Comments for the year 2010

Email / Date

Hi guys! happy new year to all! I was with Federal steam/nzsc for a while in the mid  60s. I started as stwds/boy on the Middlesex, Rangitoto, engineers stwd on the Surrey and did the final trip on the Remuera as asst. baker!I also sailed on the Braemar Castle, Auckland Star and Port Wellington. I came from Gillingham, Kent originally, but have lived in oz for 43 years.
Roger Sharplin

02.01.10

I served on the m.v. Northumberland as j.o.s. & s.o.s. 1961 - 1962 this ship is not listed although the old Northumberland is, I think the latter came to grief in Napier after an earthquake.
regards Roy (Speady) Spencer

G'day, I am looking for information on the M.V. Kaimata (NZ Shipping Company)1931-1969. What I need in the log book pages from the 1st March 1941 to the 31st March 1941, specifically the lat/long of an incident 7th March at about sunset north Atlantic. The log book page will confirm a theory I have on the sinking of a German U-boat, U-47 which went missing on the 7th March 1941. I have newspaper articles from Halifax and New York of the day with photo's of the damage to the bow of the M.V. Kaimata dated 14th March 1941.If you can assist with this project I would be very happy.
Donald Scott

05.01.10

As a 6 year old, I sailed with my mother on the Rangitiki from New York, arriving in Liverpool 12 Dec., 1944. On the way we had to stop in Halifax for repairs. I have some memories of the voyage. Does anyone know about those repairs, and the events of that particular crossing? Thank you, Willis Fagan

18.01.10

The Buckinghamshire arrived at Port Chalmers 1874 11 march. it only visited NZ the once
Robin Duncan

I worked for the NZSC from 1954-1964. The ships I sailed on were as follows...

Rangitata Sept 54-Oct 55 4th/3rd 'leccy
MV Surrey Nov 55-Jun 56 2nd 'leccy
SS Dorset Jul 56-Dec 56 2nd 'leccy
Ruahine Jul 57-Jul58 2nd 'leccy
SS Pipiriki Oct 58-Oct 60 Chief 'leccy
Huntingdon Dec 60-Mar 63 Chief 'leccy
Rakaia Jul 63-Apr 64 Chief 'leccy

Does anyone have contact details for Dave Carpenter, an engineer who sailed on the Rakaia 1963-64?The old email address I have for him (that is also posted on this site in the comments archive 2005) doesn't work anymore. Would also be interested in hearing from anyone else who was on the Rakaia at the same time, especially Dave & Brian (can't remember surnames... they know who they are!)

Ray Pethick

5.01.10

Would love to learn more about M V Durhan circa 1953 Captain? Crew? anyone heard of Felix John Lennon? Mysterious death on board! Peter A. Forster

Editor: Inspector Clouseau mystery

I did one trip as 7th Engineer on the Devon from Liverpool Dec 1965 to Aussie New Zealand via Suez, return via Panama. I would like to get a copy of the ships log if possible and details of her life after I left. Michael Riley

17.02.10

Approximately in November 1955 my mother Murial Abbott and myself sailed from Tilbury Docks on the Rangitoto to Wellington, New Zealand to join my father Frederick Thomas Abbot who had sailed earlier that year to join the NZ Army. As I was only an 8 year old boy at the time I can only remember the good times but not the dates of departure and arrival, if anybody has them that would be great. Kind Regards Colin Abbott

Good news my old shipmate Ray Pethick has made contact, he found me though Alex Henderson whom i also found on this brilliant web site. I have put him in touch with Brian (The Bear) Anderson whom i will be seeing at the Durham Association Ladies lunch at Liverpools maritime museum in April. This is my current e-mail address. Dave Carpenter (Engineer NZSC 1960-64)

Great site, had no idea there was such a website!! I sailed on Huntingdon, Sussex, Haparangi, Hertford, Hurunui, Rakaia and Cumberland 1968-72. I'm currently working around the Australian NW shelf in the oil and gas industry. Robbie Lee

Hi Jeff  Thanks for the update!

