I was selected in 1978 as Marine Engineer apprentice Nos "12049" for the "4 Year Marine Engineer Course" in the massive Mazagon Dock Ltd . Received a monthly stipend of Rs 120 with a yearly increment upto completion of my "4 Year Marine Engineering Course" in 1982.After passing my "M.O.T(Ministry of Transport)-Part A" exams in 1983 in Bombay(Mumbai) got employed in Mogul Line Ltd.Listed below is my entire "Shipping Career" track record as a "MARINE ENGINEER" having joined the "Shipping Industry" in 1983 as a "Fifth Engineer Officer" and voluntarily retiring at the age of 48 in 2008 as "Chief Engineer Officer" .
I have given a complete "BIO-DATA" of the ships and shipping companies that employed me, including the "Time-Frame" of "Sea-Service" done on board these shipping vessels, as also my personal opinion of the "SEAWORTHINESS" of some of these ships during my tenure.
LEGEND AS LISTED CHRONOLOGICALLY.
SHIP NAME :-
ARTICLE TIME(SEA TIME) :- Date/Month/ Year(Joined ship) To Date/Month/Year(Left the ship)
RANK[ENG]:- Abbreviations = C/Eng(Chief Engineer), 2/Eng(Second Engineer), 3/Eng(Third Engineer),4/Eng(Fourth Engineer), 5/Eng(Fifth Engineer).
TOTAL TIME SERVED ON SHIP :- Months or days .
SHIPPING COMPANY NAME :-
When I joined Mogul Lines in 1983 and sailed on " M.V.Karnataka " this magazine "MOGUL" was the link between batchmates from "Mazdock Ltd" sailing on other Mogul line ships as well as circulating the company news.Nostalgia of a bygone era of seafaring and Merchant Navy employment.
1) M.V.KARNATAKA
24/5/1983 TO 28/6/1984
5/Eng
13 Months 4days.
Mogul Line Ltd:- My First shipping company and first ship and as always in life, you never forget your "FIRST" ship.love or etc,etc----------?
2) M.V.LOK VINAY
7/7/1984 to 19/6/1985
5/Eng
11 Months 2days
Mogul Line Ltd
3) M.V.LOK PALAK
24/4/1986 to 4/5/1987
4/Eng
12 months 10 days
Mogul line a "LOSS MAKING(Sick) SHIPPING INDUSTRY" was merged with the "Shipping corporation of India Ltd(S.C.I)" and that how i became an "S.C.I Employee".
4) M.T.VALLATHOL
1/8/1987 to 30/12/1987
3/Eng
5 Months
S.C.I ;- My first "Shipping Court case" where i had to answer a "S.C.I court of inquiry" regarding a "Corruption Scandal" of "Oil Bunkering".I was the 4/Eng(Fourth Engineer) of this large "OBO Carrier(Oil and Bulk ore carrier).This incident marred my "Shipping Career" as i was then pitted against a powerful " Shipping Coterie" being labeled a "WHISTLE-BLOWER", before the word became famous in later years concerning "CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES" in India.Ever since this incident, i was forever a "MARKED MAN" in "Shipping Industry".
5) M.V.VISHVA NANDINI
28/1/1988 to4/8/1988
3/Eng
6 Months 7days
S.C.I -: A "Donkey ship" where as an engineer i worked like a laborer, more of "Brawn" and less of "Brain" as this was a "Punishment ship" of "S.C.I" where habitual sea offenders or controversial staff members were posted. A blessing in disguise, thanks to this floating nightmare i could visit my birthplace of Mombasa and also exotic East Asian ports, memories of a life-time. This ship later sank of the coast of Mumbai and was a land-mark wreck for manny years and finally towed to the "Ship-breaking Yard(Graving Docks)" at Darukhana( near Dockyard road) in Mumbai.Bizarrely, i was the "Chief Engineer" on one of the tugs of "J.N.P.T" which towed this wreck ship drifting near "Elephanta caves" to "Darukhana Ship-breaking Yard" at "Reay Road"" sometime in 1999 or 2000. Fate and destiny can be frightfully bizarre as i really felt sad towing this ship on which i had some of my most memorable "Ship port visits" including my birthplace Mombasa on Wednesday(2-3-1988). Thanks to "Vishva Nandini", i at least got to visit Mombasa once again after our migration to Mumbai in 1968, memories of another era and another generation were revived.
