USA.

I am a former Wilhelmsen emplyee and these days I lecture to CSOs & SSOs in Australia. I would really like to have your thoughts on whether you feel that the ISPS Code is effectively enhancing your ship’s safety / security.

]]> Comment on About by Captain Brian Rennie http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/about/#comment-5 Captain Brian Rennie Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:16:49 +0000 #comment-5 Hi Craig, Nice to hear from you again. It was Graham Coghlan alias Greebo who showed me this. Kep in contact Craig, it would be good to get all the class together for a re-union in Plymouth. Take care. Brian Hi Craig,
Nice to hear from you again. It was Graham Coghlan alias Greebo who showed me this. Kep in contact Craig, it would be good to get all the class together for a re-union in Plymouth.

Take care.

Brian

]]> Comment on Photos by Stan Caplin http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/photos/#comment-4 Stan Caplin Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:35:08 +0000 http://craigeasonatsea.wordpress.com/?page_id=40#comment-4 Craig Eason's Weblog was very much appreciated, From 1944 to 1946, I was a Deck Boy aged 17 on the Troopship " VOLENDAM ", trooping between the Clyde River and Halifax N.S. and also into the Med, with Service personel. The same ship that had been torpedoed by a U Boat off Malin Head in 1941. Another Deck Boy and a O.S. AMONG 17 Dutch and Belguim Seaman, all living down below on the water line accomodation deck for,ward. Later, I joined the CPR " Beaverlake " liner cargo service, London - Antwerp - Montreal in the Summer months, St John, New Brunswick in the winter months, all for 7 pounds a week. Later, I went to a Watts Watt ship, " WENDOVER "strait out of the Scottish shipyard, single cabins for the crew, and with a Galley / Messroom for the crew, but, we had to wash and dry our plates and cutlery after each meal, when I came from the bridge at 6 pm, the last one for his meal, from the hot press, the tea towels were all dripping wet, this I pointed out to the Master when after complaining to the Chief Steward, who did nothing about putting extra tea towel into the messroom, for 20 mixed crew members, engine and deck. When the ship arrived at Antwerp, a Able Seaman came on board and said he was the replacement A.B. No notice was given to the deck crew about replacing any seaman, and the Bosun was informed, who went the Captain to enquire about a new Seaman joining the vessel. Mr Watts Watt, had heard about the problem with the tea towels and arranged for a replacement for the man who complained about the tea towels, which was me. I packed my bags, went with the Captain to sign off at the British Consuls Office in Antwerp, who requested the reason for my dismissal,the Master had to explain about the tea towel crisis and that it was the owner of the ship that had arranged for the sacking of the seaman concerned in the epec of the tea towel. The Consul, after brief consideration, informed the Captain that a crew member had every right to express himself to the Captain without any compliance, and as such that he could not sign off this crew member under such circumstances. I had signed a 2 year articles of engagement with the ship,I had less than a month of wages from the ship and only a repat ticket due to me. The Consul informed the Captain that he had to send the replacement AB back to the U.K. if I still wanted my job on board the ship. I could se that the Captain was in a quandary, a brand new ship under his command, a order from his employer to sack a man at the owners instigation, or to inform the owner that the Consul would not comply with his requirement. This was the year of 1950, I ask, what would all the retired Masters who read L.L. do about this Captains position at the office of the British Consul in Antwerp. ( Over the years I was able to obtain my Mates Ticket and out of the Fo'c's'le ). This ship, on liner service Antwerp - New Orleans, for which the crew stayed 22months on board the vessel, and was eventualy paid off at Antwerp, how would this fare today, the most discussed item with the crew was that, that lucky "B" who was paid off in Antwerp, and who possibly was able to sign on and off several ships within that time, which I did. The Consul asked me how I felt about the situation of being dumpt in a forign port, I informed the Consul that I spoke the Dutch Language and French, quite well, and that a few days in Antwerp would be very nice for me, much to the Captains unexpected astonishment. The seaman A.B. who replaced me was paid off sick after 6 months, and each of the A.B.s would have gladly changed positions with me, had they been informed of the 22 month on articles. My local friend who joined the ship with me in Scotland, and did the 22 months, said nobody saved any money for such a long trip. Some seaman do have luck some of the time. Stan Caplin, caplin@westnet.com.au, Shipbroker Craig Eason’s Weblog was very much appreciated,
