Blue Funnel : Memories of the 1960s, 70s, & 80s.
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- Photographic memories of my time working for Alfred Holt & Co. (the Blue Funnel Line) / Ocean Fleets, including Glen Line and Elder Dempster vessels.......from midshipman to Chief Officer. Best to view Full Screen.
Try "Blue Flu and beyond" on RUclips for more memories. Also "Uglands - UECC, Memories from 1988 to 2004".
Thank you very much Michael for this evocative glimpse into the past days of non-container ships. I was a snotty in Port Line in the early 70's, when it was Blue Star Port Lines, and I wish I had taken more photos at the time. My excuse is that I was too busy soojying the bulkheads or red leading the bilges. I spent 3 years fishing out of Hull, mainly in J Marr & Sons sidewinders, my excuse then was I was too wet, or too knackered, (18 hours on, 6 off) to think of photos, and also I spent some time in home trade ships as an uncertificated 2nd mate, before it all vanished and I joined the Royal Marines to get some more adventure. Then I sailed in the Grey Funnel line, but that was not as much fun as those early ships. Loved the Merch. Miss it very much. Great shipmates.
Blue Star Line, 1973 to 1986, what a fantastic time to be at sea, good money, good ships and even better trips, it all ended very quickly, memories now!!
Ex-Shell Tankers ( UK ) Ltd engineer here. What a lovely video, brimming over with nostalgia and a little sadness for what is now gone. The pictures of Singapore brought back so many memories. Blue Funnel had some very handsome ships.
I went to sea in 1963 as a cadet. Ex Trinity HouseNavigation School, hull. (A company called Alan Black and Co. ex Sunderland, They went defunct during my second year of apprenticiship and I completed it with Trinder, Anderson of London). It brings back some very good and some very sad memories, but all told a Wonderfull way to earn a living. I ended up in Canada with Saguenay Shipping. then a couple of years as a Trinity House Pilot. Then to the oil offshore world.
I finished seafaring at age 68 by then I was shifting oil rigs around the world as Tow Master.
Many thanks for the memories.
Stewart Baker
How i wish that i had taken more photos when i was at sea in the 60s,didnt realise at the time that we were living through the demise of our Merchant Navy.
I lost all mine.
/Thanks Capt. Michael, thanks for this beautiful tribute to the ships and to the sailors of those bygone, beautiful days before containerization. It was a wonderful time for sailing in the Merchant Marine. Beautiful, sleek, , uncluttered vessels, time in port, and fellowship. I sailed roughly the same years. U. S. Flags, N.M.U. and later M.E.B. A. Best years of my life! Thanks for this, a great labor of love, and enjoyable reminiscence.
When we still had the Great in Great Britain, thanks for sharing your memories bud from another Great Port City, Glasgow.
Just come across your excellent slide show. I sailed on my first trip as middy aboard Machaon on 5th December 1965 and left to join United Arab Shipping in 1977 when containerisation had already started to change Blueys for the worst. Last Bluey was Perseus on the Blue Sea Line service. They were beautiful ships and great people to work for.
Glad you enjoyed it. There is another one titled Blue Funnel and beyond, showing every ship I sailed. Fyi, there are two relevant Facebook sites that you might like...... Blue Funnel for old timers....... and.....Ocean Transport and Trading. You may find people you know on those.
Very happy memories. I was a Cadet engineer on the Memnon and the Maron. I also sailed on the Kowloon Bay before they ripped out the steam plant and put in Sulzer diesels. Birkenhead tech is gone and a whole generation will never know what we were trained to do.When Ian Dalgliesh ( Daggy) gave us our papers when wel finished our apprenticeship he was almost in tears for there where no jobs for us. But the professional training has allowed me to lead an independent and great life on the oceans of the world.
