Giant Container Ships

[Romig1]

Just been reading this article..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21432226

Very interesting for any ship enthusiasts out there.

[Boris+]

We really enjoy watching ships in port - and we also enjoy the wonderful programs shown on Quest.

It is also very interesting to see how some ports work and evolve. There was a smashing series about LA (must have been in 2011?), and then having watched a new set of cranes being installed in LA a couple of weeks later there we were, berthed right next to them.

Em

[Admiral of the Humber]

Dear Romig,

Big ships got me thinking.

My Old Man.....wasn't a dustman....he was a Master Mariner. He left schhol at 15 as a deck cadet in the 1950's and rose through the ranks until becoming a Master in his 30's.

He captained a variety of types of vessel from small gas and chemical carriers to an OBO (oil / bulk / ore ) carrier called the Alva Bay which weighed in at 200,000 tons and was 400m long.

As children my brother, sister and I had some excellent summers aboard visiting a number of European countries as well as Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the USA where we spent a memorable 6 weeks anchored near the naval base in Norfolk, Virginia. That was a shipping fans paradise because as well as a whole variety of big commercial craft on view there was all manner of warships including the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.

The accomodation aboard most merchant ships, though not up to cruise ship standards, was certainly far from shoddy. The accomodation blocks were up to 10 or so decks high and would included a bar for the officers, a dining saloon, games room with table tennis and gym, a bar and mess area for the crew and a pool. The pool was filled with sea water and on our trips my brother and I usually got the job of cleaning it out and refilling it every couple of days. The Merchant Navy like their BBQ's and we have a photograph somewhere of the AOTH family grilling steaks on a BBQ made out of an old oil drum on the bridge of the MV Arapaho....under a message painted on the side of the bridge in 2m high lettering saying "DANGER NO SMOKING"!

Back in the 70's and 80's the officers would have been British and the crew would have been Indian, Chinese or Filipinos, the latter being our favourite as they were generally friendlier than the former. It wasn't all fun though as my Dad liked to get his money's worth out of his "supernumeraries", ie any wives and kids. In my time I have chipped rust off miles of ships rail, painted, helped to scrub out cargo tanks and cleaned down decks with big "don't mess with me" water cannons.

When I look at the Officers on a P&0 ship, especially when they are done up in their evening finery I often think back to my Dad in his normal working uniform, khaki work trousers, white shirt with his eppaulettes, and his favourite cardigan and slippers. He had a cap which my mother had bought him "to smarten him up" but it spent most of it's life in our toy box at home. It was last seen perched a couple of years ago on my nephews head in a school play in his role as.....a lollipop man.

Regards
Rob aka AOTH

[Sealion]

You had a wonderful childhood AoTH.
My paternal grandfather was a shipwright and his father a Master Mariner (Foreign Trade)
When my brother and I were children instead of being taken to the beach my father
dragged us round docks and shipyards. We were taken on board a liner being built in the north east and I remember going in

the engine room.
It must be why in later life I have a interest in ships and shipping.
Do you ever read Sea Breezes?
Sealion

[Romig1]

Sounds like an interesting childhood.

[Onelife]

Lovely memories Robbie, thanks for sharing them

Regards

Keefy

[Onelife]

Funny you should post this thread Romig as I was reading an article this afternoon about how vulnerable larger container ships/tankers are in rough seas. Apparently unlike cruise ships etc cargo ships can be more vulnerable depending on what cargo they are shipping. The article was referring to those vessels that carry liquid cargos as they, when caught in a storm have to take into consideration the “extended roll factor” due to the ebbing and flowing of the liquid within.

Useless information but....

Regards

Keith

[Silver_Shiney]

[quote="Onelife"]

Useless information but....

/quote]


... interesting, nevertheless

[tractor boy]

what a great thread for anyone who loves ships, Thanks everyone, I really enjoyed reading your tales. Keep it up.

[Frank Manning]

I am sorry I missed this back in February. I am the ultimate ship anorak, and yes I love Sea Breezes magazine, and this room of mine is wall to wall with ship books, and videos of ships. I draw them, paint them, read about them, and but for my lovely wife I would probably have stayed at sea for as long as possible. But no ship can compare with Sue in my affections so I had to leave.

