My Ship(s)

[ombugge]

The new thread in the Veteran Ships thread; "Vessels from the old shoe box" gave me an idea for a new thread; "My ship(s)".

For us seafearers this would be a place to present the ships we have sailed on, or been associated with in some manner, during our time at sea or ashore. For other members if could be cruise ships they have been on, or just favourite ships, past or present.

I didn't put this under "Veteran ships built before 1970" thread as that may not be relevant. (In my case that would be OK, but maybe not for all)

To kick it off I'll present the two first vessels I served on:

Training Ship "Soerlandet", Fullrigger, Built 1927, 557 GRT, IMO No.5334561:


I was Trainee from Febr. to early April, 1959 and crew for a trip to Alborg, Denmark and back to Kristiansand. All under sail as she was the last of the large sailing ships to have a propulsion engine installed, which happened the next year. (1960)

Here she is seen in Aalesund during Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race in 2001:


I joined M/T Polyrambler, ex Bergestrand, 16,320 DWT, built in Amsterdam in 1950; IMO No. 5528161 in Rotterdam in early May, 1959:
(That was also my first time in an airplane, Fred Olsen Airways DC 3)









She was a relatively large tanker for her time and traded World Wide. In fact I got my first "whiff" (literally) of Singapore.
We carried oil out of Indonesia to Singapore storage when Shell got thrown out in 1959.

She had fire in the Engine Room in the Med and was broken up 1965.

Standard contract was 18 months, but you could sign off after 12 months, if the ship called at a North European port. I signed off in Antwerpen in June, 1960 after more than a year on board, mostly "East of Suez", as did most of the crew since they had their "base" there, or in Rotterdam.
Some of them hadn't been in Norway since before WWII (1939) and probably never would go home.

That is first installment. More ships to follow.

Hope this will inspire others to come with their contribution, whether "own" ships, or just ships that has taken their fancy. Your fantasy is the limit.

[ehp]

WOW!!!! She is MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!!!!!

[pilotdane]

Incredible! What a cool life.

How was the motion of Soerlandet at sea? Do the sails help calm the motion versus a powered ship about the same size?

[ombugge]

Incredible! What a cool life.

How was the motion of Soerlandet at sea? Do the sails help calm the motion versus a powered ship about the same size?

Well, it was 50 years ago and my first trip at sea so I can't say I remember all that much about the short trips across the Skagerak.
What I remember best is that we departed and arrived Kristiansand unaided of tugs, but that was NOT allowed in Aalborg.

As for the steadying effect of sails; Yes, a vessel under sail gets a very different motion from a vessel under engine power.
In fact a lot of small fishing vessels still use a steadying sail on the mizzen mast, which helps them keeping head into wind when drifting and reduce the roll motion when under way.

Here is a few pics from Viksund, showing their boats.

Coastal fishing boat with a mizzen sail: (Furled here)


This one is used for recreational purposes:


And a model of a modern Malo "Sjark" (One man professional fishing boat):

[ombugge]

Training Ship "Soerlandet", Fullrigger, Built 1927, 557 GRT, IMO No.5334561:


Here she is seen in Aalesund during Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race in 2001:

I just noticed a difference on these two pics. In the first the anchor is a old fashion "Stock Anchor", while in the pics from Aalesund in 2001 she has been equipped with a more modern "Stockless Anchor".
I would think she has then been equipped with a more modern hydraulic windlass as well?

In my days the windlass was powered by hand, via a Capstan on the Fc'sled. The Capstan had spooks into which up to six wooden bars could be fitted, with two men on each bar.

When berthing in Kristiansand we sailed all the way up to the wharf and dropped one anchor. The other anchor was run out and dropped in position by the longboat and the ship was moored "stern in". All by manpower only.
The Master at the time had never served on a ship with engine and liked to do things "the old way".

Come to think of it, that was my first involvement with "Anchor Handling".
Edit: For those who want to know more about this vessel, here is a link: http://www.schoolship.no/
In the Video section there is even a short cut of them working the Capstan.

[ombugge]

Since nobody else wants to venture into this thread to "show off" their ships I'll continue. My next three ships where Cargo Liners, all belonged to Wilh. Wilhelmsen, Toensberg/Oslo.

The first one; MV "Tamesis", IMO No. 5351662, built in Glasgow 1949/50, 10,260 Dwt. Broken up in Taiwan 1978:




I joined her in Oslo in June, 1960 and signed off in Oslo in June 1961. First trip was on the North Europe to Australia route, which took abt. 6 months and included carrying Linje Akevit in old sherry casks for the entire round trip.

