Next stop Brownsville USA

Wednesday 4^th February

All the cargo boards and supports had been removed in hold 2A so that the pallets could be got in without removing the top layer of boxes. I was working with 4 of the crew and it took us all day to clean it out and replace most of the boards. Unless they are put down in the right order, they do not fit. The electricians were also down repairing a sensor and box which had been smashed off the deck head by the fork lift.

Thursday 5^th February

This morning I was still down No 2A replacing the last of the boards and then cleaning it up, including removing the nails still left in from the dunnage. We used the Norclean Vacuum Cleaner again to suck up all the dust and dirt. I spent all afternoon painting the hatch lids to No 3 and 4 holds.

Friday 6^th February

All morning was spent painting the hatches again. In the afternoon Billy and I went down No 3 hold to clean up. After first sweeping the A deck we mopped it over and then went down into 3B. There was a lot of damage and a few broken pallets which were removed by slings with the aid of the Bosun driving the windlass up top. We then swept the hold out, the Bosun coming down to help us. All the dirt was sucked up in the vacuum cleaner and then the deck mopped out.

View from my cabin porthole

Saturday 7^th February

I had this morning off waiting for ‘stations’ going into Brownsville (Texas). After dinner I ran up the Ensign and hoisted the house flag, G, Q and Stars and Stripes. Soon we took the Pilot on board, when the G was changed to an H. Just after arriving in the canal I took the wheel up to the berth. On the way up the canal we passed an oil rig being built and lots of ships being scrapped including the Globtik San which was involved in a collision with an oil rig resulting in the loss of 7 lives and total loss of ships.

It was quite old now and the rig was instantly changed from Whites to Blues. We started loading cargo at 17.00. I was to start but we changed round and so I won’t have to turn to until tomorrow afternoon.

Sunday 8^th February

Started cargo watch today at 14.00 till 23.00. We are loading ‘Ruby Red’ Texan Grapefruit in No 2 and 3 holds.

Monday 9^th February

After working cargo in the morning and showing two American visitors around the ship (who were very impressed and offered me $2 for ‘making their holiday’). I went ashore wit the 4^th Engineer and his wife and the 2^nd Electrician. We had a look at the Mexican border but were not allowed across as we could not be allowed to return without a permit or being an American citizen. On returning to the ship I went straight down into the Engine Room, having had tea ashore, to witness the ‘goings on’ as we left the port. It was very interesting to see the other end of the buttons and levers which are pressed or pulled on the bridge. We also trimmed the ship by taking on some 50 tonnes of sea water and then we put the log down. It was very interesting and I am looking forward to going down again on our way into Tampa.