I worked for LASSA (Labuan Shipcare Services & Agency Sdn Bhd) as third mate(marine technician) the company set up by Capt Sainty (owned by a local Chinese businessman) to take on BP. There were about 12 Brits working there, we lived ashore in houses owned by the parent company, a couple of miles out of town (known as Kampong Lassa to us). We went offshore Monday to friday and saturday morning was work on the launches in port.
Sainty was the MD, we had a couple of ex BP lads working there, Andy Smithers-electrician and a ex 2/E. Unfortunately Sainty wasnt held in great esteem, as the ex BP lads said he was like chalk and cheese compared to his BP days. Very tight fisted and petty, we couldnt use the company launches for jollies etc.
He was certainly single and based on what we saw, not a chance he would marry (though law changes here in the UK would now allow)
None the less I had a very enjoyable 12 months there from Oct 85, though a very expensive place to live.
We would meet some of the BP lads at the Island Club on a wednesday or Saturday, I remember the shock when the redundancy notices came through about Feb 86, some very upset people. During my time I cant remember the BP lads hashing much except the 333 hash on Pulau Kuriman. (the one time we used the lassa launches)BP came in there own boats.
At the end of my 12 months, I decided to move on for career purposes, plus we lost 4 ships (BT promoter-reactivated, Esso Genava reactivated Esso Saba to BP as their new Base ship(or vv) and One of the El Paso LNG to scrap) so future prospects were not good.
An interesting 12 months which changed my life considerably.
