From the sextant to GPS - - Part 1.

From the sextant to GPS -

Greetings

From the star navig finder-to -star gazing today....  a batch mate expressed wryly-
"Star identification today is mostly of glam movie or sports stars!! 
Preamble: Some time back I had  "a chance" reading in a blog on Polaris that gave me a recall of a time gone by..or is it Synchoronicity--a sub researched by Dr.Carl Jung ---of time,  events in space coinciding across. Just that  week  the Company of Master Mariners, Chennai Chp,.India met and had a discussion on the "Future Ship 2025, with Electronics taking over in Navig & Communication; in fact in almost all tasks. I had been asked to share my own thoughts in the post lecture demo was as an "Older Mariner" from the past  !!

Gen Y Mariners raised only on GPS really  see us as Ancient.. really !

RECALL --

1) It all started in Dufferin Jr form class in 1963 and then later  practice with a star identifier chart; tests followed in Senior form.Later followed up with Sights for the sun am/noon - meridian- the pm twilight star fix with a sextant  at Sea for so many years.. 

2) In the 1960s, esp  on West Coast US port calls- we used to have USCG Sea Charts titled Pacific Pilot etc issued to ships at U.S.Ports. Apart from weather and current info the reverse of the chart  had a fund of interesting info. One such was the WW2 experience of merchant navy Navigators taking sextant sights after geting eyes adjusted with a special reddish tint goggles to have a delayed time of Twiilight ;Also practice with adjusting Eyes to a horizon to fix position by star fixes.Twilight in many places is short and so this was a good idea- In any case better that a basic Dead Reckoned Position. Possibly more imp with submarine attacks and the need to stay in posn and on course.

3) In 1971/72,  I  was introduced to the Canadian Air-Navigation sight Reduction tables-purchased a book  in Vancouver BC Canada itself- & contd with this in ... till I signed off-

Could do a star sight (posn.fix in 5-8 mts with things kept ready) really good --Starfixes --(no cocked hats -on clear days)..Got good posns... rechecked it with Radar etc.

NOTE" In fact got a pocket Calculator only in 1974 in Japan----till then it was just the Burtons Navig tables & logarithms.

4) Even had practiced sextant sights on bright full moon nights in Pacific on Australia Japan route . This as explained earlier was nicely documented in the USCG Pilot Info Charts of Pacific as it was always done in the WW2 years. To  my surprise found it reasonably  accurate if a clear horizon was obtained.

Quite interesting and most helpful to spend time on lonely Pacific crossings then. 
Time flies and I really miss those days- some say it is silly to dwell on past. -Sextant sights and posn fix was an art and a science and doing it gave a sense of  accomplishment.

Gave immense  job satisfaction to us Seafarers.
Rgds

TR

Visiting Mumbai Docks- 2009

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  Visiting Mumbai Docks- 2009 (post ISPS). 
  WE Cadets on T.S.Dufferin in the 60s in our training period were expected to visit ships on shore leave days and write notes & assignments to widen our ship knowledge .Our Dufferin  uniform gained us easy entry. Ships officers were always kind and explained a lot and usually very hospitable and often invited us to stay for a meal too-
  
  2000 era -post ISPS:
  A visit to Mumbai today can be now quite a test on nerves. At it is, commuting and visiting for us Outstation wallahs is tough as I learnt one trip. A simple Mumbai port entry pass on came after 5 hrs & much explaining, despite me having a Chennai Port Trust Photo Pass –-Only got the visitors pass late  in the afternoon and me cooling my self in the local office with Nimbu pani .
   

