Jeddah

Wednesday 19th November

Up at 06.00 and onto the bridge, we were arriving at Jeddah shortly. As we neared the harbour we could not see anything due to the haze and the glare of the sun on the water. Another P&O ship, the Strathnairn, could see us clearly and helped to guide us in. There were about 200 ships at anchor and we were afraid we would be stuck here for weeks!

Eventually a pilot came and guided us to our anchorage. We dropped the starboard anchor first, a way off and proceeded past the anchorage, letting the chain run out. We then dropped the port anchor. As we let the port anchor run out we heaved in on the starboard till we were in position, then made fast. Whilst this was going on we looked round to find the pilot had disappeared. I hurried down just in time to see him off the gangway into the launch. I was given the rest of the day till 16.00 when I was on the 4 to 8 anchor watch. This consisted of checking the position frequently and seeing the lights were on and flags down etc. The Chief Officer showed me how to use a sextant and I used it to find our position.

Thursday 20th November

Up at 03.30 and before I started my watch I inspected the fishing lines we had put over the side earlier. However, we were out of luck. The moon was full and extremely bright which made picking up unlit buoys and a wreck very easy which simplified checking out position. At 05.45 I woke up all the engineers, refrigeration and electricians. At 06.00 I gave the Chief a ring to report all was well. It was now getting light and the night watchman hoisted the ensign. I threw him the stem jack which he then ran up forward. After giving the Captain a call out at 06.30 I checked our position again. At 06.50 the Chief came up on the bridge to relieve me for a shower and to get changed. He came up again at 07.30 so I could get my breakfast. After breakfast we changed the milk in all the lifeboats, checked the provisions and changed the water. The rest of the day was my own and I did some more fishing in the afternoon. It was the 2nd officer’s wife’s 21st birthday and that night we all shared a massive decorated cake which was very good. We amused ourselves with games such as walking on two beer glasses and sitting on a bottle with your feet one on top of each other resting on your heel whilst you tried to pick up a box of matches on one side and a cigarette from the other. Light the match and the cigarette. This feat was found to be impossible. 

Friday 21th November

This morning the pilot came aboard to take us alongside to discharge bananas. I went forward and helped tie up. I then put the rat guards out which involved splicing new lanyards on 3 of them. It was satisfying to put my newly learned splicing skills into practice. Whilst the crew rigged the forward derricks (with which I helped for a while). I got the bottles of lamp and storm oil for the lifeboats and painted the contents on them. In the afternoon I was on radio watches calling the bunker barge ‘Samia’ every 15 minutes but to no avail. Eventually the Chief called her and soon she was alongside discharging bunkers then we de-ballasted into her. As it grew dark I rigged the cluster lights.

Saturday 22nd November

Billy and I were just starting breakfast and the Captain came in and told me to keep a radio watch whilst he had his breakfast. Again we were waiting for a call from ‘Samia’ re. bunkers. Billy relieved me for my breakfast which the steward had put back to keep warm. I then went back up to the bridge and Billy and I admired the view. Over the warehouses on the Starboard side and away to the right was the town of Jeddah. It looked, through the binoculars, to be a confused conglomeration of ultra modern and Paleolithic buildings, all half built and lots of sand. However, a pair of binoculars was the closest I got. In fact the whole time we were in Jeddah I didn’t even go down the gangway!

At about 0945 a pilot came onboard as we had to shift the ship about 600 feet forwards along the quay. I operated the telegraph and kept the rough bridge logbook. We were assisted by the tug ‘Jeddah 1’. For the rest of the morning we stowed the cluster lights, which we had erected the night before. In the afternoon the bunker barge came alongside again. I helped to take its rope on board and make it fast and then haul the pipe on board. I then went onto the monkey island and hoisted the letter B and put on a single red light on the Xmas tree.

Sunday 23rd November

Due to leave at 10.00 to bunker from alongside the tanker ‘Samia’ and then on for Dubai. However, the pilot did not arrive till after 11.00! Evidently they turn up when Allah wills it. I assisted the 3rd officer forward and when the batteries ran out in the RT I had to stand midway between the bridge and bows and act as a verbal telephone exchange! We wound our way out through the reefs and other ships at anchor and tied up alongside the ‘Samia’. I then went for a shower and a late dinner, it was very hot, and although I had done little physical exertion I was exhausted. After a couple of hours relaxing Allah decided it was about time we left so sent a pilot; an incredible maneuverer. No sooner had we let go forward and aft the engine was on half speed and the helm hand a’ starboard. We were moored starboard side to a reef about 1000 feet dead ahead. We swung niftily around the bows of the ‘Samia’ and headed for the gap in the reef where we dropped the pilot. Once I had taken the flags down and washed up the teapot I was allowed to stand down.