Re-joining A Ship

On completion of studies at the INC, I returned to London. It was the month of December, and the Christmas feeling was setting in.

I had a good Christmas in London with relations and friends. There were parties almost everyday! In February the following year I was informed by the company where I had my onboard training, to be prepared to re-join.   

I left London on the 14th of March 1979, and arrived in Venice after about three hours of flying. On arrival at the Venice Airport, our local agent was there to meet me. After completing arrival formalities, the agent took me to the ship. Prior to leaving, I was made to understand by our London office that most of the officers including the Captain were from the Philippines. It was the first time that I was going to work with them. When I went on board the Captain was not present. Therefore, I reported to the Chief Officer. Fortunately for me the Purser was a Sri Lankan. He had a long name, and hence all officers called him Thanam.

Thanam was very happy to have me on board as he was the only Sri Lankan on that ship prior to my joining. He immediately ordered the Chief Cook to prepare some dinner for us and showed me my cabin. The ship did not have a Second Officer when I joined. The Third Officer had been doing the second officer’s duties while the Cadet had been doing the third officer's duties. Therefore, my cabin was vacant and ready. After a few drinks, Thanam and I had dinner and went to sleep.

In the morning I went up to see the Captain and he was in a very bad mood. He was very rude to me but I remained calm and handed over my appointment letter to him. I immediately understood his attitude and also thought that I was going to have some rough weather, on board, for the next few months. That's a seafarers life!

However, our relationship improved with time, and it was not as bad as I thought. From Venice the ship sailed for Koper in Yugoslavia. On the first night there, the Chief Officer joined Thanam and me to go ashore. Three of us went into a night club and had a good time. Thereafter, Rudolfo T. Nunez, the Chief Officer, became friendly with me and was good company, too.

Photo of the ship

Photos of old port of Venice

Shifting from London to Cork, Ireland

Towards the end of Summer holidays that year, I shifted to the Irish Nautical College and continued with the rest of my Nautical studies. INC was a part of the Cork regional Technical College at that time.

According to my study program, I had to do some short courses, as well. I left London for Cork, and went to Swansea by train and took the cross channel ferry from there. Prior arrangements had been made for me to stay with an Irish family as a paying guest. I knew in advance I had a place ready for me in Cork.The ferry arrived in Cork and berthed alongside around 8.00 a.m. that morning. At the ferry station, I boarded a shuttle service coach and came into the city, and I took a taxi from there to where I was going to live during my sojourn in Cork -- Crowley’s place. When I arrived at Crowley’s place in Bishop’s Town it was about 9.30 a.m. On arrival at the address, I rang the doorbell. A very pleasant looking lady, possibly, in her mid-fifties opened the door and greeted me. It was Mrs. Patricia Crowley. While I was paying the taxi driver she had already moved my bags into the house.

Thereafter, both of us had tea and a very long conversation during which time we exchanged a lot of information. Patricia Crowley, told me that her husband, Michael, was away in their farm in County Kerry. Usually, he left home on Monday mornings and returned either on Thursday or Friday. They had a son and a daughter, who were both married and settled down in the U.S. She went on to say that it was more for company than money that she and Michael decided to register with the College to have a paying guest from time to time. She knew well in advance of my visit and was looking forward to my arrival.

Michael Crowley came home that evening. On my first meeting with him I thought that he resembled the famous film star, Humphrey Bogart. I told them that I would like to go to the "Anchor House," that evening, the only social club that I knew of in Cork. Immediately Patricia told me that they had already planned to take me to the Country Club, which was a very exclusive place and reservations had already been made. I changed my mind and joined them. As time passed by both of them started to treat me as one of their own. Although according to my agreement I had to pay them 18 pounds a week, a few days later Patricia told me to only pay 8 pounds a week. She helped with the laundry, ironed my clothes and also gave me sandwiches to take to College. In short, they treated me like their own child. From the Crowley’s place to College there was a good ten-minute walk. Pat (Patricia) one day, told me to take her car as it was not used much. I politely declined the offer as I did not have a driving license.

God is so great for getting me to live in Cork with a family like the Crowley’s. This, I will always remember. 

Photo of a house similar to that of the Crowley's

Photos of Cork Regional Technical College

Rogue Waves Associated with Agulha Current

Rogue waves

The south-east coast of South Africa is on the main shipping route between the Middle-East and Europe/the U.S. and several large ships sustain major damage because of rogue waves in the area where these waves occasionally can reach a height of more than 30 m (98 ft). Some 30 larger ships were sunk by rogue waves along the South African east-coast between 1981 and 1991