Patrick came looking for me.

When I returned after lunch, I saw Patrick was who was ashore, and was standing at the entrance to the club. He had come to know from the agents that I was there, and was looking for me. When I told him how I spent the night, he was happy to hear that I had a good time at the party. He then invited me to join him for dinner that day. Although I accepted his invitation, I had to change plans, as I received a message from Ritchie, stating the following:

"Come home around 7.00 p.m. Sangeetha wanted to meet you and we are also planning to go to Holiday Inn, at Juhu, for the Saturday night Disco. Please note the dress code - SMART CASUAL."

It was good news to me, and I accepted the invitation. Patrick understood my situation. As planned, I went to Ritchie’s house and, from there went to pick up, Sangeetha. When we got there, I found she was elegantly dressed for the evening. One thing I observed in her was that she did not take any alcoholic drinks. It was another late night but I enjoyed myself thoroughly. The following day, as arranged by Ritchie, I went on board an Indian ship and met with the Radio Officer. He was Ritchie's friend. The Radio Officer helped me to contact my ship on VHF, and I spoke with the Captain and requested for an extension for one more day’s shore leave. He said "You seem to be having a very good time." There was no doubt about that! He was good enough to grant me the extension. After spending three days ashore I went back to the ship. A day after that, the ship was shifted back to berth.

Thereafter, during the next few days, every evening I went out and met with Sangeetha. Coming to Mumbai city from Bandra every day was not possible. Therefore, we patronized restaurants in Linking Road, Santa Cruz, and in Andheri West. The Gazebo Restaurant in Linking Road was one place I really liked. She was great company. When I met her the day before we left Mumbai, she told me to keep in contact, because she could come and see me anywhere in the world. Working for an Air Line, that is one great privilege, I thought! 

 The ship sailed from Mumbai and was bound for Palermo, In Sicily. 

Photos of Juhu beach in Mumbai

                                                   Photo of Holiday Inn hotel in Juhu, Mumbai

I always enjoyed my stay in Mumbai

I was bored after my good friend Paul, left the ship. This is life after all. I thought it was necessary that I must try and move on. On board ships we work and live like a family. There are times we have arguments and fights but until the time is up for one to sign off and proceed on leave, we have to bear the struggles and continue. At times, we have to sail with multinational crew members who belong to different cultures, faith, and lifestyles. However, the common language on board, always, has been English. So far, I have been lucky because my superiors have been either the British or Indians. I was very fortunate to get training under them.

There was a hold up in loading the cargo, due to a long delay in supplying cargo to the ship. Indira dock is very busy place, just like all the other berths in the port of Mumbai. The port had decided to shift the ship to the inner anchorage until the cargo was ready for loading. It made things worse for me. However, it was not for long! The day the ship was shifted to anchorage, in the afternoon I got a call on VHF, and it was my former colleague and pal; Ritchie Rodriguez. He was on leave at that time. Ritchie was calling from another ship docked in Mumbai, and the purpose was to invite me to his birthday party which was on the following day. I was so excited after receiving the invitation, that I decided to ask for permission from the Captain to go ashore. It was granted. I asked the Captain if I could stay ashore for two nights. He said, I could but since I am not an Indian, he wanted
the agents to take care of me when I was ashore. After speaking with the agents, Captain asked what I was going to do ashore for two days? I, then, explained to him about Ritchie’s birthday and, a short break after that, to see some my friends. I was glad; permission was granted. I, immediately got some clothes ready stay to ashore, and left the following morning. As soon as I came to the Ballard Pier, the agent was waiting and took me straight to the Merchant Navy club in Mumbai, and got myself a room. As it was a personal matter, the charges were not to the company account, and I had to pay all the bills. The charges were very nominal. After, placing my little bag in the room, I called Ritchie and informed him that I was ashore.

That evening I went for the party, and it was a fantastic one. It was held at the Radio Club, with a live band in attendance who provided good music that went along with the multitude of food and drinks that were available. I met his girlfriend and a few other flight attendants working for Air India. Most of the girls had their boyfriends with them. I heard that they were talking of one of their colleagues who had arrived in Mumbai just that morning. She had been working in the Australian sector for about three weeks.