Great memories Mike. Beautiful looking ships. "Those were the days". I loved the 60's and 70's best of all and kept clear of container ships. My first ship as a Middy was the "Glenlyon" in November '63 the day JFK was assassinated. Christmas in Hong Kong and New Year in Shanghai. Talk about a liner service, I was back on her in '65 for the same voyage, sailing in November with Christmas and New Year in the same ports. Also Chinese New Year at sea and a fabulous day in the Seamen's mess. The Chinese crew were almost all the same guys and just as generous as on my first trip. Those memories are still very clear whereas the rest of my 43 years at sea are just a blur! The journal they made us write has been a great aide-memoire and I still have mine in reasonable nick. I thought my fellow Middies were the best group of guys in general that I have ever met. It was a shame how they changed when they became officers, brainwashed into the Company way and myself and my fellow Cadet Officer on the last trip of our apprenticeship in '66 (Glenogle) quite shocked the Marine Super in London when we told him that we would not be seeking to return after second mates! I went tramping after that where I found the job far more enjoyable and relaxed but we still kept up the same standards of ship maintenance, navigation and cargo work. I never regretted my time in Blueys and have always thought that I could not have had a better start to life at sea and the training was second to none. Cheers! Peter Harris
“Those were the days my friends”.
Only the advance of years reveals, in the light of the retro scope, just how good!
Will we view today in the same light?
Martyn 1961 ex Union Steamship Company (NZ) apprenticed Cadet.
Ron taylor made the best comment , "what if we had not gone to sea ,all the memories we would have would be of a lifeless day job" great comment Ron .
I totally agree, Geoff. A great comment by Ron Taylor.
A great snapshot of your time at sea, priceless, wooden decks, no hard hats :)
Hard Hats..... never heard of in those Days.
Although a "pool man" I was lucky enough to spend my last 4 sea going yrs with Ocean Fleets. Great company,great crews. good times. Sad to watch the demise. Thanks for the post Capt..
Thank you so much for this, my late husband Patrick Simmons was with Blue Funnel until 1970. I did a wonderful voyage with him to the Far East on the Pembrokeshire, in 1969, with Captain Tiplady. I have so many happy memories of that trip. I The first mate was Tony Palmer and the third mate I think was Stuart Brown and I also remember the radio officer Nelson Kinley from the isle of man.
Hi Helen, glad you enjoyed it and your trip on one of the Super Ps. The other RUclips slideshow re Blueys I did is titled Blue Funnel and beyond. Sorry to hear about your husband. Don't really recall any of the names you mentioned, although Tiplady and Kinley ring a distant bell. Take a look at the Blue Funnel for Old Timers Facebook page, might be some names you recognise on there.
Great stuff - as mentioned in the comments on your other video my old Dad was Blu Flu for many years. Its fantastic to see some of the views that he would have seen. Sadly his last trip was to Kobe in the mid 70's and he lost the sight in one eye after an accident welding on deck.
In the Andrew at this time Captain and, for some inexplicable reason I found myself crying like a baby. Thank you for this.
Certainly did stir my memories of Bank Line 1972-84. Thank you
My late father's last company was Bank Line before that he was Stricks. Simpler times I think 👍
Really enjoyed watching this video. My dad was a Captain with Elder Dempster Line and retired off the Mail Boats just as the Merchant Navy went into its terminal decline, and my brother and sister both had budding careers thwarted by being at the right place at the wrong time. I loved going down to my dad's ship when it would arrive in Liverpool, and being fascinated listening to all his stories and seeing all the pictures. Watching this video brought it all flooding back to me. Great memories....thank you so much.
Thank you so much for sharing.
So many thanks for those memories: I was an 18 year-old Sparks on my first trip in 1970..... CYCLOPS....5 months....global voyage....
Then 5 years down West Africa: OWERRI, BHAMO, DARU....BELLEROPHON (with a Yellow Funnel! )(And no AIr-Con!) Many Coastals too: Elpenor, Fian,.....
Then had a couple of years out before returning as "Freelance R/O" for United Marine Electronics on a wide variety of ships and routes.
Did a few years for Island Navigation of Hong Kong...C.Y.Tung Group.) .on their large bulk carriers.(Frank Devitt, Ch.Eng on a couple, ex-Centaur....also Phillip Drake-Brockman....)
But some of the memories indicated here....Wow! I need a Tardis.... I wanna go back! Again...Thanks and Cheers.
Fantastic video - we lived in Aden in the 60's, so many memories
Interesting - my father was Captain J.O.Jones who was the first master of the Tantalus - after a fantastic career with Elder Dempster, Blue funnel and Ocean fleets he also mourned the demise of the merchant marine. He actually wrote many of his experiences in an unpublished book that he worked on in the last few years of his life - they make fascinating reading today.