6) M.V.MINERAL EUROPE
8/9/1988 to 23/12/1988
3/Eng
3 Months 15 days
Anglo-Eastern ;- The best modern and youngest ship that i worked in my entire career.It was the first time that i had sailed on a "U.M.S(Unmanned Machinery space)" class ship, besides it was one of the largest "Bulk Carriers" in the World in 1988. This ship could not navigate through the "Suez Canal" due to its massive breadth and draught and hence i once did the longest "NON-STOP VOYAGE" around the Cape of Good Hope of approximately 1 month between Rotterdam and Brazil on this vessel.
7) M.V.AKBAR
27/4/1989 to 13/9/1989
3/Eng
4 Months 15 days
S.C.I :- A passenger ship on the "Mumbai-Jeddah" Haj pilgrimage route.A SHIP I WILL NEVER FORGET IN MY LIFETIME FOR VARIOUS REASONS. Got a first hand experience of "Haj Pilgrimages" by ship and also experienced "Sea Burials" of old pilgrims who perished while accomplishing this strenuous voyage in rough monsoon Arabian sea.The ship used to roll and pitch like a bronco on land with kitchen cutlery receiving maximum damage and furniture being flung across the room akin to a visit by a poltergeist.. Pilgrimages by sea route has been phased out and replaced by "Air Travel" a more comfortable journey for aged pilgrims unused to rough sea travel. M.V.Akbar is now used as a " Coastal Passenger ship" between mainland India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, one of the oldest vessels of S.C.I still in active service.Experienced a "ACCIDENTAL MURDER" on this ship when my "Watch-keeper Oilman Mr Mohammed" in a fit of sudden rage hit his fellow deck quartermaster in the ship's galley while preparing end of the "12- 0400 hrs" watch-keeping breakfast.The resultant blow resulted in the death of the aged Quarter-master due to a heart-attack as he fell on the hot galley of the kitchen. There was no communal angle in this petty common fight that resulted in a freak death as both were Muslims by religion.According to my personal experience during my sailing years there is maximum communal harmony and integrity in the "MERCHANT NAVY" on board ships between fellow sailors akin to the "Indian Armed Forces". We sailors may become enemies due to various factors but never ever regarding a fellow sailor's religion or Atheism. The ship was sailing and on it's way to Bombay(Mumbai) and on arrival at Bombay port my Oilman Mr Mohammed was arrested by the shore police and a inquiry was officiated among the ship staff by the police department. Mr Mohammed was a middle-aged jovial man whose sudden burst of temper resulted in him being convicted as a murderer.I didn't follow the case and wonder how many years he spent in prison as later over the decades i had a Herculean mountain to carry to maintain my own family and personal lifestyle. It was while sailing on this ship that i split with my engaged girlfriend which later resulted in my total character and personality assassination. "Oil Corruption Scandal(M.T.Vallathol)" + Fiancée Breakup(M.V.Akbar) = Total Character + Professional assassination = disgrace.
8) VISHVA SIDDHI
19/9/1989 to 28/2/1990
2/Eng
5 Months 9 days.
S.C.I :- I can write a true life novel on my harrowing experience on this ship, including a mutiny by my staff later forcing me to "RESIGN" from the "Shipping Corporation of India(S.C.I)".I was never even called before a "Shipping court tribunal" to answer my part of the story of the reasons of the "Mutiny" nor did the "Mutineers" answer their side of the story. Dubiously, i was the first "OFFICER" to have been forcibly forced out of "Shipping Employment service", a " Sea board Coup" in a "Government Of India Company" where in 1990 it was difficult to "Sack(Fire)" a petty "Sweeper" or a "Ship Crew Member", let alone a "2nd Engineer Officer". In 1990, before the "ECONOMIC REFORMS of 1992" a "Govt Company" job meant employment guarantee until "RETIREMENT AGE OF 60". Till today i do not know the reasons for the same nor the benefits obtained by a "Global shipping company" by forcing an ordinary "2nd Engineer Officer" to resign under duress. Since then "Controversy and scandal" has dogged me until the time i finally quit the Industry in 2008, realizing that its better to be "Half- happy" than "Never-Happy".
