Cable Laying on CS Mercury, 1973

[CableHistory]

On my Cable History website, David Watson continues his Memoirs of an STC Project Engineer with an article on laying the CANTAT cable from CS Mercury in 1973:
http://atlantic-cable.com/CableStories/Watson/CANTAT/index.htm

Bill

[KevinR]

I was 3/Eng, then 2/Eng. on the Mercury 1962 -1965. She was a great ship with British Officers and Spanish crew and had a superbly equipped engineroom workshop. I attach a pic. of the 1:100 scale model I made while serving aboard the ship.

[Pat Kennedy]

As a matter of interest, I was working in Cammell Lairds when that Mercury was fitting out. One day there was a commotion up on the boat deck, and ambulances arriving etc. I found out later that three shipwrights had been on hands and knees caulking the deck planks, and the crane lifted a sling of steel plates on edge right over them. A plate slipped out of the slings and like a guillotine blade, cut the three of them in half.
The worst accident I ever heard of in Lairds, and there were plenty in that yard. Health and Safety was not on the agenda those days.
Pat

[KevinR]

As a matter of interest, I was working in Cammell Lairds when that Mercury was fitting out. One day there was a commotion up on the boat deck, and ambulances arriving etc. I found out later that three shipwrights had been on hands and knees caulking the deck planks, and the crane lifted a sling of steel plates on edge right over them. A plate slipped out of the slings and like a guillotine blade, cut the three of them in half.
The worst accident I ever heard of in Lairds, and there were plenty in that yard. Health and Safety was not on the agenda those days.
Pat

What a horrific accident, Pat! First I have heard of it, though I joined "Mercury" in Birkenhead during the final phases of fitting out, and subsequently sailed on her for the next 2 years.
My most vivid memory of that time was lunchtime when all the workers swarmed over the road to the pub (forget it's name) and every horizontal surface had a pint of beer on it - hundreds of pints - and everybody knew exactly where their beer was! We used to get in there early to get a drink before the rush.....

[Pat Kennedy]

Kevin,
That pub was the Royal Castle and I've had many a pint in there.
Now called the Hotel California it is still going strong but mainly as a very noisy heavy metal type pub for youngsters.
A good photo of it here;
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/630873
Regards,
Pat

[janmarsh]

Hello all,
Search Youtube "C.S. Mercury Tasman Lay 1975" for some crude cine converted footage of this lay.
Regards, Marshall.

[Ray the lecky]

I missed the 1973 Lay, (on leave) but did complete 2 commissions before and after. I am new to this site but I sailed with KevinR and Dave Watson. Are there any other C&W marine staff members?
Ray

[Pat Kennedy]

Here is a photo of Mercury on her sea trials in 1962.
She was a good looking ship.

[Ray the lecky]

Many thanks for that photo Pat. She certainly was a good looking ship and was always kept in top order.
Fond memories.

[Pat Kennedy]

Cable laying ships have become much more functional in design since Mercury was built.
Here are some pics of the Cable ship Nexans Skaggerak undergoing a refit in Cammell Lairds about three years ago.

[Ray the lecky]

With reference to the Youtube footage (janmarsh 10th March 2009) there was an Australian professional film crew that sailed with us on that lay, filming every aspect of the operations from loading to slipping the final and life at sea . If you look closely at the youtube footage you will see them filming using a tripod shooting aft. They had a collection of their work with them and showed us one that they had filmed of an alligator farm in Australia. Excellent.
Pity that the film of the lay was not available.
Regards.
Ray

[Ray the lecky]

Maybe Dave Watson knows of the films existance.
Ray

[Blackal]

Cable laying ships have become much more functional in design since Mercury was built.
Here are some pics of the Cable ship Nexans Skaggerak undergoing a refit in Cammell Lairds about three years ago.

If I remember correctly - the Skaggerak was (prior to 2009 at least) - about 1m narrower down one side (around the C/L) where it had been 'shaved' to get it through some canal (corinthian?).

Al

[Ray the lecky]

Did I say alligator farm in Australia? I meant obviously a crocodile farm.
Ray

[john flower]

G-day all. just caught up with the thread. served as 2R/O on the first voyages laying COMPAC, offloaded to Retriever in the middle for six months in Suva and Honolulu. What a life for single young man. Great company, great ships, wish Id stayed for another shift. Have still got photos of the Radio Room somewhere
John Flower

[Ray the lecky]

Hi John.
I sailed at various times with R/Os: Des Gallagar, John Oxley, Derek Steele, Paul Money, George O"Brian, Shaun Hasslett, some of whom were around during your stint with C&W.
Ring any bells?
I agree that it was a great company in those days.
Ray

[john flower]

Hi Ray,, Thanks for note on Mercury R/O's. John Oxley was No1 when I joined at Greenwich before the first Compac lay, Capt Reynolds

[ben27]

good day cable history,2end,march.2006,00:15.re:cable laying on cs.mercury.1973.a most interesting thread,i have just watched your link.most informative.you certainly sailed with good mates.having a collection for you.and you having a non stop party in return.thanks for posting.ben27