sidsal
6th February 2009, 20:31
There has been a lot on the news about jobs for the Brits in the Lindsay oil refinery. The place brought back some unpleasant memories from years ago about that area. In 1949 I was 2nd Mate on a T2 tanker the Esso Cardiff. We were supposed to get a month's leave after 5 months and as we were on the UK- Aruba run which took about 4 or 5 weeks, the fifth voyage would have got us home about mid December - and - Joy of Joys - first Christmas at home - ever !!
After discharging part cargo at Purfleet we sailed up to the Humber and berthed at the end of this blooming long jetty which stuck out into the HUmber and we discharged the rest of the cargo. The area was desolate and flat and because of the thick weather the foghorn - about twenty feet from my porthole grunted away every few seconds at a thousand decibels , or so it seemed. This is the spot where this Lindsay refinery is being built apparently. How can I describe the area - well - if the UK was a human body, Killingholm is where it would have piles !!
In Purfleet I had received a parcel from head office containing scrap pads, pencils etc for the chartroom and I remarked to the master that the firm were being very generous as they had sent twice what they normally sent for a 4 or 5 week voyage.
Anyway, we were ballasting and ready to go in a hour or two when a lorry appears at the end of the jetty and we all were curious. It transpired it was extra stores and the agent appeared and announced that we were destined for an extended voyage. Everyone was livid - many threatend to walk off but were persuaded to stay.
Result - we went out to Aruba and loaded for Santos, Paranagua and Rio Grande de Sul in South America. We got home sometime in February.
The crafty barstewards robbed us of our Christmas at home, and deceived us into believing it was a short trip. The extra pencils and last minute stores showed them up.
After discharging part cargo at Purfleet we sailed up to the Humber and berthed at the end of this blooming long jetty which stuck out into the HUmber and we discharged the rest of the cargo. The area was desolate and flat and because of the thick weather the foghorn - about twenty feet from my porthole grunted away every few seconds at a thousand decibels , or so it seemed. This is the spot where this Lindsay refinery is being built apparently. How can I describe the area - well - if the UK was a human body, Killingholm is where it would have piles !!
In Purfleet I had received a parcel from head office containing scrap pads, pencils etc for the chartroom and I remarked to the master that the firm were being very generous as they had sent twice what they normally sent for a 4 or 5 week voyage.
Anyway, we were ballasting and ready to go in a hour or two when a lorry appears at the end of the jetty and we all were curious. It transpired it was extra stores and the agent appeared and announced that we were destined for an extended voyage. Everyone was livid - many threatend to walk off but were persuaded to stay.
Result - we went out to Aruba and loaded for Santos, Paranagua and Rio Grande de Sul in South America. We got home sometime in February.
The crafty barstewards robbed us of our Christmas at home, and deceived us into believing it was a short trip. The extra pencils and last minute stores showed them up.