Hi Ted, your dad was Master on my first trip on the Tantalus in 1981. From Tenby I seem to remember? Also remember your mum doing a voyage down to Brazil too. A good ship to be on. Think your dad was on board when we touched the bottom going stern-first to the berth in Rotterdam, which resulted in several weeks in dry dock. Happy days. Mike H
Really enjoyed that. Those were the times when you had long stays in port. My first trip was 1970, (Engine dept) but the decline was underway for the red duster fleet. Sailed foreign flag companies for a few years.Then gave it up. Mike you were lucky to experience the MN in the 60's I do think that was the best decade.
Captain Harrison,
May I offer my thanks for the great job you have done in producing this slide show.
I went to sea in 1962 as a deck cadet with Ampol, an Australian owned oil company operating British flag tankers. Thankfully I made the transition to a Torres Strait pilot before the Australian register fell in a heap!
Great memories of starting nights ashore at the corner of Cameron and Carnarvon Roads, Kowloon where a great night out with “Brits” usually developed as most of my fellow officers were expats.
Thanks for the memories; all I can say is “it sure beat working for a living!”
Emotional to watch. My father was Capt David Emery of Blue Funnel.
Sailed with your Dad in 1965, just for a few weeks on the coast, on the Autolycus. I was only a Middy at the time and tbh can't remember much about it.
This is just great, many thanks Michael, it made me quite nostalgic, I served my time on Menestheus, Cyclops, Diomed, Gunung Djati, Ajax, Glenfruin, Radnorshire before second mates and then Jardine Matheson. I have lived in Singapore for a number of years now, my condo is on the old Keppel Dockyard site. Happy days indeed, who would have ever dreamt that AH would just wither on the vine!!
Cyclops eh! My first ship aged 18..... 2nd R/O.... Joined Liverpool 14.08.1970....went around the world.
Bunkers at Durban,. First trip ashore: Singapore! Stay well!
Thanks so much for sharing this. My big regret is I never went to sea. I was born in 62' and when I left school at 16 I was given to understand that the merchant marine was finished. I interviewed Robin Woodall ( ex capt. QE2 ) He was lucky enough to start his career in 1946 ( oh how I envy him ) yet he must have had to witness so much DECLINE especially throughout the late 60s and early severnties when Cunard had to sell almost the whole passenger fleet. Having said that there are people younger than me who have had fantastic careers at sea.
My dad worked in the engine room on igori.....I remember him carrying me around the engine room no health and safety,I'd be 5 years old . Seeing this brought the smell and rythmic noise back to me like it was yesterday....my dad was Graham Moore.
Thank you for sharing your memories. I always regretted not going to sea as navigational officer cadet but in 1970 It looks as if I would have been just in time to witness the tragic decline of proper lines and ships.
Thank you for sharing this. I'm a merchant mariner myself, and looking at photos like these sometimes makes me long for "the good old days, when times were bad" (as one captain I sailed with called them), despite all of this being long before my time. I wonder if I'll one day look back on my time at sea with rose-tinted glasses as I tell young cadets about what it was like. But there's a good chance that by the time I'm an old salt, ships won't even have sailors on them anymore, not to mention the fact that the US Merchant Marine is nearly dead already. Steel shoeboxes with a lot of electronics attached and a Panamanian flag on the stern, that's the way of the future it seems.
Thanks for your comment colton, your wording may put me up the Social scale when in future company i will refer to myself as being an ex merchant mariner..
You nailed it Colton.... The British Merchant Marine or Merchant Navy went the same way.... I was there at its demise. Now owned by "Foreign Interests" who are totally disinterested in the well being of their crews as long as they are "Cheap" (or even paying their crews it seems!)
I sailed with many crews: African, Chinese, Indians, Bangladeshis Filipinos.... fair to say, their conditions went downwards as did that of my fellow British officers.... so it was across the board I guess.
In one company, we had to go to the Captain if we needed a toilet roll over and above the "Monthly Issue Quota"........ I kid you not. That's how bad it got.