I was not bored or lonely at all. The person whom the friends were talking about arrived and I was introduced to her. She was Sangeetha. My immediate observation was she was very proud and stiff. I had anyway made up my mind to have a good time and leave the place by midnight. The party was setting to go on until the early hours of the following morning. At one time I found that Sangeetha and I were the only people seated at that table. She then came around and started talking with me. She was a very beautiful girl.

She told me that she was from Simla and it was not possible to travel whenever she was on short breaks because of the distance. Her parents and one brother were living there. The other brother was a Civil Engineer working and living in Delhi with his family. We exchanged pleasantries and after a few minutes or so, joined the others on the dance floor. Although I planned to leave around mid-night, it did not happen. I left the place with Sangeetha and got into a taxi. First I took her to the boarding house in Bandra, and I went back to the Merchant Navy Club. It was around 4.00 a.m. when I reached.  

On the following day, I did not go out anywhere in the morning. By about 12 noon, I was very  hungry and decided to have a good Goan meal at the famous City Kitchen, in Fort Bombay.

Photo of section of Mumbai port- Gate way to India and the Taj Mahal Hotel

                                                    Photo of the Radio Club in Mumbai

                          

                         

                         

                                                           Photos of City Kitchen

New Purser clearing the mess in the ship's Catering Department.

Patrick was a good Christian. Following the experiences that Paul has had; Patrick had taken whatever precautions possible to prevent any underhand activity between the cooks and the stewards. The restrictions imposed were so great, that even to issue one bottle of whisky out of the ship’s bonded store, he himself went down or requested me to do it for him. He was an early riser. Every day he was up by about 5 a.m. After his morning tea and shower, he spent time praying and reading the scriptures. Thereafter, he went down to issue the provisions to the Chief Cook from the dry provisions stores and the cold rooms according to the day's menu.

By being so diligent, he had plugged all the possible loopholes the cooks and the stewards appeared to have enjoyed during Paul’s time. Following the malpractices in the catering department, an usually large replenishment of provisions had to be done in Mumbai. Fortunately, at that time the prices of all provisions were very reasonable over there.

Patrick, however, was also a very hot tempered person. One day over some argument, he had assaulted the cook who was in charge of the European officers' food.  A formal inquiry was held and as there were no witnesses to the incident, the matter was dropped. Following the fight he had with Patrick, the cook had tendered his resignation. He was signed off at Palermo, the first port in Italy the ship called at, and was repatriated.

After stream lining the catering department, there was a big change in the food and discipline.

Photo of vessels transiting the Suez canal

Plan of the Suez canal.

Dishonest crew members on board

The ship completed discharging at all the ports in the Persian Gulf. The next destination was my second home port, Mumbai. I was very happy about it. On the second day at sea, the Captain received a radio message from the head office to informing him that our Purser, Paul, would be signed off to proceed on leave. This was very sad news, specially for the Captain and I. Following the news, Paul became very busy preparing the documents for handing over. In fact, he wanted to stay for one more voyage and go home for Christmas. We estimated that the next voyage to the Adriatic sea and back to the West Coast of India would take at least three months. The ship would be back in Mumbai around October.

There again our plans were not God’s plans.

Paul had not collected much money as he was going to do it during the next voyage. Whilst taking inventory of the ship’s bonded stores, where duty free liquor and cigarettes were stored, it was found that there was a huge shortage. He trusted and left the key with the senior steward to do the issues as and when the officers wanted. Immediately we understood that the three stewards had taken a lot of stuff and sold them, possibly in the Suez Canal.

Since the Purser was responsible for the stocks, he had to pay to cover up for the losses. It was a very disappointing situation. I offered him some money and he took part of it and later returned it to my father. Paul was married and had three children. Except for what he bought for them in various countries we visited, he did not have much to take home by way of cash. He was a big hearted man, and was always ready to settle bills and never waited for others to pay for his drinks and meals. Before the news, at times he used to tell me, "John, when I go home this time I am going to have enough money to enjoy my time with the kids."

One should remember the proverb "Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched."

Adding fuel to the fire, a considerable shortage was discovered in items in the provisions stores. The Purser, trusted his staff beyond reasonable limits. He very rarely went down to check what the stewards and cooks were up to. Now, he paid the price for over-trusting his staff and also for relaxing on the job.

