No more drunken sailors

[newtothis]

Only sodomy and the lash left now, and I think the lash is being phased out.
No more drunken sailors? Navy to restrict alcohol in health kick on ships

 

[lustyd]

Definitely agree with the Rear Admiral's comments. Curious that beer and rum were mentioned but not gin.

 

[Blue Seas]

If it such a good idea, then why not apply it across the board?
Start with the Houses of Parliament, The NHS, Civil Service, Police Fire and Ambulance. Oh, and the Clergy.

 

[newtothis]

If it such a good idea, then why not apply it across the board?
Start with the Houses of Parliament, The NHS, Civil Service, Police Fire and Ambulance. Oh, and the Clergy.

Recent news suggests the clergy is more into the sodomy and lash side than the drinking.

 

[dgadee]

1/2 of them are pissed, according to that report. More admirals than ships. Not a great look.

 

[veshengro]

After 15 years at sea in Merchant Ships I would struggle to remember instances of proper Seamen drunk at sea. I also struggle to remember any that were habitually sober in Port..

 

[KevinV]

Only sodomy and the lash left now...

Ah well, I guess it'll sting a bit more now, without the anesthetic ...

 

[newtothis]

After 15 years at sea in Merchant Ships I would struggle to remember instances of proper Seamen drunk at sea. I also struggle to remember any that were habitually sober in Port..

After 20 years reporting on merchant shipping, I would struggle to remember a month when a drunk Russian master hasn't put a vessel on the rocks.

 

[jamie N]

40 years offshore, so the very IDEA of having booze onboard, especially when weapons are involved, is such a mesmerisingly stupid one, that only the military could try to justify it.
However, the US Navy has long been dry, Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot and Donald Trump known to be dedicated non-drinkers, so what do I know?
For the foreseeable future though, the GK24 ZEBEDEE won't be a dry boat.

 

[dgadee]

After 15 years at sea in Merchant Ships I would struggle to remember instances of proper Seamen drunk at sea. I also struggle to remember any that were habitually sober in Port..

There was that one coming out of Belfast going to IoM. I don't think they got out of the channel before they hit someone. Entire crew pissed I think.

Union Moon was name of ship. Hit a ferry.

I knew captain's barrister. Wouldn't have used him myself, but not really much to plead with.

 

[lustyd]

the very IDEA of having booze onboard, especially when weapons are involved, is such a mesmerisingly stupid one

I don't think we could ask people to spend months at a time living their lives without the basic freedoms they are there to protect. Americans have always had a weird ralationship with alcohol so I don't consider them a great example. The Navy doesn't have big issues with alcohol or accidents involving it, this change would appear to be someone deciding what's best for others again.

 

[veshengro]

After 20 years reporting on merchant shipping, I would struggle to remember a month when a drunk Russian master hasn't put a vessel on the rocks.

Ah! I've never sailed in a Russian ship...fortunately..

 

[Mark-1]

After 15 years at sea in Merchant Ships I would struggle to remember instances of proper Seamen drunk at sea.

Too hammered to remember?

 

[jamie N]

I don't think we could ask people to spend months at a time living their lives without the basic freedoms they are there to protect. Americans have always had a weird ralationship with alcohol so I don't consider them a great example. The Navy doesn't have big issues with alcohol or accidents involving it, this change would appear to be someone deciding what's best for others again.

No, that is quite a ridiculous statement. If you want the "basic freedoms", get another job where you're allowed booze.
On many long trips, I've worked with many hundreds of people where alcohol isn't allowed, and there are no negative consequences, quite the opposite of course, as the errors that arise from people having had booze are eliminated.
You know the drunk driving thing? It's exactly the same offshore, and it must be understood that a full on emergency and abandonment can occur at any time, so even having a couple of beers after a shift will affect someone negatively, which will affect the outcome possibly.
It should also be understood, that on a personal level I enjoy a drink, and am a very 'good drinker', but offshore, or at a safety critical workplace; no way.

 

[lustyd]

get another job where you're allowed booze

Jobs are not 24x7, especially when the ship could be away from home for months.

You know the drunk driving thing? It's exactly the same offshore, and it must be understood that a full on emergency and abandonment can occur at any time,

You know that actual wartime is different from training? We've managed for hundreds of years with people having leisure time without issue, and emergencies have been handled very well. I'm quite sure that on deployment to a conflict the sailors are probably very professional and keep it down to 7-8 pints in an evening...or even none.

 

[Mark-1]

If you want the "basic freedoms", get another job where you're allowed booze.

I fear that's exactly what's happening. The Navy is facing a recruitment crisis they're trying to solve with automation.

 

[Mark-1]

I'm quite sure that on deployment to a conflict the sailors are probably very professional and keep it down to 7-8 pints in an evening...or even none.

If my recollection of Nicholas Monsarrat is correct, they absolutely didn't and it was the only thing keeping them sane.

 

[Boathook]

Definitely agree with the Rear Admiral's comments. Curious that beer and rum were mentioned but not gin.

Don't want to upset the officers !

 

[veshengro]

There was that one coming out of Belfast going to IoM. I don't think they got out of the channel before they hit someone. Entire crew pissed I think.

Union Moon was name of ship. Hit a ferry.

I knew captain's barrister. Wouldn't have used him myself, but not really much to plead with.

The Union Moon out of the Cook Islands and that well known British Ship Master Capt: Miroslaw Pozniak. I remember that incident too. He sounds almost Polish or Russian..

 

[newtothis]

Ah! I've never sailed in a Russian ship...fortunately..

You don't need to sail a Russian ship to have a Russian master; Russians and eastern Europeans make up a large part of the officer class in commercial shipping.