My last company was taken over by Arabic interests: At a stroke they indicated they were cutting officers & crew at ALL levels. That was THE LAST STRAW. I got out.
(Certainly the Officers Bar was not going to survive was it!? 🤣😂😅🍻🍺)
But my 17 years at sea..... I look back on with much nostalgia.......
I recently went on a ship, on it's maiden voyage....... Filipino crew...mixed bunch of mostly European Officers.....and it was depressing. Very.
As you noted: A steel shoe box filled with electronics..... but absolutely no soul.... a plastic void, of brightly lit passageways...devoid of interaction with its crew.
Just so sad. To serve a 6 month contract on that ......must be akin to doing a stretch in prison. (And a 6 month contract is now considered "short"!)
As regards the US MM....
I think the Government of the USA making a huge....huge mistake..... Your armed forces simply cannot function without a solid dedicated Merchant Marine.
It's false economy......
But I wish you all the best...... hope you can update us all in the near future. Cheers.
Thanks for the memories. Well put together. I started with ED's as Catering Cadet - a unique role for the MN - in 1966. Training in Mail Boats and ED cargo ships. First appointment as Catering Officer to Blueys 'Ulysses'. When she was sold, then to Training Ship 'Onitsha' - West Coast - USA/Canada - West Coast - Europe and then she was sold. Catering Officer on 'Aureol', 'Tantalus', 'Tokyo Bay' and 'El Brega' before taking up a training role in the Gilbert & Ellice Islands in 1975.
Hi John, glad you enjoyed it. Can't remember who the Cat.Off. was on the Tantalus in 1981/82. Bit of a change West Africa to Micronesia ! Mike H
Excellent video, Michael. I was at sea with the Clan Line/Union-Castle around the same time and caught the last whisper of the old general cargo ships before they faded out. Happy times indeed. Thank you for bringing those memories back to life.
I recall the line which became Union -Castle/Saffmarine I remember the Rotherwick Castle, which was involved in some sort of incident regarding a young girl, a stowaway and an Engineering cadet, where he said he found her dead during the voyage back to Sotton from Capetown, and he panicked and threw her out the Port Hole, The other girl made it to port and was picked up on the motorway to London and told the driver about it and he went to the police, I think the cadet was done for murder, and there was a large number of Drugs found as well,
There was a passenger liner, the Rena Del Mar which was always short of crew so they would regularly bribe the new arrivals, especially Stewards to man her instead of the cargo ships, I did a 14-day cruise around the western Med but I didn't like it, There was also an old saying in the Shaw Saville Line that you didn't sign on you weighed in, I don't know what that was supposed to mean
Thanks for uploading , a little trip down memory lane
For me these were real ships, I served my time as a ships Rigger. Used to see these cargo boats in the Tyne for repair.
Thoroughly enjoyed watching your show. It brought back to life many old and infinitely nostalgic memories of time spent as a child aboard Anchor Lines Circassia inward bound to Liverpool from Karachi via Bombay in the early 1950's and later the same trip aboard the Batory bound for Southampton. With the passing into history of so many once famous British shipping Lines has gone the romance of world travel upon the oceans, except for those of immense wealth.
Brilliant so many memories thank you for bringing back my sea legs
Very nicely said Michael. I was an R/O with the Blue Funnel Line and started off coasting, then, my first deep sea trip was on the old "Eurybates" in 1954 then on the "Lycaon", and ended my time with the "Gleniffer". As they say: "Nostalgia ain't what it used to be!"
My dad Anthony victor Osborne (Tony) was chief engineer on ss tantalus till 1985, as children we were lucky enough to join her at foz Marseilles and travel to Vitoria Brazil in 1981...trip of a lifetime!! Captain was Ian Webster...any memories of a fantastic ship and crew would be appreciated!! I remember pat pereira, and have fond memories of the greasers, they became my best friends during the 2 month trip.
+Sian Osborne I don't recall the name Sian, however my memory is not the best! I first joined Tantalus in June 81 for voyage down to Brazil (Capt. was J.O.Jones), then again in Feb.82, again down to Brazil, before we laid up in Southampton in April 82. Looks like Ian Webster signed my discharge book then, but difficult to read it! Went back again in August of that year to do some survey work when she was still laid up in Southampton. Rgds Mike H
Fantastic Mike - brought back so many memories.