  Wasted a whole day- managed by 2 pm to visit the port and later it was just Rush back to Airport. Easier to get a Visa to Timbuktoo or some remote restricted place!!!!
  Some recalls:
  Did this Indira( Alexandra)i Victoria & Princess Docks visit after more than 15 years and it was like this: -Enter Docks via Frere Rd –Alexandra Gate South entrance is now walled –
  I believe the V&P docks area is being reclaimed and used for Container storage !
  Nearby is the Cruise Passenger Terminal ---recent era. Then moved to south side Seaface- Went up to the shore side off Ballard Pier and looked over Cross Island and in the distance Butcher Is, Pir Pow and the Karanjia & Khanderi peaks of our Dufferin Watches and especially recalling taking Compass bearings – Vessels at Anchor the same as before--Could not help noticing the number of Luxury boats & Yachts moored. Also, OSVs replace the older small cargo freighters –now all in the past
  
  The V&P Docks of our era was then reserved for Coastal trade ships --- now only OSVs etc and a few older craft undergoing repairs or laid up. The place had a deserted look and my batch mates told me .. had warned me of many changes.  Yes, Change is inevitable –but this?
  Still, some of it will live in our Memories for ever..
   
  But, somethings don’t change -like Dhows and the common man
  

  
  

  Dhow msv “Makdumi” was loading Onions in docks for Mid East ports I suppose; It reminded me of Dhows unloading "dates" at Haybunder on our visits. Here was this rustic Dhow which had a Radar & obviously GPS .
  I very briefly said Hello to the old Skipper & Crew working on the deck from the jetty  who were a bit astonished when they found an old man like me say from a distance  'Salaam aly-kum' bhai --and left with a salutation of Khuda Hafiz; I did not board this craft nor take any pics as ISPS is in force ( better know as Iss- Piss) and the Port maintains it -completely  discourages photography and a very strict security maintained  on all normal activities; even a social courtesy or nostalgia call- to a Harbour area by retired Seafarer

  Dear God- where are we today ?

  THOUGHTS
  Such a sad sight seeing suspicion replace affection , mistrust - replace trust, friendliness  displace all harmony and hospitality- but the Dhow crew  were seemingly pleasant -maybe saw in me a strange case!! Unexplained -and I left.
   
  Recalled with much nostalgia an era when we as young cadets spent sundays scouting around ships on foot and Learning about general cargo ships and the work  in the Dock areas.  Salaam Mumbai
   

  EPILOGUE:
  Recall in youth as a Cadet in 1965 on Jag Laxmi, whilst passing the Galleys the crew and cooks.. such people esp the Engine crews would lovingly say -Aao- Baito na; Khaana  kayega Baba /Beta ? 
  We used to be called Apprentices then -A'Pentis for short, but most elder seman would call us as Beta.  It always deeply touched me to see so much hospitality and the warmth of an era long gone.
  
  Some years later in 1972, whilst working as a Ch. Officer at Sea,  the crews cook called the Bhandary would send fresh Rotis and Veg.  subzi for my wife who was/is a strict Vegetarian; --what a nice, kind  gesture and refused to take a Rupee-said " Kya Saab --something like Bibi ji ke liya / Insanyat etc.
   I was just 27 yrs old then but realised with gratitude -what a loving gesture that was. Hospitality and kindness were always seen ..
  We also tried to reciprocate in some way and help and on spl festival days shared Cakes and sweets with the Crew. 
  
  Acceptance comes with comradeship of the Sea & Seafarers stayed together then; Faith, Community , Culture and Time Barriers all apart did not affect us.
   
  Comradeship & bonding of the simple seafarer of old--whither –now all lost in security. That was all another era..long forgotten
  Today even shore leave passes are being curtailed and often it reads more like 'Sore' Leave – not Shore leave!! 
  Time Changes--but the Sea and the challenges remain.

  Rgds,

  TR

  

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Bonding on Dufferin – reasons

Reasons for Bonding on Dufferin –

Ref:  Close Links among Dufferin ex-cadets & Batchmates-
So many factors go together to make this Bonding so effective .
Some prominent ones are:

1) At such a Young age 17- and away from home, parents /family - the companionship provided the balance & support and really counted .Note A few had not even started shaving ...(no stubble even!!)

2) Identification & passion with a common goal-viz. a career at sea, travel etc.not wages as it is today.

3) Dufferin training was based on "Team spirit" ..but usually referred to as Ship Mates or Batchmates and in that era was a solid Value.

