Any ship spotters ....

[bigduke6]

For any members, who have an interest in ships etc, It may be someone you know, or someone thinking of a career at sea etc then If you are near Essex, UK, and would like to have a look around a Large passenger ferry (such as the places you don,t get a chance to see, Engine room etc), then you would be more than welcome to come down and have a look,and its free.
(no coach parties) and am afraid cant allow any children due to the gangway (its quite steep) if there is anyone Interested PM me and I will give you more details.

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[Ramboueille]

For any members, who have an interest in ships etc, It may be someone you know, or someone thinking of a career at sea etc then If you are near Essex, UK, and would like to have a look around a Large passenger ferry (such as the places you don,t get a chance to see, Engine room etc), then you would be more than welcome to come down and have a look,and its free.
(no coach parties) and am afraid cant allow any children due to the gangway (its quite steep) if there is anyone Interested PM me and I will give you more details.

Ship spotters? Hell, yes but not in the UK! Still have my lapsed US 3rd Engineer's license (expired). Too old, too long ago, not a good family life!

[bigduke6]

Ramboueillie,

Engineer myself, no deep sea anymore, like you say not good for family life (excellent for single life) ferries for me now, the one I,m on is bigger than your average ferry, just thought I,d offer a tour for anyone with an interest, as you know it can be a bit of an eye opener to most who have never seen a marine diesel engine.

[Ramboueille]

Duke,

They still fascinate me. I worked for a short time for the old Arco Oil (Atlantic Richfield) East Coast USA sailing supertankers to the Persian Gulf. 5 weeks round-trip. Not for me...........

Some years ago my wife and I took a Cruise on the old Home Lines Oceanic. As you know they have tours of the bridge but I wanted an engine room tour. The Pursor looked at me like I had two heads but nevertheless they set it up on my insistence for "Able Bodied Only" with a requirement to sign a relase document for indemnity. Seven of us took the tour and they loved it! Those that were not familiar with the inner workings of a large ship really had an eye-opener. Right into the shaft alleys, turbines, condensers, bunker C tanks, to the keel. They loved every minute of that tour, felt like "home." Your offer would be similar.

In lieu of that today, we cruise the river in fair weather taking our photos. The Maria Knudsen is on the smaller side but this one was huge. You have to be a decathalon star to get from the bridge to the engine room. Seventy-two foot draft at the Plimsoll mark!

[bigduke6]

Was on ULCC and VLCC,s for the first 5 years, Esso, and Chevron, did a few MV product tankers in Chevron (32000 ton DWT), had some good runs, last deep sea run was a box boat (container ship) in 1999.

Not a ship spotter myself, but did enjoy the time deep sea, been round the world twice at least, both canals, persian and mexican Gulfs, lots of countries from A-Z etc. Like the old saying had a girl in every port (but had to pay for them)

[me2]

USS Cascade AD 16 homeport Newport RI. was my home for 2 years during Vietnam war. She was a Destroyer tender, 10,000 tons dsp. 500' long. Built for Matson Line in 1943 as passenger/frieghter. Had a distinguished WWII history. She was single screw steam turbine and could make 18 knots (if pushed hard). After engine room was my first duty station, then lucked out and got re-assigned to A Div. Made one Mediterranean cruise, refresher training at gitmo, trip to Puerto Rico. I enjoyed my 4 years in the Navy but was glad to return to dry land and civilian pursuits.