Its good to see all the old 'Shell Backs' coming out of the woodwork! Without your website most of us would still be be confined to the bilges. I have just posted my application to become a member of NZSC Asso so hopefully i will be able to keep in touch with more of the lads that i sailed with.

I thought i would take this opportunity to to let you know about my latest book which is in the process of being typeset, Its about my time as an engineer with the NZSC in the early 1960's, It will probably be called 'Engineers & Other People'

I will send you a copy once i get it printed if its ok with you, perhaps you would review it for Association members. It follows my previous book  'Dockland Apprentice' which has proved to be very popular.

Kind Regards Dave Carpenter

Editor Still waiting on the Dockland Apprentice .. !!! The most blanton self promotion i have come across Dave, you would have to be related to Arthur Daley from Minder.
For those reading i put Dave self promotion up on the History section simply because its about NZSC
I get so many people trying to flog a product that they nicked or found in some trunk or draw "hello" or seeking passenger lists for family trees, interestingly enough the new buzz word is doing an autobiography. Dave with all his bravado was doing something about keeping the History going.

22.02.10

Hi Jeff, Great web site. An old shipmate made contact with me Re M.V. Northumberland 1961-1962 If anyone out there knows of Jack Taylor who was captains tiger at that time please get in touch. Regards Roy (speedy)

Just been on a site that is about the good old days of the Merchant Navy and P&O saw the ships you have on i also did the Taupo, that was my first trip in April 1975 when she left Avonmouth for South Africa, Tasmania, and home to Liverpool, Oh Happy Days

Do you remember a cook called George Dally?, Lots of great people , my first trip to sea was some experience, spent 9 years with P&O, best time of my career, spent a total of 16 Years in the M.N, finally ended my sea life with R.F.A ,what a difference from the kiwi run and the good old ship molls, you try to tell people what those days were like, but nobody can fully understand the laughs and brilliant mates you made at sea. I finally left the sea in 1991

But still yearn for those days back again.

Anyway if something jogs your memory please get in touch, your name just sounds familiar.
Names that might ring a bell Larry the Lamb, Eric the Red, cant think now of other names,                

Kind regards   Terry Quigley

Hi Jeff

Reading through the Archives I was surprised that as far as I could see there was no mention of the 1956 Suez War and the closure of the Canal. At the time I was 2nd Electrician on the ss Dorset. We had just left Liverpool on route to Australia via the canal when we were diverted to South Africa -Capetown. We bunkered there and then onward to Fremantle - a long voyage. There must be some interesting experiences of contributors and others of ships that were just about to enter the Canal from either end. Of course the canal was again closed from 1967 to 1975 due to the Arab Israeli War.

Another time in history that hasn't been mentioned in the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. I was Chief Electrician on the MV Huntingdon berthed at Savannah. I remember how tense and jumpy the stevedores were. No wonder, as I believe there was a ballistic missile site just fifty miles from the port! On leaving Savannah on route to Curacao for bunkering we were buzzed by American fighter planes and intercepted by American destroyers requesting to know our destination and cargo. Frightening times - the world was on the brink of a Nuclear Holocaust.

On a lighter note if it hadn't been for conscription (National Service) which was in force until 1960 I would have been a landlubber. At this time you had a choice of 2 years in the Armed Forces or I believe 3 or 5 years in the Merchant Navy, I forget which. I wonder how many others started their seagoing careers this way?

Hope you find my comments of interest. At least it gives a little background to what was happening in the late fifties and early sixties.

Best Regards, Ray Pethick

P.S. Are you interested in photographs of Senior Deck and Engineering Officers which were taken prior to each voyage?

Editor: Yep, if you scan and save in Jpeg and email to me i will create a sub section within Photos

1.03.10

Trying to contact any one who sailed on the Whakatane between 1961 to 1963, I was the junior engineer. Jim Hayes

Editor: Email address was rejected

Sailed for 2 years,stayed for ten. h boats wild boats strath boats, good hard years, remember them ,we were luckyl Paul Jorgensen