Second trip was on the North Europe - Far East run, which included a call at Shanghai + plus loading copra at "numerous" small ports in the Phillipines and Indonesia. This also took abt. 6 months.

After a short holiday I joined MV "Theben", IMO No. 538191, built at Eriksberg, Sweden 1953, 10,570 Dwt. Detained in Basrah in 1980 and eventually broken up at Alang, 2004:

She was one of the first ships with a single engine over 10,000 Bhp and was able to reach 19-20 kts. Served the Express Europe - Far East route, which took "only" 4 1/2 month. (Only main ports visited).
I got hurt in an accident in Germany and signed off in Jan. 1962 and returned to Norway for recuperation.

In March 1962 I joined the MV "Teneriffa", IMO No.: 5358191, built at Kaldnes, Toensberg, Norway in 1952, 7,835 Dwt. Broken up in 1979:






She was trading North Europe to US East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, incl. Vera Cruz in Mexico, which only took 3 1/2 months per trip.
I signed off in May, 1962 as I was due to start school that year and the time was too short for another trip to USA.

That was my last ship with Wilh. Wilhelmsen. All these ships carried a crew of around 50 and could carry up to 12 pax.

To be continued.
Hope somebody else will enter this thread with a presentation of "their" ships, whether as crew members, passengers or just a liking of some ships.

[pakarang]

Beuatiful ships...

I guess I don't need to show off my ships here since most of them have already been presented in other places at the forum and the main page.

I could however give a quick run-down list of "my ships", in chronological order as far as I remember:

Kong Olav
Polargirl
Midnatsol
Vesterålen
SS Norway
Royal Viking Sun
Royal Viking Queen
SS Norway
Seaward / Norwegian Sea
SS Norway
Norwegian Dream
Leeward
Norwegian Star
Norwegian Majesty
Crystal Symphony
Chao Phraya Princess (1)
Skogøy
Fosen
... and soon "Sogn" as well.

Think I remembered all...

[ehp]

Wanna see an incredibly SHORT list???

Crystal Serenity
Crystal Symphony

hahaha

[ombugge]

Wanna see an incredibly SHORT list???

Crystal Serenity
Crystal Symphony

hahaha

You could add Finnmarken, just because of it's rounded ...., no???

[pakarang]

You could add Finnmarken, just because of it's rounded ...., no???

That would be cheating... she hasn't been on her own ship yet...

[ehp]

Remember, since FInmarken is off to Australia, Midnatsol is now "mine"...so to compliment Lady C's Trollfjord????

hmmmm...do tenders count???? Bass boats? Pontoon Boats? Nah, those are boats, not ships................

[Fjordtroll]

M/S "Atlantic" and T/B "Chanko".



So I've been a little with my dad at work. board the M/S "Helgeland" and M/S "Renøy". To a time when the M/S "Ofoten" went the route of "Helgeland" When I was with him at work.

[Seagull]

....I could however give a quick run-down list of "my ships", in chronological order as far as I remember:
Kong Olav
Polargirl
Midnatsol
Vesterålen
SS Norway
Royal Viking Sun
Royal Viking Queen
SS Norway
Seaward / Norwegian Sea
SS Norway
Norwegian Dream
Leeward
Norwegian Star
Norwegian Majesty
Crystal Symphony
Chao Phraya Princess (1)
Skogøy
Fosen
... and soon "Sogn" as well.

Think I remembered all...

Although it was a very temporary assignment, you really should add Ofoten to your list ( it fits between Skogoy and Fosen ) because it is the only one of your ships on which I was sailing when you were on duty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! – that was on 7 July-2009.

[pakarang]

Although it was a very temporary assignment, you really should add Ofoten to your list ( it fits between Skogoy and Fosen ) because it is the only one of your ships on which I was sailing when you were on duty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! – that was on 7 July-2009.

Indeed... how could I forget HSC Ofoten!

[Seagull]

Indeed... how could I forget HSC Ofoten!

Probably quite easily, because I think Skogoy was your favourite, am I right?

Did you ever get to drive Norfolda? (or maybe only on the simulator?)
I did sail on Skogøy of course, but you had been whisked away on a charter that day. Skogøy was my absolute favourite of all the HSC’s out of Bodø – oh and I so coveted that model of her in the window of the office !