From 1944 to 1946, I was a Deck Boy aged 17 on the Troopship ” VOLENDAM “, trooping between the Clyde River and Halifax N.S. and also into the Med, with Service personel. The same ship that had been torpedoed by a U Boat off Malin Head in
1941. Another Deck Boy and a O.S. AMONG 17 Dutch and Belguim Seaman, all living down below on the water line accomodation deck for,ward.
Later, I joined the CPR ” Beaverlake ” liner cargo service, London – Antwerp – Montreal in the Summer months, St John, New Brunswick in the
winter months, all for 7 pounds a week.
Later, I went to a Watts Watt ship, ” WENDOVER “strait out of the Scottish shipyard, single cabins for the crew,
and with a Galley / Messroom for the crew, but,
we had to wash and dry our plates and cutlery after each meal, when I came from the bridge at
6 pm, the last one for his meal, from the hot press, the tea towels were all dripping wet, this
I pointed out to the Master when after complaining
to the Chief Steward, who did nothing about putting extra tea towel into the messroom, for 20
mixed crew members, engine and deck.
When the ship arrived at Antwerp, a Able Seaman
came on board and said he was the replacement
A.B. No notice was given to the deck crew about
replacing any seaman, and the Bosun was informed, who went the Captain to enquire about
a new Seaman joining the vessel.
Mr Watts Watt, had heard about the problem with the tea towels and arranged for a replacement for
the man who complained about the tea towels, which was me. I packed my bags, went with the
Captain to sign off at the British Consuls Office
in Antwerp, who requested the reason for my
dismissal,the Master had to explain about the tea
towel crisis and that it was the owner of the ship
that had arranged for the sacking of the seaman
concerned in the epec of the tea towel.
The Consul, after brief consideration, informed the Captain that a crew member had every right
to express himself to the Captain without any
compliance, and as such that he could not sign
off this crew member under such circumstances.
I had signed a 2 year articles of engagement with
the ship,I had less than a month of wages from the ship and only a repat ticket due to me.
The Consul informed the Captain that he had to
send the replacement AB back to the U.K. if I still
wanted my job on board the ship.
I could se that the Captain was in a quandary, a
brand new ship under his command, a order from
his employer to sack a man at the owners instigation, or to inform the owner that the Consul
would not comply with his requirement.
This was the year of 1950, I ask, what would all the retired Masters who read L.L. do about this
Captains position at the office of the British Consul in Antwerp.
( Over the years I was able to obtain my Mates
Ticket and out of the Fo’c’s’le ).

This ship, on liner service Antwerp – New Orleans,
for which the crew stayed 22months on board the vessel, and was eventualy paid off at Antwerp,
how would this fare today, the most discussed item with the crew was that, that lucky “B” who
was paid off in Antwerp, and who possibly was able to sign on and off several ships within that
time, which I did.
The Consul asked me how I felt about the situation of being dumpt in a forign port, I informed the Consul that I spoke the Dutch Language and French, quite well, and that a few days in Antwerp would be very nice for me, much to the Captains unexpected astonishment.
The seaman A.B. who replaced me was paid off sick after 6 months, and each of the A.B.s would have gladly changed positions with me, had they
been informed of the 22 month on articles.
My local friend who joined the ship with me in
Scotland, and did the 22 months, said nobody
saved any money for such a long trip.
Some seaman do have luck some of the time.
Stan Caplin, caplin@westnet.com.au, Shipbroker

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