Joining m.v. Chennai Ookkam, Bulker of SISCO at Port
Redi in January 1970
I was on m.t. Jag Jwala, the coastal in 1969 in the port of Cochin discharging Petroleum products and serving GESCo when when I received a telegram that my father had suffered a serious heart attack (in fact the second time a MI) and so it was imperative to go home--The Captain was understanding and I was signed off on ENG 2 Form; i flew back by IAC Viscount Flt.next day. That incident altered a lot in my plans and took me to a another company. I was in Madras assisting my late father in hospital and then post recovery. Finally,after a long stint of nearly 4 months ashore at home assisting my late father, he was medically fit -and I decided to rejoin a ship. I had to get back to work and employment and my meagre savings also had run out. Besides it was about time for me for Chief Mates F.G.exam. I was at the Bombay MMD Office to apply for Mates FG examination, but my CDC showed my sea time was short by by just "2 days" as per the MMD Surveyor Late Capt. Rajagopalan- who was really a cranky man and he just said -Go and sail, get the 2 days sea time and then come back .... Thats was the 1960s and MMD .Besides, I was flat broke -aka out of funds. So I decided it was " fait accompli" ...best to go back to Sea.
I was on m.t. Jag Jwala, the coastal in 1969 in the port of Cochin discharging Petroleum products and serving GESCo when when I received a telegram that my father had suffered a serious heart attack (in fact the second time a MI) and so it was imperative to go home--The Captain was understanding and I was signed off on ENG 2 Form; i flew back by IAC Viscount Flt.next day. That incident altered a lot in my plans and took me to a another company. I was in Madras assisting my late father in hospital and then post recovery. Finally,after a long stint of nearly 4 months ashore at home assisting my late father, he was medically fit -and I decided to rejoin a ship. I had to get back to work and employment and my meagre savings also had run out. Besides it was about time for me for Chief Mates F.G.exam. I was at the Bombay MMD Office to apply for Mates FG examination, but my CDC showed my sea time was short by by just "2 days" as per the MMD Surveyor Late Capt. Rajagopalan- who was really a cranky man and he just said -Go and sail, get the 2 days sea time and then come back .... Thats was the 1960s and MMD .Besides, I was flat broke -aka out of funds. So I decided it was " fait accompli" ...best to go back to Sea.
I looked up the new paper and saw many adverts for a Jr.
Officer; One was required by Mackinnon Mackenzie and soon found my self being
interviwed by Capt N.N.Bhansali, former Scindia's Supt -then with SISCO
Chennai. The interview was pleasant and more so as i was
Ex.Dufferin and was promptly accepted for a voyage- as I explained the need to
do my exams. All things agreed and it was quite basic and simple then-so it was for a voyage and
it turned out to be about 7 months actually to get 2 days sea time on my CDC. It may appear quite absurd, but that was MMD terms then . Life went on , we accepted it all gracefully as it came then., but, looking back it really made no difference.
Then it joining my ship.
Next I know was the Agent handing me a 1st Class Passenger Cabin Ferry Ticket on m.v. Konkan Sevak -ferry from Bombay to proceed to join m.v. Chennai Ookkam at Port Redi, near Vengurla in Ratnagiri, south of Goa as a 2nd Mate. The ferry voyage was over night and quite pleasant. It was an abs new experience to go as a Passenger afer being used to being signed on as a Navigating officer...(now a Passenger); The ferry service was good and we departed on time at about 4 pm from Ballard pier .The weather was calm and the small cabin with a bed was reasonably ok. They served a decent night meal of a curry & rice, salad and vegetables with dessert in the usual Goan style, for dinner .
Goa Ferries--was as I later learnt a way of Life and work then -- simple, calm, safe and friendly.
Arrived at Vengurla Rocks anchorage point at about 4.30 am and disembarked -where passengers disembarked into launches and were landed at a wooden jetty--After a long wait, the Agents taxi came at 8.30 am and drove me to the ship at Port Redi a small anchorage port loading Iron ore using a set of LCTs .(Landing Craft s salvaged from WW2) .