4) Most of us were not Richie Rich (ave/middle class status) unlike what is seen most often seen today-

We learnt  to SHARE EVERYTHING - inc facilities;  something kids today don't even understand.

A batata-wada & Coke at our Swimming pool was often shared
Some times even this was not affordable and so a channa /peanuts pkt. really  went around many. 

Being "broke"  has plus points too as we learnt thrift too-.

Affluence seldom teaches any economy or thrift and in fact tends to undulge .

5) The camaraderie was a part of the Naval style too- and after all Dufferin was  originally on an ex Navy troop ship converted to a common training ship with many common principles.

6) A love of the Sea- and taking the conditions "as is" -is what drew in most "boys" eagerly to Dufferin as Cadets-

not the salary . 

7) We had a sort of an  opinion poll  within our batch on the reasons why we joined ---

and it was quite an eye opener.Some responses are from verbal exchange  

a) Travel by ship and see the world on shoreleave---was No 1

b) To leave home early, for various reasons, often a necessity and  to earn, be independant-- help family  .

c) Outdoor work preferred.

d) NDA - IMA were alternative....Not Post Graduation  as it is now

e) To be independant early-----in an era where  jobs were not always easily available.

f)  Combining all others above too -  the work culture and  sealife  was still perceived as a Value esp post war era.

g) Professional esteem to be a Dufferin Cadet

Then we also got these responses.....!!

g) Believe it or not the Sailors Uniform " Whites- & Epaulettes" or Full Blues--seen in movies to impress ---girls- .

h) A vague idea of Adventure !! (many said this )

i)  Thinking that studies would end ??? -assuming only outdoor work "all hands on deck "-aye aye Sir etc..

j) School influence as some school seniors had  joined Dufferin & NDA or GDP Pilots  were heroes on leave!!

NOTE: In my school we had about 11 out of our class of 30 joining the Services- 7 as Airforce Pilots, 2 Army as the Chinese aggression of 1961 took in Direct entry esp Pilots and we were all NCC Air-Wing cadets (quite proud ones too- ). 

k) Some of us inc me were ex Service men's sons.

Times change..    

Today all  this ....(kind of work)  may not be seenasa choice as many new avenues with pay and perks exist.So, definitely today not a career choice.

Sunmmarising

But we have the privilege to look back with a measure of quiet satisfaction.

Be glad to hear of others views-
We lived our cadet days in another era, long  gone past - a topic by itself.
Home comes the Sailor. 

 Rgds
TR 

                                                        5oth Reunion Pics at Khandala

Jag Jwala-Part 2- Coastal Navigation

                                            Pic -scale model only

                                                                  Dwarka lt ho

                                                            MUTTUM POINT LT HO

Jag Jwala -Coastal Navigation Part 2-
Ref  CELESTIAL NAVIGATION & TRADITIONAL POSITION FIXING ---
from the Sextant to GPS.

Coastal navigation &chartwork had its own charm and fascination for me.

Sighting a light house- then fixing posn by raising or dipping dist. linked to the Echo-sounder depth to reasonably plot the land fall position after D.R. positions was an experience always tinged with excitement and the adrenalin flowing.Some areas and experiences are etched in our memory. I can also recall making land fall on the southern part of India-Muttom Point Lt Ho. - after departure Colombo.

The other being voyages to Gujarat ports and especially Ports like Okha were quite a challenge for even Senior Ship Masters. The shoal patches near Okha port with discolouration of sea water was quite visible from the bridge wing and not to mention tidal range and overall weather conditions. Not easy.

The photograph below of Dwaraka Light House on the voyages of m.t.JAG JWALA with Petroleum ex. Butcher Island, Bombay to Kandla & Okha in 1968 and 1969  brings back so many vicvid memories. These were monotonous voyages as  theGujarat Ports in 60s'  were not really developed as it is today -no facilities at all and often very  monotonous. Going ashore was just for a walk to refresh ourselves. A change of food or even perhaps sampling Gujarati snacks was seldom seen due to distances from jetty to city --but , we somehow managed .

