[david smith]

Bulk Carrier Fernie departing Rotterdam in Hain-Nourse colours before being merged into P&O Bulk Shipping Division. Built 1967 42,446tg

[Ian Dickinson]

Sailed on FERNIE as an Engineer Cadet, Junior and 4th Engineer. Chief engineer was Pete Chapman who came from Plymouth. Easily the best ship that I sailed on.

[Doxfordman]

Never had the pleasure of the Fernie, but did enjoy Jedforest, Maynell and various G's.

[Landour]

Likewise I never got sent to the Fernie but sailed on the Eridge as a first trip Engineer Cadet in 1972. Was not a happy ship and nearly turned me from a career at sea.

[Doxfordman]

Landour, thats not good. Did you stay with BSD as it turned out to be? Most of them were bloody good, certainly after some of the GCD and NZS ships, although a good was had by all in thoses day, wasn't it?

[Landour]

Stayed with BSD until 1980 sailing mainly on steam ships, Busiris, Malloja, Ottawa, Talamba, various Ard's, Lauderdale, LNG Challenger (and later as the Pollenger) before joining P&O Ferries in Dover. Finally stopped going to sea in 1987 but still retain links in present employment.

[Doxfordman]

Like wise, I hung up me boots and shifter in 1982, finished my time on the G's carrying LPG. Now in tech management ashore.

[Ian Dickinson]

Also was unfortunate to sail on the Eridge. I was told by the 2nd to start up one of the generators only to find that the previous watch had started to carry out maintenance and had loosened all the cylinder head bolts.

[Doxfordman]

Must have been interesting?

[Lowrey Bell]

Fernie I stood by whilst being built in Japan as 2nd Engineer. She had a major fire in accommodation top two decks just before delivery. Very quickly repaired by the Builders. Maurice Asplett was Chief Engineer. I took over from him in 1967 approx. Fine vessel and a happy ship. When was she broken up? By the way I thought she was 72,000 tons! I have quite a few photographs whilst being built.

Lowrey Bell

[R58484956]

Welcome aboard Lowrey (Chief) you are now amongst the sea/ship loving fraternity,most of us left years ago but our minds are still there. Enjoy the site and all that goes with it.

[ruud]

Ahoy,

Here the Eridge [the dreadful]so called by a few of our members.

[Jim Cobban]

I joined the Fernie in Rotterdam as 2nd Mate 23rd Dec 1973. The photograph must have been taken at this time as I seem to remember we were stillhanging in as Hain Nourse. A happy ship.

[ruud]

Originally Posted by Jim Cobban

I joined the Fernie in Rotterdam as 2nd Mate 23rd Dec 1973. The photograph must have been taken at this time as I seem to remember we were stillhanging in as Hain Nourse. A happy ship.

Ahoy Jim,
Haven't a clue when this one[Eridge] was taken, no sources at all, completely unknown for me.Sorry mate.

[david smith]

The Fernie pic was taken by me in January 1972

[John Tremelling]

Interesting to see the comment re Eridge. I was an apprentice on her from June to November 67, she was happy enough then.

Thanks for the photo RUUD

John Trem

[ruud]

Originally Posted by david smith

Bulk Carrier Fernie departing Rotterdam in Hain-Nourse colours before being merged into P&O Bulk Shipping Division. Built 1967 42,446tg

Ahoy David,
Here a shot of her taken early '70[Rotterdam area],in b/w photo[card 9x14]and almost 35 yrs old.

[Grandad]

I was on the Fernie sometime in '72 as deck cadet... the memory ain't quite what it was but I do remember visiting Dampier in Oz and that Dampiers' claim to fame was having 500 single men and two single women. I also remember that they (the Dampians) were very proud of their steak sandwiches and that I often wished I'd kept one for re-soling my boots.

I think it was on the Fernie that I gained the nickname "Bonehead" (a long story) and it was on the Fernie that Mark, Dave and I worked on "The Payoff Song"

"Packed my bags, Packed my grip,
I ain't comin' back next trip,
Bye Bye Fernie"
(Sung to the tune of 'Bye 'Bye Blackbird and going on for numerous verses most of which were quite rude.)

I found a cassette tape (now 35 years old) a couple of years ago of us singing it and it brought back memories!

[SonofCaptainSmith]

Hello to all,

I have just joined. My late father was a seaman for many years, and as a youngster in the 1970's my mother and I would sail to Le Havre and join my dad on the P&O MV Fernie many times. He was the Captain at the time. Is this the same ship by chance?

I have a load of my fathers old photos going back to his merchant navy days and will, in time, get around to uploading them as you, like me, may have relatives that served on these ships.

All the best,

Chris

[garry Norton]

Sailed on Fernie as CH/Off Doha to Rotterdam, loaded in Port Elizabeth. On the way to South Africa had some storm damage which was repaired in Port Elizabeth.The ship in ballast had stability problems.

[gordon bryson]

Originally Posted by david smith

The Fernie pic was taken by me in January 1972

Fernie was my first ship, I joined her in January 1972 in Rotterdam. I was a very green junior radio officer, especially on the 2nd day at sea. I eventually got my sea legs.

[slick]

I was in Atherstone in 1968, a terrific ship a great crowd. it did not prepare me for the Trewidden, a nightmare of a voyage the Old Man went missing over the side, off to greener pastures after that.

Yours aye,
slick

[John Adamson]

Hi Slick

I sailed on the Atherstone as my last trip as a Cadet before going on to MAR at King Teds. I joined the Atherstone in Rotterdam, January 68 paying off in March.
Regarding the Trewidden, that was Captain Reilly that went missing? I had sailed with him a year before on the Nurmahal. I had two long exchanges of e-mails on another forum with Reilly's neice and nephew who were trying to find out information on their uncle.

John