Joined the ship and my plan of short voyage .....actually turned out to be 7 -8 months . We loaded Iron ore to---Constantza, then to Norfolk- loaded coal for Japan..Ballast back to USA -finally bulk grain soya beans for Japan -then back again for Wheat in bulk to India..(see pics)
By strange coincidence, I joined the very same ship at Port Redi again after Marriage in 1972 and this time as Ch Mate with my Mate Sudha; thats another story
Port Redi is now a major sea side resort too..clean beaches.
Rgds
TR
Then it joining my ship.
Next I know was the Agent handing me a 1st Class Passenger Cabin Ferry Ticket on m.v. Konkan Sevak -ferry from Bombay to proceed to join m.v. Chennai Ookkam at Port Redi, near Vengurla in Ratnagiri, south of Goa as a 2nd Mate. The ferry voyage was over night and quite pleasant. It was an abs new experience to go as a Passenger afer being used to being signed on as a Navigating officer...(now a Passenger); The ferry service was good and we departed on time at about 4 pm from Ballard pier .The weather was calm and the small cabin with a bed was reasonably ok. They served a decent night meal of a curry & rice, salad and vegetables with dessert in the usual Goan style, for dinner .
Goa Ferries--was as I later learnt a way of Life and work then -- simple, calm, safe and friendly.
Arrived at Vengurla Rocks anchorage point at about 4.30 am and disembarked -where passengers disembarked into launches and were landed at a wooden jetty--After a long wait, the Agents taxi came at 8.30 am and drove me to the ship at Port Redi a small anchorage port loading Iron ore using a set of LCTs .(Landing Craft s salvaged from WW2) .
Joined the ship and my plan of short voyage .....actually turned out to be 7 -8 months . We loaded Iron ore to---Constantza, then to Norfolk- loaded coal for Japan..Ballast back to USA -finally bulk grain soya beans for Japan -then back again for Wheat in bulk to India..(see pics)
By strange coincidence, I joined the very same ship at Port Redi again after Marriage in 1972 and this time as Ch Mate with my Mate Sudha; thats another story
Port Redi is now a major sea side resort too..clean beaches.
Rgds
TR
NOTE: Port Redi was then only an anchorage port .
"Redi" is a Village in Vengurla Taluka of Sindhurg district of
Maharashtra State in India. It has historical importance and once upon
a time it was Capital of Goa. Then the name was "Revatipattan".Redi is famous
now for a Beach, Sea-port, famous Ganesh,Navadurga & Mauli Temples, and
Yashwantgad fort.The world famous Terekhol fort of Goa is very near from
Redi.
some pics attached.
Great feeling to see old photographs shared by you. You were very diligent in preserving and cataloging the photographs. You have a lucid style of writing. Straight from the heart, Dil se...
ReplyDeleteLoved to read this. My father was a Captain in Scindias and in those days he could carry his family with him. So I sailed on Scindia ships for 14 years! A unique childhood. But later after scindia started to disintegrate he joined SISCO. I was older then and college had killed my sailing days. But I did spend a wonderful two weeks aboard Chennai Ookam. So thanks for sharing pictures of her. Still remember the coppery bulkheads in the captain's cabin!
ReplyDeleteGreetings--many thanks and so happy to read in. Pl tell me your name and of your father . I was associated with the company latyer asa surveyor anmd much later asa Faculty on Quality programes -
ReplyDeleteSISCO was taken over by ESSAR--and ultimately SISCO faded out ..closed in mid 90s
, TR
Just saw your reply. 4 years late! My father was Capt. A.K. Basu Choudhary.
DeleteDear Prasad--Many thanks. Most happy to share . The sea life of that era is all changed now this series and blog is a Tribute to Maritime Heritage, witha spl Thanlksgiving ; Nostalgia is added -rgds TR
ReplyDelete