9) IRAN SEPPAH
17/7/1990 to 15/8/1990
3/Eng
28 Days
I.R.I.S.L (Shipping
Persecution begins)
10) JALA TAPI
6/10/1990 to 7/3/1991
3/Eng
5 Months 1 Day
Scindia’s Steamship company
Had a mild "Psychiatric breakdown" while serving on this ship and was hospitalized in Port Said(Egypt) and later flown to Mumbai undergoing further hospitalization at a Marine lines private hospital. This incident and hospitalization overnight transformed my physical appearance and i began to rapidly put on weight, aftereffects of the medication.
11) M.V.MALINI
12/2/1992 to 25/2/1992
3/Eng
13 days
Great Eastern Shipping.
12) M.V.RAIGAD
11/11/1992 to 21/1/1993
2/Eng
2 Months 10 days
Garware Shipping. :- A repeat of the S.C.I "Vishva Siddhi" type mutiny.
13) M.V.SHIVNERI
29/1/1993 to 15/2/1993
2/Eng
17 Days
Garware Shipping
14) M.T.NAND HARI
15/7/1993 to 26/7/1993
2/Eng
12 Days
Essar Shipping
15) M.T.NAND KALA
27/7/93 to 6/10/93
3/Eng
2 Months 12 days.
Essar Shipping
16) M.V.NAND RATI
12/12/1994 to 1/6/1995
3/Eng
5 Months 19days.
Essar Shipping :- A Essar punishment ship as i worked like a "Donkey" but was compensated by visiting some of the World's most exotic ports. Unforgettable memories of visiting Tokyo and Manila in 1995.
17) M.T.NAND SWASTI
9/10/1995 to 17/10/1995
2/Eng
9 Days
Essar Shipping
18) M.V.CHENNAI NERMAI
23/10/1995 to 11/1/1996
3/Eng
2 Months 19days
Essar Shipping
20) ESSAR DISCOVEROR
29/4/1996 to 8/6/1996
14/8/1996 to 8/10/1996
2/Eng
3 Months 4 days
Essar Oil
(Propelled Oil drill ship) :- one of the best and most relaxing jobs of my entire shipping career, both in "Pay-scale" as well as comforts.I was basically a "Engineer safety officer" on board this complicated and sophisticated "Drill and Oil Exploration ship".
21) M.V.PRAGATI
12/2/1997 to 16/6/1997
3/Eng
4 Months 2 days
Arabian Express
Shipping(Junk ships): - one of the worst junk ship owners that i sailed with where "Wages" were paid irregularly and hence crew and officers disinterest in "work ethics" and "work Discipline".
22) M.V.PRAPTI
27/11/1997 to 10/3/1998
2/Eng
3 Months 14 days
Arabian Express Shipping Company.(Pay Crisis).The company never paid its wages on time to the crew as well as officers and hence at times there were local shipboard arguments over work schedules and payments.
23) M.V.VINTA
8/7/1998 to 8/8/1998
2/Eng
1 Month
Sinha Shipping Company.
