Return to Panama and on to Suez

Saturday 1st November 1975

The morning Billy and I had to work out the average weight of a case of bananas for each hold. There had been some discrepancy over the weights and so a check was needed. We had the rest of the day off and I got busy writing numerous letters off to relatives and friends. By the time I had related the events of the past few weeks nine times I was glad of a film (That’ll be the Day) shown at night.

Sunday 2nd  November 1975

Woke up this morning, with the help of the telephone, at 07.00 and realized we were not moving. On looking out of the porthole found we were anchored in Panama Bay. I went on the bridge at 10.00 and escorted the pilot up at about 10.15. We weighed anchor immediately and sailed into Panama. This time it was light and as we approached Balboa Bridge. I kept the Rough Bridge Log, noting down the times when each buoy was passed.

            e.g. 11.20 No 3 Buoy  ↵

The symbol meaning abeam to port (likewise … starboard).

The sun was out and it was really hot. Once up through the first set of locks we tied up for a while to let another big ship through the cut. At the top of the Gatun locks there was a terrific view down and over the Atlantic. Once through a boat came alongside with stores and I helped the crew get them on board. It had been a hard day and I was glad to get to bed early after the last job being to take down all the flags.

Monday 3rd  November 1975

The first job today was to stow the ropes for’d and aft. It was very hard work and getting an even coil with the large mooring ropes was not easy. We then took some paint up to the forepeak, and inside we made an inventory of all the paint. This was very difficult due to the fact that different colours and types were all mixed and by the time it was all tidy and in order, it was dinnertime. I was amazed how much paint and so many different types on one ship. In the afternoon after an hours steering I caught up on some correspondence. 

Tuesday 4th November 1975

Worked out a compass error azimuth this morning and then went round weighing and noting the colour of the various fire extinguishers around the ship. This is to find out whether they need refilling or replacing. At 10.30 there was a fire practice, muster stations exercise. There was an imaginary fire in with the steering gear and we rigged the hoses and squirted foam over the stern whilst everyone else prepared to abandon ship. When it was all over and the gear stowed the Chief Officer showed us how to use the photocopier. We then were given the job of sorting and relisting all the shackle and block certificates which we did in the afternoon after an hours steering.

Wednesday 5th – Friday 14th November

With the exemption of Saturday afternoon and Sunday, 10 days have been spent chipping and painting the decks, rails and hatches forward of the bridge. After first washing the surface, any rust was chipped away with hammers and loose paint scraped off with scrapers. Once this was done the surface was wire brushed, where convenient a pneumatic wire brush was used. The first morning I used the machine. I could only operate it for short periods at a time due to the vibrations. It made my hands itch and fingers go numb. I soon got hardened to this and in 2 days I could operate it for long periods. Due to the danger from flying bits of chipped paint or rust or even the bristles which kept flying off the wire brush one has to wear safety goggles to protect ones eyes. At first these seemed clumsy and misty, but after a while I got so used to wearing them that I would forget to take them off when I had finished work.

We sailed through Gibraltar early on Monday morning. The weather across the Atlantic had been fairly calm apart from one day when we were rolling about 15 degrees to port and 10 degrees to starboard. However, this did not affect the work apart from the fact that if you were not careful where you put your tools down they would slide across the deck. Once the surface had been brushed down and was dry enough, red lead paint was applied. Once this had dried another coat was put on and then another making a total of 3. Then a coat of undercoat was added. Once this was dry the topcoat was put on using a roller. Whilst one of the crew I helped another paint the bitts, eyes and around the scuppers etc. which are inaccessible with the roller. The roller is very efficient and we had to work as fast as we could to keep ahead of it along the deck. Having run out of the “non slip” type of paint a dry path was left all the way forward. The next day this was then painted and scattered with sand whilst still wet. This provides a textured surface to the paint when dry which provides a bit of friction for anyone walking on it.

Saturday 15th November

This morning we assisted the crew to rig the after derricks. My job was to haul on the runner as the boom was lifted so as the tension was kept on winch to prevent the wires getting tangled. Once aloft the preventers were made fast and then the guys tensioned. Once rigged we then started to stow all the removable gear from the lifeboats, a precaution against pilfering on the Suez canal.