I must add two obervations :

1) The tidal rise and fall at Kandla Port and the 7 x 24 manual labour resting at / on the ships mooring lines Fore and Aft for slackening or hauling in mooring ropes as the vessel ranged up /down with the tide was another experience. It was an era of hard manual work... "all hands on deck" for all-

(Today autoamation has taken over)

2) Then the wooden floats on sea surface of harbour and pipelines connected -resting on them at Madras main harbour --Ships did with a Mediterranean Moor at North Quay and by floating pipeline discharged product  to storage tanks.

It would shock the pollution control officer of today to see these primitive flexibles and the connection on wooden floats, going all the way to the jetty as compared to the elaborate checklist (and check on check) -(sometimes also called a tick list) used  at modern terminals with highly well planned safe pipelines to Storage tanks--in most places.

On Navigation

I don't have the Navig.Chart , as i write this post, but I did manage to access Gujarat Ports area map, where the navigation was most challenging at a time when electronics was only seen as an Aid.

Recall the book "Munro's Electronic Aids" which today is a misnomer with GPS - ECDIS - GMDSS and whatever. I am sure the generation Y today find the electronic support with  Radars and ARPA a great blessing; but I am not too sure if " the hands on feel" of navigating is obtained, nor the confidence when the instrumentation tells us all --esp Automatic systems. Perhaps it is a matter of one's own perception and choice.

I used to study navig & meteorology even as I sailed on all my ships - as I really liked these subjects.          Practical work and  study has its own advantage- As time went by, I searched for a Slide Rule-but … never used one. However did manage to get a shorter , faster calculation system  in 1972; viz.  the Canadian Air-Navigation sight Reduction tables-purchased in Vancouver BC Canada and contd with this in my last few years at sea... till I signed off- Could do a star sight (posn.fix in 5-8 mts with things kept ready) ; really good --Starfixes --(no cocked hats -on clear days)..Got good posns... rechecked it often  with Radar  and other fixes etc. Even practiced sights on bright full moon nights in Pacific on Australia Japan route in later years .
This has been explained in USCG Pilot Info Charts of Pacific as it was done in WW2;  and to my surprise found it unbelievably accurate if a clear horizon was obtained.Quite interesting and most helpful to spend tme on lonely Pacific crossings then. Also explained and taught this to my cadets and offices--
SUMMARISING
Time flies and I really miss those days- some say it is silly to dwell on past -but this is a personal choice. Sextant & Chronometer and all now is--- RIP. Some may even call these recalls -as Ramblings (maybe)....OK ...

The old Poriwala Rambles..reader can decide-.

Whatever may be the case, I find that looking back on it, on every little incident and experience gained had added  to our confidence quotient (CQ) which otherwise is not easy to build up.With this also a large measure of happiness - call it quantum of solace if you like -

Cheers.

Regds

TR

m.t.Jag Jwala -product tanker Part 1-

Greetings mates,

Title: Coastal Voyages(1966-1969) on m.t.Jag Jwala -product tanker

INTRODUCTION

The m.t.JAG JWALA, product tanker of GESCO I sailed on in 1966-69 and later more  sign on and offs holds a lot of memories for me.

I served there as a Senior cadet and later 3rd mate -

By strange chance, the  real scale model of this ship Jag Jwala was  in my head office at the front Reception asa gift by GESCO to our JBB Group Company.

We also have the m.v. Jag Kisan model too.

1) The usual sailing  route of Jag Jwala was --Load at Bombay -Butcher Island  or at Pir Pow-several products for dsichange at Cochin Madras and Calcutta. Later for Okha &Kandla

2) The mission objective of the coastal tankers on BP -ESSO and later on IOC Time Charter was Petroleum distribution between Refineries- storage terminals -which were essential needs. In the 1960s many loctaions had no Refinery as seen today spread all over Indai and new ports, refineries etc added ..

m.t. Jag Jwala was of a T 2 type Scandinavian built tanker, purchased  (2nd hand ) by the GESCO Owners as I can recall. The tanker had the Navigation bridge and accomodation spaces for  Deck officers at the forward between No 3 and 4 centres tanks and it connected to Aft Accomodation by a long catwalk to Engine spaces and Aft accomodation--see Photo of scale model inset.