I suggested to him to tell the truth to the incoming Purser and to see what we could do. If he agreed it was well and good, otherwise we had to do something. I gave him some more money to pay for the shortages. It was only God’s help that was left. He simply did not have money with him to cover the losses. We did not discuss this matter with the Captain or any other officer. Paul was in tears but it was too late.

In the meantime, while on watch, I casually asked the standby helmsman if he knew anything about the bonded stores. After a little pause, he told me the senior stewards drank whisky everyday and that they also bartered cigarettes in exchange for some ornaments during transit at the Suez canal. When I asked him if he knew anything about the provisions, he said that the Bosun paid the money to the chief cook and got a lot of dry provisions from the officers' stores. The victualing allowance of the crew was managed by the Bosun. I was aware that the crew were very unhappy, as they felt that the Bosun was misusing the victualing. 

I decided to tell the Captain what I heard from the helmsman. Paul was not initially happy about my decision but later changed his mind. An inquiry was held and the Bosun, stewards and the cooks were called in. As none of them were prepared for an interrogation, they came out with some truth. The Captain gave them a choice, "Pay up or be ready to sign off on arrival at Mumbai." All of them except the two assistant cooks who said they had nothing to do with this, were ready to pay up for some of the shortages. Thereby, Paul managed to save some money and was very thankful. I still insisted that we talk to the incoming Purser and see if something could be done at least to cover up part of the remaining shortages, and he agreed to my suggestion. 

A day after our arrival in Mumbai, the new Purser, Patrick, a tall man of about 50 years of age, boarded the ship. The ship was docked in the 'Indira docks.' Paul was excited and was worried at the same time. During the handing over of documents, after dragging his feet for some time, Paul told Patrick about the problem he had; the shortages in the bonded store and in the dry provisions store. They both got together and estimated the shortages. Patrick immediately agreed to assume responsibility and take over part of the losses.

Paul left the ship in July of 1976. At the time of leaving he was somewhat happy and he deserved all the help given to him, as he was a good man.

Photo of the entrance to Indira Dock port of Mumbai

Ship heading back towards East

The ship called at the ports of Mersin and Antalya, in Turkey. We all had a peaceful stay in both ports. Thereafter, the ship proceeded to the Adriatic Sea and called at the ports of Ravenna and Venice in Italy. All of us on board look forward to go back to Italian ports where we always had a lot of fun. Since it was summer; it was great.  The cargo loaded at these ports were for Dubai, Bahrain and Kuwait in the Persian Gulf.

The only notable happening between the last port in Italy and the first port in the Persian Gulf was that, the ship’s chief officer had to rush home to attend to an urgent domestic need. He was signed off at Port Said but did not have relief due to a very short time. Therefore, we sailed from there to the Persian Gulf without a chief officer. Under the Captain’s direct supervision, the third officer and I maintained the sea watches – six hours on and six hours off. We were paid an additional allowance called the 'short hand wages' for the extra work done.               

Once the ship was in Persian Gulf, we spent a total of about seven weeks in all ports. The reason being the ship had to wait at anchor, out harbor, and wait for berth because severe congestion existed in all those ports at that time.

The captain on board had with him a whole load of fishing gear. During the ship’s stay at outer anchorage in Bahrain, the Captain was fishing using his lines. I was on the bridge and the steward came and told me, the Captain wanted to see me urgently. I rushed to where he was fishing, and what I saw was a terrible sight. The Captain had got a fishing hook embedded in to his right palm. I immediately called the agent, and what he had to say was shocking! He was unable to arrange a boat to come out to the anchorage as it was a Friday, and advised me to bring the Captain ashore in the ship’s life boat.  We had a good set of crew, therefore, we could lower one lifeboat, which was fitted with the motor, and transported the captain to a designated location in the port.

The agent was there to meet us, and after attending very quickly to immigration formalities, the Captain was rushed to the emergency at a private hospital. I, too went with the 
Captain. Once in the hospital, it did not take long for the doctors to perform a minor surgery and clear the fishing hook from the Captain’s palm. However, he was not allowed to leave the hospital for at least four hours. The agent took me to a hotel, and gave me a good lunch. I appreciated that very much. Thereafter, I took the captain back to the ship. Considering the whole situation, it was quite a learning experience for all of us.    

