Voyaging with Icons

The 1950's worldwide in the Merchant Navy

By: Alan Rawlinson

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Round the world voyages back in the 1950's when the stay in exotic and not so exotic ports could be weeks or even months. The voyages detail trips ashore and events at sea way back when it was the sun and stars that guided progress. THe ships still had wood decks, and open rails, and life was not so frenetic as today. The Captains were still 'God' in their little world, and not harangued from Head Office on a minute by minute bsis as happens today. The only communication was by the ' Sparkies' morse key, both of which have regretfully disappeared. The voyages which in this company were a mixture of Liner and Tramping trades could be for 2 years, and often were. A typical voyage might include two or more trips round the world, and taking in both Pananma and the Suez Canal. The author sailed as an Apprentice and then a deck officer, immensely enjoying both the navigation, and the beauty and variety of the natural world. Discipline on board was tight, but it was a happy time which has now gone forever in commercial vessels that work rapidly with a minimum stay in port.