[pakarang]

Probably quite easily, because I think Skogoy was your favourite, am I right?

Did you ever get to drive Norfolda? (or maybe only on the simulator?)
I did sail on Skogøy of course, but you had been whisked away on a charter that day. Skogøy was my absolute favourite of all the HSC’s out of Bodø – oh and I so coveted that model of her in the window of the office !

oh, my bad, I forgot Norfolda as well....

Mental note to self: connect brain before pressing the keyboard....

[Seagull]

oh, my bad, I forgot Norfolda as well....
Mental note to self: connect brain before pressing the keyboard....

Understandably you loved Skogøy so much that you completely forgot the others.
As for connect brain before pressing the keyboard, that was my New Year resolution, and I didn’t even make it to the end of January! Still, better to fail with that resolution and keep going with 365!

[ombugge]

That would be cheating... she hasn't been on her own ship yet...

At the start of this thread I made this statement as to what the thread could be used for:

For us seafearers this would be a place to present the ships we have sailed on, or been associated with in some manner, during our time at sea or ashore.
For other members if could be cruise ships they have been on, or just favourite ships, past or present.

So far there hasn't been too many pics of the ships listed, or what, where and when the association was.
Even if the association is/was a fleeting one, let the "creative juices" flow and let us see and hear why this was/is "My Ship(s).

[ostafjells]

What a great idea to have this thread. Her's my humble ship history:

Like ombugge I started my career at sea onboard a sailing ship. "Christian Radich" - a competitor to the Sørlandet - was my home and learning source for approx 8 months from August 1995 to April 1996. A great period of my life and many of thos I met there, are to this day among my closest friends.


In April 1996 I flew to Dubai to join an oil tanker, the T/T Berge Boss sailing between Iran and Egypt. Not the most exciting ports (since we were not allowed ashore) but there were plenty work so time ran by so fast.

I have a link to this "supertanker" here :
http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/...php?lid=166376

In august 1996 I started my nautical education and in june 1997 I was happy to join the LPG tanker "Berge Spirit" in kårstø, west coast of Norway. I was a happy ship, a two month adventure around the Atlantic before school started again. It was my first visit to America, and I remember from that shore leave in Houston I thougt everything (and everyone) was so huge I made time for a tex mex dinner, a beer and visiting a cowboy store before heading back to the ship

Berge Spirit in Houston:


After another year at school (2 out of 3) I joined the LPG/C "Helga" for a three month north sea adventure. Plenty work, but also alot of fun, for example during a two week dry dock in Spain
http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/...hp?lid=1053411

[ostafjells]

I completed my nautical college in june 1999, and on the 4th of june I was on my way to Japan and the LPG/C "Berge Captain" with a fresh 3rd mate licence "burning" in my pocket. I was thrilled and excited to finally join a ship as an officer. But at the same time I was terrified. Would I perfom well? Would I handle the situations that would occur? I spent two contracts on this happy ship which took me to Us west coast, Singapore, Persian Gulf, Australia and Korea, besides from many different ports in Japan.



My last ship in Bergesen would be the "Berge Sisar", a sister ship to the "Berge Spirit" These "sisters" were built in Finland in the late 70thies/early 80thies and were absolutely great - the rolls royce of the LPG fleet of that time.

Berge Sisar link
http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/...php?lid=422058

I had a great time in Bergesen, and a big thanks to them for contributing to my college education. Unfortunately they flagged a new manning policy som norwegian officers started to worry about their future. It was time to look around. So I made a phone call to NCL and asked kindly for a job. "Great!", they said. "And please tell the other officers onboard to call us as well", they continued. Turned out the timing was perfect, as NCL on that time was doubleing the amount of watchgoing officers on their ships.
After a mandatory "psycological" test in Sweden, I was on my way to Miami to join a ship that has been mentioned vaguely on this forum


What this ship means to me, I think everyone know. I spent a year there before I transfered to the "younger" Norwegian Majesty - an extremely happy ship. Sadly she is also gone from the NCL fleet and is now sailing under the name "Louis MAjest".


I truly enjoyed my time with NCL. But unfortunately bills are not being paid with happiness alone. The Dollar exchange rate was historic low, and I lost about 30% of my salary during the three years I was there. It was time to find a norwegian company again and I spent my last three years as a first/chief off jr on the Shuttle Tanker "Gerd Knutsen"



And that's the end of my career at sea. Now I'm safe ashore on Horten VTS, and is enjoying my time there as well