                                               Photos of the old port in Bahrain

When Julius Caesar was kidnapped by Pirates.

In 75 BCE, 25-year-old Julius Caesar was sailing the Aegean Sea when he was kidnapped by Cilician pirates. According to Plutarch, when the pirates asked for a ransom of 20 talents of silver (approximately 620 kg of silver, or $600,000 in today's silver values), Caesar laughed at their faces. They didn't know who they had captured, he said, and demanded that they ask for 50 (1550 kg of silver), because 20 talents was simply not enough.
More Money, More Problems

The pirates, of course, agreed, and Caesar sent some of his associates off to gather the silver, a task that took 38 days. Now nearly alone with the pirates—only two servants and a friend remained with him—Caesar refused to cower. Instead, he treated the pirates as if they were his subordinates. He even went so far as to demand they not talk whenever he decided to sleep. He spent most of his time with them composing and reciting poetry and writing speeches. He would then recite the works to the pirates. Caesar also played various games with the pirates and participated in their exercises, generally acting as if he wasn’t a prisoner, but rather, their leader. The pirates quickly grew to respect and like him and allowed him the freedom to more or less do as he pleased on their island and ships.

While Caesar was friendly with the pirates, he didn’t appreciate being held captive. He told the pirates that, after his ransom was paid, he would hunt them down and have them crucified. Once he was freed, he made good on that promise: Despite the fact that he was a private citizen, Caesar managed to quickly raise a small fleet which he took back to the island where he had been held captive. Apparently the pirates hadn’t taken his threats seriously, because they were still there when he arrived. He captured them and took back his 50 talents of silver, along with all their possessions.

He next delivered the pirates to the authorities at the prison at Pergamon and then traveled to meet the proconsul of Asia, Marcus Junius, to petition to have the pirates executed. The proconsul refused: He wanted to sell the pirates as slaves and take the spoils for himself. Undeterred, Caesar traveled back to Pergamon where the Cilician pirates were being held and ordered that they be crucified. Before they went through that ordeal, however, Caesar showed some leniency—he cut their throats.

-Repeated Article-

The ship was on the way to port of Mersin in Turkey

Just after a day at sea, on the way to Mersin, we experienced very bad weather and it persisted for almost eight days. There was anxiety and restlessness as the ship was rolling heavily and violently at times. Fortunately, the ship was loaded with a full consignment of bagged fertilizer, a homogenous cargo, that has less chances of shifting. The Captain was on the bridge most of those eight days. God was our only hope. I spoke with the captain during my sea watch, and asked him if it was not possible to alter the course, and bring the vessel to a somewhat safe and comfortable position? He showed me the chart in use and said, “considering the approximate position of the vessel at this time, there is no way we could do any alteration. If we alter the course towards the east, the vessel would go more in to the Bay of Biscay, and if we alter the course towards the west, we will be heading more into the Atlantic Ocean.” Thus, to my understanding; alteration of the course would bring the ship into more danger.  

The Captain told me not to worry. According to the stability calculations he received from the chief officer, and his own, the ship can safely withstand the rolling we were experiencing. Even then, he was still observing the situation all the time.

Due to prevailing weather, and for the suffering that each one was undergoing, the morale of the people on board was low.  

The weather persisted until the ship entered the straits of Gibraltar. Some peace set in after that.

I thanked God, that all of us on board were safe!

Bay of Biscay

                                                                 

The International Transport Workers Federation

I truly appreciate the work of the ITF. However, during the incident in Avonmouth, I only considered one very important point: The company I was serving at that time was good enough to give me an opportunity to join them and undergo training as an Officer Cadet. Therefore, by not joining the ITF, and not accepting the wages as per their scales, I wanted to repay my gratitude to my first employer.

Following is an outline of the ITF:

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) is an international trade union federation of transport workers' unions. Any independent trade union with members in the transport industry is eligible for membership of the ITF.