Phil van Bergen
Great trip down memory lane. See the world and get paid to do it. Best job in the world .Dave
Almost made me cry !
Yes, and me too
Absolutely brilliant film, in fact, it has made me decide to have a beer or two!!
Great memories . I joined the Blue funnel line as a 15 year old boy, and sent to Aberdovey on the east coast Wales Outward Bound school for 4 months. I had a great time with a real. Good Crowd of lads. My first experience was a trip from Aberdovey to the Ilse of Man with. A group of young lads, and a Captain Sam Nailor to tow a yacht back that had been left to the school in a Will. It took us 27 hours to get home in heavy seas, I thought I would never see my mum again. One great experience to give me that taste of the ocean from 1956 until 1968 with Blue Funnel line.
Surely you mean on the West coast ??
What a wonderful film. Many thanks for sharing .
Most interesting and enjoyable.
They were a "top draw" company during my time at sea, (1967/79) and I sailed twice in Sugar Line with a Chief Mate, Arther Longbottom ex BF from Liverpool whose heart was definitely with Blue Funnel
Thanks for the memories
I was lucky to join Blue funnel in 1979. Just about witnessed the good old days! Great video
I’m no mariner but this is fascinating! Thanks!
amazing a credit to you and liverpool thanks for the memories
Utterly brilliant
Well put together Michael. I was an engineer on the Atreus in the Far East in the mid seventies. Containers for us was something to aim for, yet looking back they did not have a patch on the tramp steamers as you did not know where you were going next. I remember being up the Rejang ?? river somewhere in Bornea. I still can't find in on the map, but then again am an engineer. It is hard to appreciate what we had, we did not know it at the time.
I still have many photos I could make a video with, if I can find the time. I am well away from engineering now and working in a secondary school in Scotland, a million miles away from where we were. Still we can reminisce.
Thanks again, Gordon
Brought back memories of Peaceful times.
Was deck boy first trip 1958 Mv Menestheus to japan what an eye opener..can still remember being fascinated with it all, only hindered by being berated as a first tripper.....but that only happened the first trip....nothings matched that mind change since...
I loved working on them in Swansea dry docks such well made ships. And plenty of Curry's !
I sailed with Palm line in the late 60,s. Used to admire the Blue'ys when ever I saw them. Sights and smells I that'll I'll always remember. Zac Colin Simpson. Thanks for the nostalgia. You
Great memories! I was with Andrew Weir (Bank Line ) from 1952 to 1963 - Apprentice to Chief Officer, passed Masters, then went into aviation. Rubbed shoulders with many ‘Blue Flue-s’ in Calcutta and other places.
In time, this vídeo is a magical mistery tour. I can watch it over and over again. Thanks Michael.
Glad you enjoyed the vids Paulo. If you are interested, I have just done a third video called "Uglands - UECC, Memories from 1988 - 2004". Maybe not quite as nostalgic as the previous era but that's the way it was. Rgds Mike H.
Thanx Michael for getting back in touch so fast! I have trawled through RUclips trying to find any memories of my dad and when I saw your pics of tantalus my heart stopped for a moment or two, I'm just trying to get in touch with anyone who knew him..abit of a personal journey I guess. Thank you so much for getting in touch! I remember captain Ian Webster well...he put up with me and my sister on that trip soooo well. As an 11 year old child I remember going on the bridge one afternoon in dock in Vitoria and finding all those little boxes on the wing of the bridge, me being an inquisitive girl, opened one and pressed the lever.....it was the fog horn....every ship in the dock radioed us thinking we had an emergency...Ian Webster was sunbathing at the time on his deck and apparently he fell off his sun lounger....omg...my dad never let me forget it believe you me!!!! It was a fantastic experience, I'm now 46 and still have the diary my mom made me keep...a great time in my life!!😀
Great times and great memories. I spent several years visiting the far east with Ellermans in the sixties. It was not unusual to see half a dozen 'Blue flue' ships in Singapore.
Sir, thank you so much for posting. What wonderful photos. You would have worked hard in your years at sea, but I bet you had a bloody good time as well! Cheers.
