Anybody out there from CP ships

[firey]

I sereved on the following ships in the early 80's.

Fort Coulonge,Fort Steele, Fort Edmonton, Forty Hamilton,Dart Atlantica and CP Ambassador.

Sadly conditions changed,shoreside was more appealing and along came the kids.

CP still a big company but now mainly with foreign officers and crew, still sponser British cadets but don't expect a job at the end.
How things have changed.Progress? see thread for CP Valour. You only reap what you sow. I'm disappointed CP but am I jumping the gun it may have been an unavoidable accident? (Cloud)

Firey

[mcook]

Hi Firey,

I sailed with CP from 83-86 as an RO.
Was on the Fort Providence, Fort Revolution, WM Neal, WC Van Horne,
Fort Calgary, Fort Kipp and RA Emerson.

It was a fairly good company to work for and the ship's were fine. Having
said that, some bright spark in the 'office' decided that the company could
save lots of money by not doing any deck maintenance. He was correct in
a sense, but after a year of deteriorating ships, a prospective charterer paid
a visit to some CP vessel he was going to use, and after one look said 'I am not
going to send my cargo on a rust heap like that!!"

This resulted in CP spending vast amounts of money to bring all the ships back up
to standard again.

The fate of the instigator of the no-maintenance policy is unknown, but he is
most likely a senior board member by now!

cheers,

malcolm

[tetura]

Hello Firey, I sailed with CP from 82 till 84 as an AB. Sailling on the Fort Garry, G.A. Walker(during the Falklands),Fort Rouge and the Dart Atllantica. It was alright to start with but after two years I,d had enough and I jumped ship in Singapore. " Nice flight home " !!! REGARDS Trevor.

[Les Gibson]

Hi Guys,
With CP from 1968 to 1978. Sailed on the 'Beaverboats' and the forest product carriers. Was fortunate enough to stand by new buildings in Japan from 1972 'til 1977, but did maiden voyage on I.D. Sinclair in early 74. Great memories of a really good company with super ships and blokes. And yes I have also been in companies with rubbish ships and blokes!

[jonjeff]

Hi Les, I was with you on the maiden voyage of the Sinclair as well ,probably as 4th Eng at that time. I paid off in some godforsaken place in Brazil. Age dims the memories a little! Keep in touch. Jon Jeffrey

[Keltic Star]

CP still a big company but now mainly with foreign officers and crew,

Firey

Point taken Firey but what does the "C" in CP ships denote? Haven't seen one with a Maple Leaf on the stern for decades.

[mikeg]

Point taken Firey but what does the "C" in CP ships denote? Haven't seen one with a Maple Leaf on the stern for decades.

CP =Comedian Pathetic (==D) ..now running for cover(EEK)

[GEORDIE LAD]

If I remember correctly,CP Ships is now Chinese owned...Doug

[John Ringrose]

I did my MED in Southampton with a guy who then sailed with CP ships. Bob Clay.

Madman - wouldn't mind finding him again

[sailingday]

Sailed on the Empresses, Scotland, France and Britain as a 1/c and tourist waiter during the 50's

[BobClay]

Worked for CP from 76 to 86 as a sparky. GA Walker, WA Mather, WC VanHorne, EWBeatty, Fort Assiniboine/Garry/Rouge, IDSInclair, Port Hawkesbury and others. Only just recovered from the hangover.

:-D

[mikeg]

Sailed on the Port Hawkesbury as R/O in 71

[DAVE F]

I was on the CP Trader,voyager and Discoverer .... The Fort Garry I was dismissed from this vessel , as the Captain put it, Over Tank Cleaning {the not doing of} Oh how I loved that job .............

[mikeg]

Almost forgot, sailed on CP Voyager in '72 with my wife. Officers put a swear-box in the bar (my wife was the only women onboard). Proceeds of which bought a large hi-fi for the Officers bar
(K)

[wood butcher]

Hi Dave do you remember Joe Dujmovic?, he was Bosun on the Discoverer,i sailed with him on the Beaverfir in the 60s.

