Another aged Marine Engineer swinging the lamp as well

[brianhumber]

Catmandoo's post on steam pumps brought memories of the Indian firemen hitting the feed pump to get the bloody shuttle valve to work.
I liked the Harland and Wolf opposed exhaust piston main engine, massive eccentrics in the crankcase, I once started up after a lengthy stop on stand by and some cleaners had got on the exhaust piston, they had a bit of shock as it went up and down at half ahead.

Ran into old shipmate Ist Mate on Friday, he said the British Holly built mid 1960s was still in service the the Turks. I had thought all my ships were Honda cars by now, 40 years is a good age for a Tanker - I had a great trip in her 50 NW Europe ports in 4 months, including a ice trip to Sweden in Feb - we bent the prop tip on the ice floes but thats another story.

 

[Shakey]

Another post that's made my brain hurt. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Anyway, I'm off to Chartroom Chat to read about false funnels and old ship phots and stuff.

 

[tugboat]

The 'Holly' was my first ship as Apprentice in 1968! Joined her in Grangemouth which was the furthest I had ever been from home. By the end of the 6 month trip I had seen a large part of NW Europe and the Med. It wasn't a happy trip due to certain peeps on board and I seriously considered jacking it in after that one trip, but I stuck it out and my second trip was great. Aaahh - memories! Fancy the Holly still going - never thought the 'trees' would last that long.

 

[Nauti Fox]

Was the Holly the one with the straight funnel?If it was it was always either stopped or looked like it was busy sinking!Saw it many times around the baltic as we cruised past on the Curlew.
Al.

 

[Rowana]

Well, that's at least 4 ex-BP Tanker guys on here!

Never made it as far as the "Trees" - mostly "birds" myself.

British Merlin (twice), Mallard, Curlew, Cygnet, Fulmar and a couple of the older "16's" - Patrol (twice) and Crusader.

Transferred to the north sea platforms in 1975 when bp was laying up ships due to the oil crisis. Stayed with the north sea oil patch until the end of 1995, when I was made redundant. After that, I went to Australia for 18 months, then when I came back, I started with a company on bp contract work.

I wonder how many more ex-BP Tanker guys post here.

Happy days indeed ! ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Mirelle]

They are recruiting at the moment...

44 ships on order and a little bird (well, about 14 stone at a guess) tells me they are short of good officers and have had some "interesting" moments, lately.

Interesting that ex BP folks usually speak well of them, unlike ex Shell folks, who seldom have a good word for Joe.

 

[Nauti Fox]

Curlew,Mallard,Grenadier and Navigator.
Curlew & Mallard were good,had a cylinder liner fall over in the swimming pool on one trip,and got fed up with putting out scavenge box fires.We also got stuck in slow ahead once.
Grenadier had a constant boiler problem and required re bricking every trip,also blew a superheated steam pipe which was something to behold.The strangest thing that happened on that ship was getting involved in a potato fight with a russian tanker,which we were in danger of losing until we dipped the spuds in paint.
And the Navigator was excellent until the skipper tried to leave the berth without tugs and we promptly ran aground.Never saw him again, wonder why?
Enjoyed it but when I left I was glad to.

 

[Mirelle]

Harland and Wolff engine story

I was told that CC Pounder was so "impossible" to work with that, in order to get the yard into full swing for war production, a terrace of houses was bought at the other side of Belfast and Pounder and a team of draftsmen were located there for the duration of WW2. The engine you describe was the result.

 

[catmandoo]

Another post that's made my brain hurt.

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your just too delicate dearie
try a cold pack

 

[Shakey]

I am trying a cold pack! I've had four and have another four to go!

 

[tugboat]

IIRC the 'Trees' were the first of the small all-aft ships that BP had - the 'itys' came later. I spent a lot of time on the midships boats of various sizes, and confess my happiest times were 'coasting' on the 'Birds'. We had some good evening sessions in the midships smokeroom and there was none of that deepsea oil & water crap. Even had my pic in the Fleet News once. How famous can a chap get? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[kliever]

Re: Harland and Wolff engine story

My first chiefs job was on the said engine, no problems though considering I came with a steam past. Generators also by H&W were another story. My time however was general cargo.
John R