“Insurance ship? or Horror :-This was the worst ship that i ever sailed in my entire career as far as "Seaworthiness" and safety of human life was concerned.An extract from my shipping sailing memoirs on the worst ship in my sailing career . Total Bangladesh crew and thanks to my report to the authorities we were signed off in Bhavnagar after a single voyage to a gulf port of Qatar and back to Bhavnagar in India The ship had a 9 cyclinder " 9UEC 52/105D Mitsubishi engine " very similar to the Sulzer "RD" and "Rt" series engines on which i have had maximum sea sailing experience. In a 24 hour period there was a underpiston scavenge fire at least once if not twice ! Unbelievable but true. Engine would be stopped and the under piston scavenge spaces cleaned and later engine restarted and ship sailing full ahead. Ahoy !No A/c on board and we used to sleep on the deck during the Gulf voyage. Approaching Gujarat the "Steering flat" spaces got accumulated with water due to excess sea water ingress from the Steering flat packing gland. For "Braggers Rights Club" should mention that my arc-welding skills saved the ship as i welded a pipe and connected a pump to drain water from the steering flat compartment and hence prevent flooding and gradual sinking of the ship.Should have received a award !Luck saved our voyage and we finally docked at Bhavnagar where most of us signed off.It was from Bhavnagar that i visited "ALANG SHIPBREAKING YARD", the World's largest shipbreaking yard in the 1990's and got to view the display of various ships parked on the beach akin to a car park .Was sad to see beautiful large ships awaiting their turn for being dismantled into scrap."M.V.Vinta" is forever etched in my memory although i sailed on it for just a month.This was my last "OCEAN SAILING VESSEL" and later i switched over to "Coastal and Inland shipping" in Indian waters and ports.Seemed that the "Owners" of this ship either wanted to "SINK" it and claim insurance or were genuinely "Substandard Ship Owners" functioning on a meager shipping budget of manning and machinery management. Every Industry has its "Good,the bad and the Ugly"!Bizarrely, after having left the "Ocean Sailing Shipping Industry" in 1998, the scourge of piracy has become the latest casualty of this Industry in the 21st century.Numerous "Indian Sailors" are being held captive in Somalia, some even disappearing, and after having served on "M.V.Vinta" i can understand their plight and horror.
Lucky to be "ZINDA"?
24) M.V.SHIVAJI
25) M.V.ELEPHANTA
26) M.V.NHAVA
15/1/1999 to
14/12/2000
C/Eng
Employed as "Chief Engineer(C/Eng)" for a total of 1 Year 11 months on 3 different port tugs on a 15 days On/15 Days Off basis at a salary of Rs 15,000/15 days. These tugs were owned by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust for port ship handling operations and based in the "Nhava Port" of New Mumbai. The salary and living conditions on these tugs were a pittance and a embarrassment for my qualifications compared to "Ocean liners" or "Coastal Vessels" but gained a lot of knowledge in "Human relationships" as well as a understanding of the rural life of common local Maharashtrians. Also learnt the "Internet" during my 15 day's off unpaid leave which greatly helped me through the worst phase of my personal and professional life. Got to learn the art of fishing as one of the crew members on these tug's was a expert at setting "Net Traps" for catching lobsters and crabs. Whenever the tug was anchored alongside the wharf this local seaman would set his traps into the sea from the tug boat. During winter he caught lots of lobsters and once a gigantic king size crab, the largest crab i have seen in my lifetime. J.N.P.T being a protected port harbour is beyond the fishing limits of common fishing boats or fisherman and hence this crab got a chance to grow to this gigantic size. Worked rotationally on all these 3 tugs owned by "J.N.P.T Port" and managed by "Orion Shipping Agencies Pvt Ltd". If i had been fluent in Marathi language could have definitely got a shore establishment job in J.N.P.T Port but in hindsight seems its providential i didn't take a shore establishment job.
Manned by “Orion
Offshore Pvt Co”.
27) M.V.ONYX
22/1/2001 to 20/3/2001
2/Eng
2 Months
Samson Maritime Ltd.
(junk tugs & supply v/ls) The company owned mostly junk tugs and supply vessels during my tenure with them.
28) OCEAN AMBER
26/03/2001 to 10/05/2001
3/7/1 to 8/9/01
25/10/1 to 23/12/1
15/2/02 to 21/5/2
C/Eng
10 Months
Approx
Samson Maritime Ltd
[45 Days Onn-Off approx]
29) OCEAN TOPAZ
5/8/2002 to 24/10/2002
C/Eng
2 Months 19 days.
Samson Maritime Ltd
30) M.V.SAMUDRIKA - 2
10/3/2003 to 9/4/2003
2/Eng
1 Month
Oil And Natural Gas of India (O.N.G.C Supply V/Ls)
Manned By S.C.I.