Thanx Michael for all your help...I am slowly building up a memory, he passed away when I was 27 ....it's a long journey 😃
+Sian Osborne Sorry to hear that. He must have been relatively young when he passed away. FYI, there are a couple of Facebook pages (not sure if you are on there) which might interest you or where you may ask questions. "Blue Funnel for old timers" and "Ocean Transport and Trading". Also a website called "Ships Nostalgia". Good luck in your search for memories.
I sailed to the far east on the MV Glenorchy in 1969 , her second last trip sadly before the 'breakers'.
My only deep sea voyage I am sorry to say but the thing still got in my blood.
Learnt so much about ships and also about people . Fond memories and I would it again, maybe better next time . .
Back again, Great times never to be repeated.
it is all containers now, I like those old pictures, thanx
Thank you Captain--- I was a workboat skipper in Gourock on the clyde in the late 60s and early 70`s ---used to see the bluies anchored waiting for the tide to go up to Glasgow---smart ships!
Hi. What memories this brings to me, starting on the Diomed in the early 60s as a galley boy and ending up as a 2nd cook also as 2nd cook and Baker sailing with many people who if there still around would be wonderful to speak to or catch up for a beer or 2, I did start to go to the bluey reunion until I lost touch with Mogse Davis who sadly passed away or so I was told,
anyone out there who remembers me give us a call as I am still around on 0151 487 3565 or mobile 07866571623. Bert Willis.
Hi Bert, Don't know if you are on Facebook but you probably know someone who is. There is a Facebook page called "Blue Funnel for old timers". It's worth a look, you will probably see some names you remember as many on there are from our era. Yes, Mogsie passed on many years ago. I sailed with him too, quite a character. I believe he was one of the founder members of the Blue Funnel association. Regards, Mike H.
Amazing and quite touching video of a seaman's all too brief sailing life. I never went to sea, though as a child I spent many hours shoreside in docks and on vessels. My father had sailed, but after marrying got a shore job that supplied ships - which he often visited and took me along. Elder Dempster, Clan McDuff, Elerman Wilson and others were household names to me. Dunno why I never became a seaman - talked out of it, I guess. I was born and raised in Hull myself, so yours in perhaps the sort of career I might have had...Many thanks for sharing it.
Wonderful Company. My last ship was the Melampus, 1963/64. My first was Elepenor, 1962.
Great Company and Liverpool a wonderful City. Great memories. Nothing like seeing a Blue Flu ready for deep sea with her derricks horizontal and ship full loaded ready for the off. Did 3 deep seas to Far East.
Great crews. Love the term “ship shape”. Alfred Holt & Co had high standards, Shame it’s all just memories now.
Thanks for Nostalgic Memories.I joined Blue Funnel ship MV Autolicus from Colombo ,Ceylon ( Now Sri Lanka) on the 14th of January 1971 and My Last Vessel was Bulker MV Aeneus as 2/E.was in MV Glenogle last trip before selling the Vessel to Chinese in 1977.My first ED vessel was MV Donga as 2 /E..I hev few photos taken from 1973 to 1981.Bought my first camera from HK Yshica Electrox SLR.
Thanks for this. I was on deck with the Ben Line in the 60's and got to know a few of the Blue Funnel lads. Great days - happy memories.😁
Nice collection of your life memories thank you for sharing from a Tilbury Docker for the last 20 years :-)
A great few minutes of nostalgia that have prompted me to create a similar 'movie' of my brief 11 years in the heyday of the British merchant navy! From 1962 to 1973 in the New Zealand Shipping Co, the Blue funnel line and Canadian pacific......thanks for inspiring me and others to record such a valuable part of your lives!
Excellent video, enjoyed every minute, some great destinations on great ships.
Delightful memories and presentation. I was never a sea farer, bit knew BF ships as visitors to Sydney, especially RHEXENOR and STENTOR in their later years. Very best wishes to you. :-)
Very interesting video bringing back many Happy memories Joined as an Engineer Cadet in 1966, served on Flintshire (The Yacht) the engine room bilges were painted Gloss White and spotless! Jason, Neleus, The Far East Box Boats all except Cardigan Bay then Tantalus, Carisle .......unfortunately had an accident the day before leaving offshore in Bahamas. resulting in leaving the sea. Great Company and many friends. Also an ex Hullite.
