Author:
Alan Rae (Memories)
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Date Posted: Saturday, May 17, 10:43:58am
In reply to:
REG Sheard
's message, "Engine repairs at sea" on Wednesday, May 14, 04:18:32am
Many moons ago,when I was an apprentice,doing a stint in the drawing office in Manchester Dry docks,I came across a book with accounts of various nautical disasters and their subsequent solution.I think it had been published in the early 1900's,we moved offices shortly afterwards and I never found the book again!One incident recounted was that of a BI ship(I think)in the Indian ocean whose drive shaft sheared,completely,in the shaft tunnel.This was before the general usage of radio communication,power tools,et al.Ships staff spent some two weeks re-aligning the broken bits,cutting key ways etc.(Using only hand tools,cold chisels,ratchet drills and similar)No welding gear,either electric or gas,only heat source being the small portable forge(for heating rivets)then carried on most ships.They managed to fabricate some sort of clamp(God knows how!)and connected the two bits together again.Got under way and proceeded to port,under reduced power,where a new bit was fitted.
As an engineer(30 years at sea)I experienced many disasters,both engineering and nautical but always found that,at these times,EVERYBODY pulled together and did teir bit to try and resolve the problem.Sometimes the answers came from surprising sources such as first trip galley boys ect.,who because of their innocence,had no pre-conceived ideas.There were,of course,those who did not contribute but these were,in the main,few and far between.This is what the comradeship of the SEA is all about.I will send you a separate "e"mail re some of the other disasters I have experienced as it would take up far too much space on this site.Cheers,Alan
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