I am starting a thread about our respective humble beginnings as PMMAriners, particularly, those ships which we were on board as Apprentices. I am sure, looking back at those good old days could tickle and wake up more spirits to join this group and maintain stronger brotherhood as expected. Thanks Google after I was able to dig a picture of the ship I was on board as Apprentice/Deck Boy. For those ShiPMMAtes who had the chance to prove their might as daring seafarers of the past, reminiscing the old days becomes now a treasure worth keeping while rocking the chair… Basically, I started my mariners life on board this general cargo ship as a Deck Boy/Apprentice for 14 straight months last 1972. Honed my knowledge and skills in Navigation/Seamanship both at sea and in port coupled with hectic daily deck chores and assignments. Rigging and spotting of booms for operations was a thing of the past as nowadays, only few ships are designed with such (hauling gears are mostly located now from shore) fittings for less weight a ship carries and more cargo space for business. Opening and closing of hatches during that time was fun with removable planks and beams covered with canvas till our ship was equipped with an advancing technique of Mc Gregors folding and rolling hydraulic hatch covers. Thanks God! What a hell of a job during Winter time stretching those canvass covers tight. For a cargo ship carrying heterogenous cargoes to different ports of destination, a proper cargo planning is a must. Regular and manual trimming of ventilator cowls while on passage was of great fun esp. during heavy sprays and swells. The Master and officers down the line must be fully in charge from the cargo planning itself. Nowadays, it is but normal for a shipping company to have people on shore as a department responsible in cargo scheduling and planning to minimize time of ships transit in port, thus saving money being spent on port charges and fees. The birth of containerization, LASH and other hi tech inventions faved the way for a sound profit yielding shipping business. Cargo pilferage if not minimized, is totally eradicated. Ships old practices and traditions vanished into oblivion and became just things worth remembering. I feel happy to have witnessed and experienced the old school . Memories..
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 13:27:21 +0000
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