Well done for a nice collection of photographs.
The Blue Funnel Line was quite famous in its day.
My father joined the Union castle Line and returned to shore for good in 1963, shortly after I was born, after making it to chief engineer.
As a kid I spent many holidays on The Isle of Wight so often saw ships in Southampton. My father never lost his interst in shipping, so would always point them out to me.
My favourite though, although I never saw it in real life was The United States.
Last year I started filming a few ships coming into The Tyne. Maybe take a look !
Thanks for the memories Michael. I went to sea as a deck cadet in 1965 with Ellerman City line and transferred to Ben Line when they sold out their Far East service. I was on the "Benalbanach" in the late 60's and she was a palletised vessel, the fore-runner to the container ships. For some reason you had to depart Japan by the end of the month or face extra charges.
We ran in 'competition' with BF's fine looking "Priam" and a German registered ship which my ailing mind can no longer remember her name. A bet was placed between the three vessels that departed Kobe around the same time to see who would win the race across the Pacific. We arrived in Balboa just behind the German ship but our passage time was shorter (taking into consideration our difference in sailing times at the end of the month departing Japan). The pilot boarded carrying cigarettes, spirits and beer from our German competitors for winning the race. The Priam coming third.
Great long lost days!
Great video,memories did flood back as a decky 1970 to 74..Thanks skipper.
an emotionall as well as a photographic and memory lane video..well done.. I was with Bluey's from 64 (Odyssey Works training) through to mid 68, when i left for Blue Star. Worked in the India Buildings, Management Restaurant on the top floor, as part of training. Why/How did it all end for Blue Funnel. Your journey video shows the highlights in the 60's through to the demise, both as a company, and design of once glorious and memorable ship lines and so recognisable shapes.
Mike Barber
Thanks Michael. You brought to mind many good memories of my seagoing days (before containers). I remember flying into Singapore and Hong Kong a few years ago and just shaking my head at the changes. I preferred them in the 'old days'. Blessings on you.
Excellent
Such a shame that nostalgia is all the British fleet has these days!
Great video.
I was with Blue Funnel from 1968 to 1973, I did three round the world trips on the Perseus before I was 18. Happy days!!!
Hi Mike, thanks again for the comments you left on our song and for signposting me here!
I really enjoyed your history tour and learning a little bit more about life at sea, great photos of the ships on the other show and lovely pictures and cards here. I found it really moving visiting Liverpool and the museum after we had done the research for the Blue Funnel Line song, and its amazing to see where that fits in - in the bigger picture - kindof way. I've also enjoyed reading the comments of your colleagues.
Best wishes
Kitrina
Kitrina Douglas Glad you enjoyed the slideshows, Kitrina. Found another place for you to get further insight into a Blue Funnel seaman's life and what it meant to them. It's a Facebook page "Blue Funnel for old timers". I guess if you have any further questions, these are the guys to ask. Rgds Mike H
Those were the days!
Fantastic film Captain Harrison (my late father sailed with Thos & Jas)!!
I worked in the freight forwarding industry in Liverpool throughout the 1970's 80's and 90's and I have to say Blue Flu were THE cream of the crop.
Whenever I visited Odyssey Works in Birkenhead, I would always take the opportunity to wonder down Duke Street and have a look at those wonderful cargo liners with their timber clad bridges and proud erect funnels. to me, they were the most beautiful cargo vessels ever built, their proportions were absolutely spot on.
Happy days indeed.
Glad you enjoyed it. Happy days indeed. They certainly did look like real ships, not like some of the structures you see floating around nowadays. Never did sail as Master there though, that came later when I joined Uglands. Rgds Mike
Good decision to move Mike. If you would have stayed you would never have realised the dream of command.
Thank you for a great video that has brought back some fabulous memories. I was an engineer with SS&SA from cadet to 2/E (1971-1982) and then Ch/Eng with Maesrk, Sealink Ferries/Commodore Shipping (1986-1990) and we had a great time on the fridge boats to NZ and Australia plus the Royal Mail runs to South America. All our ships were built mid 50s/early 60s so still had wooden deck coverings and tween decks, specie lockers etc. with union purchase derricks. We were so lucky to sail on well found ships, with decent officers and crews and visited so many great ports around the world.