[markg]

spent a short period on Fort Hamilton in 1980/81, seems good memories now must have forgotten the bad bits (Thumb)

[albatross1]

I was with CP 1973 - 1986 on a lot of their classy vessels G.A. Walker Argies missed it, CP ambassador refused to sink, ID Sinclair ,Fort St John, TG Shaughnessy, Forts Kamloops & Yale and various others that I cannot remember. I left when they flagged the fleet out but still have generally good memories bad ones gone. Well most. still in touch with some guys from these days but memory for names is rubbish

[R396040]

I was P/CS on the Lord Strathcona Dec 1972 /73 Spanish crew.and British of
officers. who were a good crowd.
Stuart H

[pensioner]

Albatross1.
Were you on the Ambassador when she decided to take on water in the Engine Room, half way across the Atlantic, I was on her as Lecky. Gamblin was O/M.
Regards

[albatross1]

No I missed that one,Brown and Gaunt were the Captains on there for most of the time I was there, we did flood the steering gear got pooped and hatch was open exciting with a full load of containers and a howling gale,I was on there also when we lost most of the containers over the side in a storm lots of bikes ,pencils and crash helmets which made good decoration for the foremast it was Christmas. (Jester)

[john234]

hello i was on the vovager 1980 donkyman .captain was hooly good bloke a nutter took us to see rockall.then the GA Walker down the falklands ,where i met my brother welsh guards..(Applause)

[mmurray]

Hi folks,
Was 2nd mate with CP from 1983 to 1987, did trips on, Fort Calgary, Fort Nelson, GA Walker, RA Emerson,WC Van Horne, Dart Atlantica, Dart Americana and CP Ambassador - think thats the lot. Been ashore since the Ambassador went, still waiting for the call to go back. Have very fond memories of my time on the bulkers and container ships, also have memories of the tankers - which probably help me in remaining ashore.

[Michael Taylor]

I sailed on the Strathcona,W.M.Neal,D.C.Coleman and both the Fort Calgary and Nelson, starting April 74 as Ch. Off and signing off the Calgary as Master, December 76

[Woodbutcher]

Does anyone remember Captain Bill Williams?.I was straight out of my apprenticeship,and joined the Beaverelm as Carpenter in December 1962,it was i believe his first command after being on the Empresses.I was greener than green having to find things out for myself,albeit with a little help from the Shoregang Carpenters before we sailed.One day the Mate tells me that the Captains toilet has stopped flushing,and to sort it out.Well,not knowing the first thing about plumbing,it sort of threw me a bit ,but what can you do when everyone thinks that you know what you are doing?.So up i go to the holy of holys,and has a look,anyway i got the water turned off for that part of the ship,took it apart, a bit of grease, and put it back together,water back on,.. and tested it,and much to my suprise it worked perfectly.Later on that evening a case of Red Barrel was delivered to my cabin complements of the Captain.I must say that it was a big boost to a 21 year old 1st trip Chippie.

[Erimus]

I was agent for Fort Victoria in Immingham when she was in port for a month loading pipes,then we had a dock strike,and then a delay whilst the whole of the crew,not officers, were swapped for a different nationality........great stress then.

Most memorable thing was she carried female cadets,both deck and engine,which livened up things aboard.................this must have been 1978/79 before I returned to the Tees.

geoff

[CEYLON220]

Hello Firey, I sailed with CP from 82 till 84 as an AB. Sailling on the Fort Garry, G.A. Walker(during the Falklands),Fort Rouge and the Dart Atllantica. It was alright to start with but after two years I,d had enough and I jumped ship in Singapore. " Nice flight home " !!! REGARDS Trevor.


Trevor. your line on "jumping Ship", was any charges brought against you when you got home by the company---in the RN this would be a charge of desertion and the end game would be detention in Naval DQs and later discharged from the service(Peace time)--but --wartime the action would have been a court martial and then tied to a pole and shot, not a very happy ending----so the question is -what happened when you finally got home---just curious,mate!!!!!

[outhouse]

With CP from 74-82. Also sailed on Sinclair, August of launch year - gulf and back (Europort where daya think) bored to tears apart when the port boiler blew up!

On the Trader for a year when the main engine starting falling to bits - more than usual (I was the one that spotted the crack in the main entabliture - took ages to pursaude the Chief it wasn't just oil in flakey hammerite). Tie rods as it turned, out all three ships had to be checked and tightened.

