The vessel completed discharging at Mogadishu and Kisi
mayo, both ports are in Somalia.
Our next port of call was Bombay. The ship arrived in
Bombay around the 25th of March, 1976, and loaded cargo for three ports in
Italy, Palermo, Ravenna and Venice. For me, of the many places I visited, Bombay
was my second home port. We never had a dull day in Bombay. As usual we had
great fun there and finished all our money too. The voyage to Italy commenced
around the 12th of April, 1976. During transit in the Suez Canal, it was the
same experience. From Port Said to Palermo it took about three days. We spent
about five weeks in Italy, sailing between the three ports and discharging
cargo.
During the time the ship was in the Italian ports, we
observed, the Italian dock workers were easy going people. They worked from
Monday to Friday. Daily working hours, as I remember was from about 8.00 AM to
5.00 PM. After the ship had already been in Ravenna for about two weeks; possibly
because of the long delay in completing discharging of cargo, the receivers had
arranged the dock workers to work half a day on Saturday. It was great. Cases
of beer were put onboard and while working they consumed beer.
Two of them had brought in their guitars and were providing entertainment
for the others who worked. It was great fun for us.
After completing discharging at Ravenna the ship went to
Venice, to discharge remaining cargo.
Part of the Old Port of Ravenna
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