CARGO: Often as many  as 8 Grades of products was loaded by a  Ring Main pipeline with Double valve segregation and spindle valves, that were  all operated manually on deck.The Steam Reciprocating pumps 2 nos. Pumps were in the Pump Room near  forward acc. spaces and access was  by a steel entry ladder with about 50 Rungs- for going down below to attend to the Pumps --and mind you all this with Manual valve operations meant "Climb up and down"- several times in a Cargo watch.  

There were about 66 valves as I counted once in cadet days when I had to paint each one in respective Group segregation colours and for periodical servicing jointly with the 2 Senior Pumpmen .The cargo was carried in a total of 7 centre + 5 wings tanks =17 total ( plus 2 small slop tanks)... as i recall.It is such a long time ago-- 

Multiple grade loading included about 8 types of cargo  inc Hexane, JBO --for Calcutta for the Jute industry. This apart from mid-distillates:  SKO, ATF, MoGas, LDO & DO.The  entire  loading was planned and distributed by judicious tank segregation and flushing lines on the ship with specific  product  into cargo tanks in an era long before Segregated pipelines & pumps was heard of.

There was no CCR either --we used to sit under the catwalk on cargo watch (not in accomodation spaces) or later a bench chair on the outer space and patiently take hourly manual ullages by Tape & wooden float and with a chalk mark on a board for the Ch. Mate to read and take decisions.

Also stripping was by the main pump run slowly -often by visual means using a Heliograph in daytime and a Safety torch at night.Stripping tanks took hours as the ship had to be trimmed and listed by 2 degrees to drain cargo to pump suction in final stages and take out all cargo. There was an Eductor stripping system also --but the stripper pump was not really useful and so the mainpump on slow speed was the best -did the job but needed great care and caution.On average a tanker stayed about 2 days in port .

Modern fittings like  Deep well pumps, Stripper pumps, Heat Exchanger, OMS, SBT, and  DB etc was all unheard of. Nor insdtrumentation- "Saab"  measuring --not even a Whessoe Gauge seen. 

Tanker training was by learning fron seniors , co-worker/shipmates -and the the excellent BP Tanker Code book retained on board for self study and the prescribed text book then was "Tanker Practice" work by G.A.B King--an  excellent text book that served my entire Career.  

Navigation & Bridge equipment was basic and with age mostly  inoperative Radar , a old fashioned Echo sounder and a Browns Gyro Compass which also was out of order after 1968.

Thereafter,  it was just the Magnetic compass on the monkey island --Climb up & down to tale bearings and azimuths. We actually made our own Deviation card at anchorage.

The Sextant and Chronometer held us in goodstead always as also the basic chartwork on coastal navigation --viz. visual bearings of beacons, lands end, lighthouses-raising and dipping distances etc 

However with pride will add-  

We managed nicely -

We did not experience a single problem in the 3 years (on /off)  that I served on this old product Tanker. Till now I carry  the memory with me as well as a great affection for m.t. Jag Jwala, of those times-

Peaceful, very hardwork, simple food on the coast  and a quiet life at terminals-far from shore life.

Respects to that ship -

TR

                                                   Pic of Jag Jwala--scale model

THINKING ALOUD

Today's Tanker personnel will be shocked--nay..abs  horrified to hear all this.

Such  systems will be failed by State Port Control etc --

but all this survived decades as records will show for decades from about 1950s to 1980s --and well accepted till carelessness set in --mind you on ships owned and operated by Western "Developed" Countries. Hmmm-  That was beginning with  the m.t.Torrey Canyon oil pollution--to MARPOL following the  accident , then the Amoco Cadiz, and finally  the topper that brought in all the draconian Protocols and litigation with court battles leading  finally to the US Bill of OPA  -- That was the the accident of theTanker--in Alaskan Bay the  infamous Exxon Valdex pollution case--which completely changed all way of operating Tankers and altered the life of merchant seafarers  with the harsh legal measures that followed.Till then  these Tankers were never viewed with such dislike by the Media and Public at large, despite the service provided. The pollution  element, damage to beaches and property, fishing saw  Legal battles  rage for over a decade (as it does even now) and by the 1990s saw the criminalisation of Masters and ships officers -by legal experts, who most  often were summarily arrested and jailed--even before proven guilty --a trend set in motion by  Western countries-esp USA and France-Others all followed blindly. Today no youtf want  a Sea career really -harsh fact-but, a truth. 