“Orion off-shore agencies”
45 Days Onn/Off Employment :- A very hectic shipboard life as the vessels were aged and constantly on charter between "O.N.G.C" oil rigs situated in different locations in the"Bombay High" area and its cargo and refueling base of "Nhava Port". Shore leave, if any was approximately 3 to 4 hrs in a month , just a visit to "Nhava village" and the local bar for a beer and some snacks, besides phoning home."MONSOON SAILING (June to August)" on these "Off-Shore Supply ships" was akin to "Adventure White water rafting sailing" or "Mountain altitude climbing", a authentic test of "sea-aptitude","Sailing-skills" , "Monsoon weather acclimatisation" besides "Marine Engineering knowledge"! ;"National Geographic" has often shown these similar weather conditions in their "Crab Fishing" documentary about the dangers and sea conditions of fishing in New-Foundland(Canada).
31) SINDHU - 2
12/5/2003 to2/07/2003
2/Eng
1 Month 20days
S.C.I.
32) SAMUDRIKA - 12
30/8/2003 to 12/10/2003
2/Eng
1 Month 13 days.
S.C.I
33) SINDHU - 2
27/6/2004 to 5/09/2004
2/Eng
2 Months 9 days
S.C.I
34) SINDHU - 1
14/2/2005 to 16/4/2005
2/Eng
2 Months 2 days.
S.C.I
35) S.C.I - 06
28/6/2005 to 16/8/2005
2/Eng
1 Month 18 days
Shipping Corporation of India Ltd supply V/L’s
Through “Orion Offshore agencies” ,I joined the "Shipping Industry" after a long gap due to personal reasons.
36) S.C.I - 06
10/10/2005 to 29/11/2005
2/Eng
1 Month 19 days
S.C.I
37) FEROZE GANDHI
6/2/06 to 14/5/06
2/Eng
2 Months 28 days
"Feroze Gandhi" was my last "Sailing Ship" and had to leave the ship on compassionate grounds as my father was seriously ill at home in Mumbai but S.C.I was not willing to relieve me . Co-incidentally the Captain of the ship Mr B.Som's mother had expired and he was to be relieved immediately and hence my reliever Mr D.R.Mangala was sent to our location on another supply ship which was actually sent to get back captain B.Som. Finally after handing over my duties to my last sea going reliever both Capt B.Som and myself set sail on the vessel and headed back to Nhava. Since then have not worked as a "Marine Engineer" on any "Sailing Ship". "FEROZE GANDHI' was my last sailing ship in a sea career that began in 1983.
38) SEA CONQUEST
10-6-2008 to 15-9-2008
C/Eng.
3 months 5 days.
Hind Offshore Private Limited.
Idle at home one day on visiting "Seaman's Club" at Ballard Estate was offered a temporary shore based job. After 2 years of quitting sea sailing worked for the organization "Hind Offshore Private Ltd" on "Ship maintenance and Surveys". Their vessel "Sea Conquest" was anchored at Ferry Wharf(Bhaucha Dhakka) where ship repairs were done and later was "Dry-Docked " at Meryweather dry-dock in Mumbai and this was akin to a "Shore Job" not requiring me to sail out to sea. Due to personal reasons i couldn't stay away from home in Mumbai for a very long period, hence stopped sea employment at a young age of 48 and now concentrating on manning my own personal "SHIP(Read House Wealth)" through "Investments".!.
TOTAL NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY AS AN "ACTIVE SAILOR OFFICER" = 25 YEARS. TOTAL NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHIPS SAILED OR WORKED ON = 38
NOTE:- ALL PHOTOGRAPHS WERE UPLOADED INTO THE DIGITAL FORMAT FROM MY COLLECTION OF "POSTER CARD PHOTOS" TAKEN DURING MY SHIPPING CAREER BEFORE THE INVENTION OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY.
I have given a complete "BIO-DATA" of the ships and shipping companies that employed me, including the "Time-Frame" of "Sea-Service" done on board these shipping vessels, as also my personal opinion of the "SEAWORTHINESS" of some of these ships during my tenure.
