David Miller:
This is a nice ship to travel on,taken from a pic hanging on rest room wall,cheers Buzzer.
I’m afraid it’s a ‘was’, Buzzer. She is up working between Sweden and Finland these days.
David
from st petersburg to noth baltic citys
Got home a couple of days ago from three weeks HARD LABOUR on the river. Them bloody domino hatches weighed a ■■■■■■ ton each I’m sure all 60 of em. Haven’t been so knackered for years. Sail Monday first tide from Colchester arrive the next at Deptford, in and out on the tide then back to Colchester and the same again there, then do it all over again and again, did 6 cargoes the last week and five the week before. Sod that again, I have spent too many years looking down from the wheelhouse at the Mcgregor hatches being pulled shut to go back to the manual type.
Mr Kimber in Freds office … don’t forget the little hatch just big enough to see through.
Wandsworth power was mentioned, last time I did the ballast work up thru the bridges was to Wandsworth from Felixstowe in '71 or '2 so no wonder I am past it. Hopefully goin back to drivin my wee wheelbarrow asap.
splitshift:
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JJ Prior ,discharging at Euromix
Yea, but they have only two running now, the Bert Prior and the Mark Prior which was originally built for London & Rochester Trading Co. as the Lobe.
Don,t talk to me about hatch boards !!! bloody dominos …back breakers even using hooks pile them up them on the combing put them on the deck get the beams out put them back it looks like rain !!! ok Batten down put on the tarps then the next tarps heavy as buggery locking bars wedges geez makes me tired just writing it give me tin lids any day oh forgot about dropping the derricks that goes with it
backsplice:
Don,t talk to me about hatch boards !!! bloody dominos …back breakers even using hooks pile them up them on the combing put them on the deck get the beams out put them back it looks like rain !!! ok Batten down put on the tarps then the next tarps heavy as buggery locking bars wedges geez makes me tired just writing it give me tin lids any day oh forgot about dropping the derricks that goes with it
Stop, stop, stop, banished from my mind a long time ago. 
Almost makes roping and sheeting in driving rain and gale a pleasurable pastime. 
Come on … hatch boards sorts the men from the boys, and canvas when frozen does your hands the world of good as it gets rid of all the unwanted skin on your knuckles in no time at all when pulling them along. Isn’t it fun when the ropes can’t be easily removed from the bollards as they’re frozen stiff an the ole man then insisted you stay on the foc’sle head for much longer than needed. 
Good old days ? my arse they were 
The young, 21 year old know it all I just sailed with did not believe there was a right and a wrong way of putting in the wedges or tucking in the corners of the covers.
I can picture your 21 YO trying to pick up the tarps using only thumb and index finger…■■? but its 2013 different 21 y o,s don,t get me started!!
While on the subject of hatch covers I remember once during a voyage on the "BENSTAC as nightwatchman calling the crowd to get ready for sailing and by the time they had their cup of tea I had no,s 1 & 2 hatches closed and derricks dropped ready to secure …such was a modern vessel (AEG gear ) no tarps or wedges there them was the days salt spray and sun
Buzzer:
This is a nice ship to travel on,taken from a pic hanging on rest room wall,cheers Buzzer.
I came back from Santander on her in a NW’ly nine, lovely as I was nearly the only one propping up the bar but the toilets were a different matter, wee bit slippery
haddy:
Archie, I sure I’ve heard my dad mention George Stubbs and you you must have been a young lad if you were on a steamer. The only two ships that I can remember bringing in oil for the power station were the “Stanstead” and the “Petworth” do the names ring any bells with you? Cheers Haddy.
Hullo Haddy,
Just looking back on a few old posts. You’re correct about it being a Steamship (although I sailed on a few Steamships) it was an M.V. I was’nt on reflection the Power Station we fueled. It was the Shell Distribution Place further down River. The Stanstead and the Petworth as you said were regular visitors to the Power Station, they were owned by Stephenson Clark Ltd. By the way did you ever get to the Penrice Arms or Hotel on Dance Night ? Wall to wall ■■■■■ on those nights.
Archie.
back to the original question. we have been on the duc de normandie and the val de loire. also the duchess anne, the quiberon, and the Bretagne.all good ships as they were built as cruise ferries not just freight ferries.had some good times but also some rough crossings force9-10. 
Go-Pro at 4 second exposures on the wheelhouse roof. Port of Gladstone Aus.
