Heading for Japan; Christmas onboard

First job was helping the Bosun”s Mate to replace the insulation and boards we had removed last Saturday. After that the rest of the day was spent painting the inside of the hatch coamings with “Silverine” paint. The ship was beginning to pitch a bit and this meant standing up reaching with a roller on a pole difficult to say the least. Whilst I used the roller Billy went around with a “dog’s leg” to touch up the nooks and crannies and the rollers.

Thursday 11^th December

This morning was spent down No. 2 hatch cleaning and sweeping up. This involves gathering up all the cartons and bananas left over (all rotten) and then sweeping the smaller debris and dust over to one side where the boards are then lifted swept down under them and collected in a plastic bag ready for disposal. We then spent the whole afternoon down No. 2 measuring up the holds, pillars, ladders etc. to work out how many car chassis we carry (from Japan to America). Although not much physical effort is needed one still sweats profusely due to the heat. I was glad to get out and into a nice cold shower at teatime! After tea was Refrigeration Officer’s fancy dress birthday party. I went as a “mutton cloth mummy” wrapped up in lengths of mutton cloth and won first prize!

Friday 12^th December

This morning was occupied by measuring up No. 3 Hold (as No. 2 yesterday). We had the afternoon off to do correspondence work.

Saturday 13^th December – Sunday 14^th December

Today the hold measuring was completed by spending most of the morning doing No. 4 Hold. After handing the results into the Chief Officer I had to take a message to the bridge. Whilst I was there I prepared a new Red Ensign to be hoisted. A clip had to be spliced on to each end and then the flag sewn round the rope to prevent it from slipping off. Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday were spent doing the correspondence course, particularly work involving “traverse tables” which I was experiencing considerable difficulty with. However, I saw the Chief Officer who straightened a few things out for me.

Monday 15^th December

Today Billy and I helped two of the crew sugi the deckheads, bulkheads and decks in No. 1 Hold and in the afternoon No. 2 (A deck). It took quite a bit to assemble all the gear necessary. A plastic dustbin, a bottle of Teepol, brushes, air hose, freshwater hose and the sugi machine. It was very hot and humid (due to the fine spray) and even when not working hard, the perspiration just ran off me. I made a mental note to take some salt tablets at “smoko”. The high pressure jet given off by the sugi machine is enough to shift most of the dirt but some of it needs a jolly hard scrub with a brush. 

Tuesday 16^th December

Straight after breakfast we had to go up the bridge and work out our noon D.R. position. Once done and checked by the 3^rd Officer we went down No. 2 Hold again measuring. After “smoko” there was a fire drill, Billy and I going forward with the 3^rd and 4^th engineers to observe how the emergency fire pump is operated. After first isolating the normal pump the isolation valve foe the emergency pump is opened ( a precaution to stop sea water entering the exhaust pipe when not in use). Once the engine is reached a tap on the exhaust valve releases any water etc. which has got into the pipe. The fuel is then turned on, the water inlet valve opened and the crank swung. Once going round with enough velocity the decompression level is dropped and the second time the engine sprang into life. All it needs then are a few throttle adjustments. The reverse procedure is used to close it down. The rest of the morning was spent finishing off No. 2 hold. In the afternoon we started No.3. I spent my “smoko” in the swimming pool. At 16.30 when we finished I went in the pool again. The 2^nd officer and his wife were there and we tried out the life jackets, experimenting on the best methods of propulsion and noticing how uncomfortable they are if the straps are not properly adjusted.

Wednesday 17^th December

The first half of the morning was spent getting the principle dimensions of the holds. i.e. For - Aft distance, aft and forward breadth and the breadth at the centre. After smoko I duplicated a pile of forms for the Chief Officer. In the afternoon Billy and I cleaned out the starboard lifeboat. (the motor life boat).

The bottom boards and bilges were very oily and the mess had run through the plug hole onto the deck below making a dangerous area. After taking all the gear out I washed down the bottom boards using an oil dissolving detergent and Billy started inside the boat. After smoko we finished the bottom, replaced the boards and then all the gear. We then scrubbed the deck below the plug hole, again with detergent.

Thursday 18^th December

Billy and I spent the morning drawing to scale the plans of the holds that we had spent so long measuring. It was satisfying work seeing the end product. The Chief Engineer then took the plans and using scale cardboard shapes working out how many of the cars we can take on in Japan.

We are approaching the Straits of Malacca so I had the afternoon off till the 4 to 8 watch. First I took an azimuth to check the compass error and at 06:00 I did the weather log. As soon as it started to get dark it started to get busy and narrower. An active lookout was needed as there were deep draught tankers and tugs towing barges to contend with. At 20.00 I took the temperatures, pressure and wind directions before going down to the bar to see the film “On the Buses”.

Friday 19^th December

Up at 03.45 to get on the bridge to find a lot of traffic about. We were nearing the Singapore Straits and, as we did, several lights kept appearing. I kept a lookout on the starboard bridge wing and one of the AB’s on the port. As we got nearer it continued to grow lighter and the lights could be seen to be on islands. There were a lot of ships at anchor and several fishing boats came quite close. Once the sun had risen it turned out to be quite an impressive area. Several of the islands are devoted solely to petroleum stowage and refining. We were out of the narrows by 08.00 so we reverted to day work. Until dinnertime we helped the Bosun’s Mate remove the panels and insulation in No.4 hold to try and examine damaged plates (done by the tugs at Mina Al Amadi). It was very hard work and though we removed three panels there was no damage to be seen so we concluded it might be right on the deck level. The rest of the day we had off to recover from the night before.  

Saturday 20^th December

This morning was spent examining all the holds for damage to the gear, safety lines and ladders etc. Several of the runners for the hatch opening wires had had their fairleads broken off by cargo slings in the past and two of the safety wires were missing. Several of the stanchions holding these up needed minor repairs and aligning.

Sunday 21^st December

Today was spent doing correspondence course and helping put decorations up in the bar for Christmas.

Tuesday 23^rd December

By now the weather was a lot worse and we have slowed down to about 10 knots. It is too rough to work on deck so after spending most of the morning sorting out certificates and refilling them (see above ) for each derrick we spent the rest of the day doing correspondence work.

Wednesday 24^th December

In preparation for loading the cars in Japan this morning was spent sorting out the cargo hooks and sticks to be used for the Spanish windlasses. All the gear had been stowed down the forepeak so we put 400 hooks each into 4 sacks and put one down each hatch. Each sack was very heavy and was difficult to maneuver up and down the ladders due to the movement of the ship. The wind was so strong blowing down the deck that it was hard to walk into it and difficult to keep balance and go slowly when carrying a load going with it. Once the hooks were in place we did the same with sticks. These we carried 100 at a time in a plastic dustbin. Due to the wind it took two of us to carry it. We had the afternoon off.

Thursday 25^th December

Christmas Day. After a lie in I helped the Refrigeration Officer to stock the bar up ready for the day ahead. This took quite a while and by the time we had finished and cleaned it, it looked so neat it almost seemed a shame to use it.  Decorations were hung everywhere and there was a tree in one corner. We then went and got changed ready for the Captain’s pre-dinner drinks. All the crew came up to the top bar and to strains of Christmas carols in the background we all had a drink together and I mentally prepared myself for the dinner. Today the cook really had excelled himself and I heartily enjoyed every course. After coffee and liqueurs in the bar afterwards we spent the afternoon playing darts and cards. After the buffet tea I turned in early as I expected to be up soon in the morning as we neared Japan.