On the Edmonton when it was still a B&W floating research project, didn't work, even the windy ER crane buckled - didn't help Van de Geesons took only 110 days to throw it together!!

Lots of fun some great guys, but could see the way things were going when Swifty set up office in Hong Kong, went off to build oil rigs. Probably something to do with 2 years on the Strathcona floating in the North Sea loading oil from an SBM.

[james2011]

hi all you ex cp guys does anybody know dave shepered i do believe he was mate dont know if he went skipper i know he did get his tickets but i moved and he moved so we lost touch does anybody know of him he was from yarm originally but lived in south shields for a couple of years in fact got married there but not for long i think he was on the port hawksberry the last i know he was on lpg carriers can anybody help

[Garethed]

I did two trips on CP Trader in 1975 as 5th Engineer. Main engine lub oil became emulsified on the way back from Quebec to Rotterdam, which I pointed out to the 2E who showed not the slightest interest. Ship was worked very hard without much care - glad to pay off. Joined HR Macmillan in Gwent after.

[martin h]

Started with CP as a Junior R/O early 1981, first Vessel CP Discoverer, then
Lord strathcona, Fort Nanimo, Fort fraser (Ex P&O), Fort Calgary, Fort edmonton(ascension) Dart Atlantica/Americana, CP Trader (San Loenzo), CP Voyaguer up to 1987 when Indian Officers took over. Fond memories, got loads of pics will upload for those interested - Cheers

[ben27]

hi les gibson.just reading messages anybody out there.i dont know if i count it is so long ago.anyway.i just checked my discharge book,and the first ship i signed on after being demobd from t124x articles.at the dock street pool london,was the beaverdale.that was in 1946.it was a very modern ship then.and after some of the rust buckets i sailed on still would be. i supose she went the way of all desent ships.probably got made into datsons?nice meeting you all the best ben27

[m0vvt]

Hi All.
First sailed on the HR MacMillan in 1968 then again in 1969.
Transferred to the NR Crump and did my honeymoon trip with my new wife on my last trip with CP over Christmas 1970. Was Sparkie at the time, first sailing with Capt Ali White, then for my last trip with Capt Tranter. Had some really great times on those ships especially the parties in Vancouver. Often wondered what happened to the girls there.
Sailing as a Mate/SDPO now in the offshore industry and will probably retire this year.
Interested to hear from anyone who remembers me.

Malcolm

[LucyKnight]

Worked for Shell Tankers as R/O on the SSMangelia SS Alinda SS Hemitrochus and MV Amoria and then for CP Ships as ER/O on the Fort Steele I.D. Sinclair Port Quebec Fort Kamloops Fort Edmonton E W Beatty before going shore side in television.

[LucyKnight]

Hi Dave do you remember Joe Dujmovic?, he was Bosun on the Discoverer,i sailed with him on the Beaverfir in the 60s.

You asked about anyone sailing with Captain Bill Williams, I sailed with him in 1979 on the I D Sinclair which was his regular boat (supertanker) He alternated with Captain Dick Jeans and they were on one on, one off unlike us. I had my trip extended twice with him and l had only had 10 days leave after l left the Fort Steele because another ERO wasn't well. He asked me to extend it a 3rd time and l dared to say no!

Lucy Knight (ex Shell R/O and ex CP Ships ER/O

[LucyKnight]

Worked for CP from 76 to 86 as a sparky. GA Walker, WA Mather, WC VanHorne, EWBeatty, Fort Assiniboine/Garry/Rouge, IDSInclair, Port Hawkesbury and others. Only just recovered from the hangover.

:-D

I recognized your name from when l worked for C.P. Ships. Sailed on the Fort Steel (ZBMD I think) ID Sinclair, Port Quebec, Fort Edmonton, Fort Kamloops, EW Beatty. Shame about Alec

Lucy Knight.

[Wayne Erasmus]

Sailed on trader, voyeger and disco. Ambassader, Dart American. E W Beatty. I D Sinclear, Port Hawkesbery, T G Shaugnase. and others 1977 to 1985