 Dear God what a state-- and to think the world runs on the Fossil fuel

to be contd Part 2 : Jag Jwala

DUFFERIN EVENINGS -

DUFFERIN EVENINGS 

These are a few of my favourite things…….

Remember the evenings on Dufferin in evening uniform dress- the `soft shirt' and kummer band & tie and all ,  strolling on deck or leaning against the Taff- Rail chatting…
Quietly chatting at the taff rail  with a batch mate  and sharing a few laughs was a relaxation and a joy.
Today we will have to get a Cruise or Ferry ticket to do this--- Imagine!!

The evenings from 7 pm onwards was a nice time then of relax and await dinner...looking out yonder….with Radio Ceylon playing in the background on that antique radio set that kept us going.Great favourites on "Choice of the People" or Binaca Geetmala with Ameen Sayani and  his silken voice.Music possibly evokes the best in all  and the simple Radio set Dufferin had was a great Machine really. ps- The radio frequency bands all had many old favourites-. No noisy adverts like today and radio is soothing. (In fact it is nicer with age) .
It  has come a long way with us..and is a good friend.

Friend "Radio" has taken us from :
WESTERN POP--Elvis, Cliff Richards, the Beatles, Jim Reeves, Dean Martin , Nat King Cole,  Bobby Darrin, Connie Francis  and others.
HINDI FILMS : From Rafi-Lataji, Ashaji -Mukesh, Manna Dey, Talat Kishore Da--inc .

Then we had the harbour and ships lights- lights of ships anchored at a distance;  was also a great source of interest to may of us. Some had anchored and awaited scrapping and with just a kerosene lamp --light for identification.Gently and quietly rolling in the night with a skeleton crew of maybe 2-3 as just watchmen, they seemed to hold a strange fascination with many a tale to tell of its sailing days.

It was also a time when many of of us practiced  Morse code on the Morse Light--see photo- we used to exchange friendly signals with ships in port-Many would call us -As most on seagoing ships had an ex Dufferin background this was a well accepted practice--in fact a good practical test --

That was the quiet-time …and great moments whilst awaiting -fall in and Cooks Bugle Call --order by the OOD to  `sound off Cooks' to proceed to Dinner.
Hungry lads we were.
Great place that Mess Room.
Dufferin food was good and wholesome-fresh and we relished it-

Today Mess Rooms are deserted places on many ships -cold and really deserted.
Like Dining tables at home or in own cabins with people sitting in front of the TV / Video eating silently and their eyes glued to TVs.

Changing Times……still life goes on.
Rgds
TR

Films on T.S.Dufferin on U tube.

GREETINGS

Films on T.S.DUFFERIN--

This may be of interest to all who are interested in maritime heritage -

Dufferin memories on U-Tube in 4 series -

Have a look at "YouTube" by clicking below mentioned 'url'
You may have seen one or more of the Film Division's documentaries about
the "Dufferin" which David Phillips ( Roll No. 2146 ) did great service to all ex
Cadets by going to the archives in Poona, getting the necessary
permission to have them copied and passing it to several of us.

Thank you David.

The films are:
Sailors of Tomorrow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwpFBPMtnj4

Call of the sea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0BxC3kFET8

Sailing the 7 seas - Part I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQZPV1jjtwQ

Sailing the 7 seas - Part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY2lFGnb-lE
NOTE: .The first one is from 1944, the next from 1961 and the last is from 1966 with Mukund B Ajgaonkar.-one batch junior to me and a good friend.

The names of officers and cadets seen in the films is not known -

maybe some who recognises, will post in.

Thank you,

Happy viewing, 

Rgds 

TR