Back to my memories of sailing days
Indian sailor
Did a couple of trips in the PELEUS as Carpenter's mate from October 1967 to around mid April 1968 That class of 'P' boat were lovely ships, and fast too - for that time - about 18 - 19 knots. Had to get To Yokohama via Panama Canal because The Suez was a no go area due to six day war and its aftermath. Once getting through The Panama it was three weeks at sea before reaching Yoko. Great times.
Thanks for that Mike. Was there '72-'87
Fantastic video of great ships and memories
Cheers Adrian. It certainly brought back a lot of memories for me when I was putting it together. Don't know if you saw my first effort "Blue Funnel and beyond" when I managed to get photos of every ship I sailed on, and the my third one "Uglands - UECC". Mike H.
Thank you. I will check them out.
What a fantastic account!.. so well done!..
Oh.. that does bring back some memories.. Thank You!..
Brilliant put together ....great stuff
I travelled from Adelaide,Australia aged 11 with my mother to Liverpool in 1953. The ship was the MV Jason, Alfred Holt ,Blue funnel Line, with a cargo of wool. The Jason had twenty first class cabins and we dined with the Officers I was an uncontrolled lad the only other young person was my age, but whose parents were disgruntled Ten Pound Immigrants from Scotland returning home and gave him no free time. The crew taught me to smoke (tins of Wild Woodbines came in 50's)among other vices. A very happy crew they were. Went from Adelaide,Sri Lanka (Ceylon),Aden(,passed through the Suez with soldiers and weapons on deck, "the Suez troubles ?), an unexpected stopover in Valetta to put off one of the aforementioned Scots with acute appendicitis , then to Liverpool. And the city was just that, 50's Liverpool, busy, dirty and intriguing ! Great,nosalgic memory trip for me too, especially the 60's part which was very similar to the 10 year earlier time I refer to.The crew had no modern entertainments, but were a Hugh spirited and fun group, no wonder they think fondly of their service as a "Bluey". Thanks for sharing.
An excellent video. Thank you so much for sharing the pictures and memories. As a youngster in Birkenhead, I would always admire the "Blue Flue" vessels in the docks. Happy days.
Remember serving on mv Donga in 1973 and being joined by my wife for second voyage. Great memories of sunshine and hurricane in New Orleans.
Hi! I was an Ila longshoreman port of cc tx 1979-2012. I remember how we worked in the early 80s with most of the ships being tween Decker's hatchboards and beams! Im not sure if I ever worked a blue line vessel to honest but I did work many lykes brothers ships! Talk about an era gone forever! I'd give anything almost to be able to run a sincronised set of electric lyke winches with the spring loaded handles just one more time! Brother we would have 8 gangs working loading pallets of 110lb bags..what a sight!!!
my father was ships doctor onboard the titan before the war. tears in his eyes when he realised she had survived the war when we came across her anchored up with other vessels , in Falmouth roads in I think 1959 while on a holiday at st moores.
Wow! brings back memories for me too. worked for Ocean fleets 69 - 71, started out as Jnr then 4th. flew out of Liverpool 'Speke' airport to Amsterdam then sailed on ED's 'K' boat 'Kumba' tramping all down the west coast of Africa, Liberia, Monrovia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana,Nigeria calling in at Freetown, Monrovia, Abidjan, Accra, Lagos, Apapa & finally literally 'up the creek/s' to Warri & Sapele to pick up plywood. Played local plywood 'ex pat' factory team football... talk about class distinction, even in those days it was 'we're upper class' & 'you're lower class' you're only seamen, ended up with bleeding nose after meeting up with one of their 'big' full backs, not accidental I might add!... ho hum how memories linger.Always wanted to get on to Blue Flue super ships Priam, Prometheus but the nearest I got was to do coastal's on the SS Pyrrhus, Liverpool to Glasgow out of Albert Dock, had to be a cadet / true Blue Flue I was told by India Bldgs. HQ, plus had to get huge amounts of sea time in
Very interesting
great days I sailed with the blue flue in the 50's and 60's before containers ruined the life of sailing. frank hughes