Really enjoyed your posts on this.

[gfwgfw]

Rob

You certainly had quite a privileged childhood . . . . and thanks for sharing it with us

> > > > > > >

Frank

My early ambition was to work in Fleet Street, just about got all the necessary documentations, then I met Betty, there was no way that she would start her married life living in sin city London

Though I managed to get her as far as Bournemouth and I swooped the glamours of Fleet Street for Orchard Street, to join the Bournemouth Times Series

A very happy 40 years in various roles for Southern Newspapers Series, no regrets whatsoever

[Frank Manning]

No regrets for me either Graham, I got the "wind like a wetted knife" out of my blood for a few years. I still love ships though.

[gfwgfw]

Frank

What is unique about Orchard Street situated in the heart of Bournemouth

A firkin of Mucky Brown Darzet Zider if your come up with a good answer

Even dear Mr Google hasn't a clue

Graham

[Admiral of the Humber]

Dear Forumeers,

My Dad was one of five siblings who went to sea. For good measure my Mothers sister married a Scotsman who went on to be a Chief Engineer with Mobil.

How many of my siblings and cousins went to sea (and there are a lot of us)??.....only two.... and neither into the Merchant service. My cousin David served for a while in the Royal Navy and my cousin Greg serves in the Royal New Zealand Navy as a medic.

The Merchant Navy is a tough place to make a living. My Dad and uncles all made Master and Chief Engineer rank, and all earned a good living...but it's a stressful and lonely job as they were often the only Britons in the crew. And then there's the little matter of being away from home for months on end; my Mum and Dad were together for two weeks after they were married then he went to sea for 11 months...perhaps he realised that marriage wasn't for him. My Dad missed lots of Christmas's and Birthdays whilst we were growing up but on the plus side he retired at 59 with a pretty decent pension and subsequently became about the most perfect Grand Dad ever.

I went into printing and work five minutes from home. 17 nights a year with P&O is the nearest I want to get to the Merchant Navy.

Regards
Rob aka AOTH

[gfwgfw]

Aw

I was in the printing game also Rob . . . the bonus

Never ever suffered the unbeatable "mal de mer"

Be happy

Graham

[Frank Manning]

Dear Forumeers,

My Dad was one of five siblings who went to sea. For good measure my Mothers sister married a Scotsman who went on to be a Chief Engineer with Mobil.

How many of my siblings and cousins went to sea (and there are a lot of us)??.....only two.... and neither into the Merchant service. My cousin David served for a while in the Royal Navy and my cousin Greg serves in the Royal New Zealand Navy as a medic.

The Merchant Navy is a tough place to make a living. My Dad and uncles all made Master and Chief Engineer rank, and all earned a good living...but it's a stressful and lonely job as they were often the only Britons in the crew. And then there's the little matter of being away from home for months on end; my Mum and Dad were together for two weeks after they were married then he went to sea for 11 months...perhaps he realised that marriage wasn't for him. My Dad missed lots of Christmas's and Birthdays whilst we were growing up but on the plus side he retired at 59 with a pretty decent pension and subsequently became about the most perfect Grand Dad ever.

I went into printing and work five minutes from home. 17 nights a year with P&O is the nearest I want to get to the Merchant Navy.

Regards
Rob aka AOTH

Nicely sums it up Rob. I loved it, but it was no life for a married man. We support the Mission to Seafarers who have a presence in over 260 ports around the world, trying to help the crews of ships, who are often isolated from society and their families, lonely, and sometimes badly treated. The Mish were good to me on many occasions.

[Stephen]

I have been watching the TV series from day one on how this ship was built. It is on Quest (freeview). Very interesting.

Probably only one or two episodes left to watch as it nears completion.

[david63]

I have been watching the TV series from day one on how this ship was built. It is on Quest (freeview). Very interesting.

Probably only one or two episodes left to watch as it nears completion.

Knowing Quest it won't be long before there is a re-run

[Stephen]

I have been watching the TV series from day one on how this ship was built. It is on Quest (freeview). Very interesting.

Probably only one or two episodes left to watch as it nears completion.

Knowing Quest it won't be long before there is a re-run

Like all the other stations David.