Around 700 unions representing over 4.5 million transport workers from some 150 countries are members of the ITF. It is one of several Global Federation Unions allied with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

The ITF's headquarters is located in London and it has offices in Nairobi, Ouagadougou, Tokyo, New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Georgetown, Moscow and Brussels.

The aims of the ITF are set out in its Constitution. They are:

1.      To promote respect for trade union and human rights worldwide

2.      To work for peace based on social justice and economic progress

3.      To help its affiliated unions defend the interests of their members

4.      To provide research and information services to its affiliates

5.      To provide general assistance to transport workers in difficulty

Although the range of ITF activities is very wide, they can be best summed up under three key headings:

·        Representation

·        Information

·        Practical solidarity

The ITF represents the interests of transport workers' unions in bodies which take decisions affecting jobs, employment conditions or safety in the transport industry, such as the International Labor Organization (ILO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The ship back in Avonmouth

The next port was Avonmouth. This was the second time the ship was called at this port.

Just two hours after berthing the ship, an officer from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) boarded the vessel. Although we were not aware, some of the officers and crew had sent a petition with regard to low wages paid onboard. He first met the Master and then wanted to inspect the wages files. While he was going through the files, another colleague of his joined him, who then started interviewing all officers and crew.

When it came to my turn, he asked me about my wages and I told him that I was an uncertificated Second Officer and therefore it was not fair to ask for such a big wage. As I remember, I was drawing a salary of about US Dollars 500 a month at that time. As per the I.T.F. structure, my wages should have been about US Dollars 1700. I still declined to enter into I.T.F. agreement and told him that it was not fair for me to betray the company which gave me employment. He told me that he was not interested in my explanations, and that I should be paid according to their scales, regardless of my being an uncertificated officer.

Most of the senior officers and some of the crew did not enter into ITF agreement, and therefore did not receive the ITF wages. All the others who signed the ITF agreement had to be paid according to the ITF scale with around three months of back wages. The company’s lawyers from London came the following day. By that time on the instructions of ITF England, the Harbor Master of Avonmouth had issued detention orders for the ship.

The cargo was stopped until the matter was resolved, as the Dock Workers Union was also affiliated to the ITF. There was a total of about 34 officers and crew on board. Out of this, 23 received ITF wages. On settlement of the dues, the detention order was lifted and cargo work resumed. Following this incident, an unpleasant atmosphere was building between the people on board who joined the ITF, and those who did not.

On completion of loading the cargo, the ship sailed out on the 15th of February 1977 bound for the first port, Mersin in Turkey.

The Blarney Castle in Cork

All of us on board had a good time during the ship’s stay in the port of Cork. In fact, we spent Christmas and the dawn of the New Year (1977).

                                                                 Photo of  Blarney Castle in Cork

Kiss The Blarney Stone

The Stone of Eloquence

For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary giants, and legends of the silver screen have joined the millions of pilgrims climbing the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence. Its powers are unquestioned but its story still creates debate.
Once upon a time, visitors had to be held by the ankles and lowered head first over the battlements. Today, we are rather more cautious of the safety of our visitors. The Stone itself is still set in the wall below the battlements. To kiss it, one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk. The prize is a real one as once kissed the stone bestows the gift of eloquence.

Some say it was Jacob’s Pillow, brought to Ireland by the prophet Jeremiah. Here it became the Lia Fail or ‘Fatal Stone’, used as an oracular throne of Irish kings – a kind of Harry Potter-like ‘sorting hat’ for kings. It was also said to be the deathbed pillow of St Columba on the island of Iona. Legend says it was then removed to mainland Scotland, where it served as the prophetic power of royal succession, the Stone of Destiny.
When Cormac MacCarthy, King of Munster, sent five thousand men to support Robert the Bruce in his defeat of the English at Bannockburn in 1314, a portion of the historic Stone was given by the Scots in gratitude – and returned to Ireland.
Others say it may be a stone brought back to Ireland from the Crusades – the ‘Stone of Ezel’ behind which David hid on Jonathan’s advice when he fled from his enemy, Saul. A few claim it was the stone that gushed water when struck by Moses.
Whatever the truth of its origin, we believe a witch saved from drowning revealed its power to the MacCarthys.

Copied from an Irish article.