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| "Grand Christmas Lunch" at Dr Winterbottom Hall of Residence in South Shields College(England).(18-12-1985). The Teaching Faculty at Christmas Lunch.I had done by "Class 2 Part B" Marine Engineers exam at "South Shield College" in England.(Photo:- Mr Vinoo.Sequeira). |
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| Group Photo :-"QUALITY SHIP MANAGEMENT OFFICERS COURSE " for "Essar Shipping Staff" in 1994 at Chennai. |
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| As 5th Engineer(Junior Engineer) in Terneuzeun(Holland) in 1985. |
LEGEND AS LISTED CHRONOLOGICALLY.
SHIP NAME :-
ARTICLE TIME(SEA TIME) :- Date/Month/ Year(Joined ship) To Date/Month/Year(Left the ship)
RANK[ENG]:- Abbreviations = C/Eng(Chief Engineer), 2/Eng(Second Engineer), 3/Eng(Third Engineer),4/Eng(Fourth Engineer), 5/Eng(Fifth Engineer).
TOTAL TIME SERVED ON SHIP :- Months or days .
SHIPPING COMPANY NAME :-
24/5/1983 TO 28/6/1984
5/Eng
13 Months 4days.
Mogul Line Ltd:- My First shipping company and first ship and as always in life, you never forget your "FIRST" ship.love or etc,etc----------?
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| At a pub in the port of Terneuzeun in Holland with local Indian origin Dutch citizens in 1983. Mr Robbie, the gentleman(specs) seated to my left took this photo and mailed it to me in India.The gentleman to my extreme right is Mr Panchoe.All of them are originally from Surinam whose ancestors were Indians. |
2) M.V.LOK VINAY
7/7/1984 to 19/6/1985
5/Eng
11 Months 2days
Mogul Line Ltd
 |
| In the "Mess-Room" in "Lok Vinay:-In photo:- Mr Rajan .Vardhan(5/Eng(Batch-mate),Mr Shroff(4/Eng) and Mr Gullapalli (Electrician).This photo was taken by Mr Anup.Mathur(C/Eng) |
3) M.V.LOK PALAK
24/4/1986 to 4/5/1987
4/Eng
12 months 10 days
Mogul line a "LOSS MAKING(Sick) SHIPPING INDUSTRY" was merged with the "Shipping corporation of India Ltd(S.C.I)" and that how i became an "S.C.I Employee".
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| The last Mogul line ship "LOK PALAK" in Canada(1987):-In Photo L- R :- 5/Eng Mr Gill, R/o Mr Perreira with kitten in hand,,C/Eng Mr Hariharan with his son,4/Eng Furtado, 2/O Mr Mathur seated and admiring the kitten in mr Perreira's hands, Fitter Mr Pagarkar(seated) C/Eng Mr Hariharan was sailing with his wife and child.This kitten was taken on board the ship all the way to India.This was the last voyage of this ship and she was laid off in Gujarat.This era in shipping was a different era with long port stays where the perks of a tourist could be enjoyed as also demerits of terrible engine room work on old ships. | . |
4) M.T.VALLATHOL
1/8/1987 to 30/12/1987
3/Eng
5 Months
S.C.I ;- My first "Shipping Court case" where i had to answer a "S.C.I court of inquiry" regarding a "Corruption Scandal" of "Oil Bunkering".I was the 4/Eng(Fourth Engineer) of this large "OBO Carrier(Oil and Bulk ore carrier).This incident marred my "Shipping Career" as i was then pitted against a powerful " Shipping Coterie" being labeled a "WHISTLE-BLOWER", before the word became famous in later years concerning "CORRUPTION IN HIGH PLACES" in India.Ever since this incident, i was forever a "MARKED MAN" in "Shipping Industry".
5) M.V.VISHVA NANDINI
28/1/1988 to4/8/1988
3/Eng
6 Months 7days
S.C.I -: A "Donkey ship" where as an engineer i worked like a laborer, more of "Brawn" and less of "Brain" as this was a "Punishment ship" of "S.C.I" where habitual sea offenders or controversial staff members were posted. A blessing in disguise, thanks to this floating nightmare i could visit my birthplace of Mombasa and also exotic East Asian ports, memories of a life-time. This ship later sank of the coast of Mumbai and was a land-mark wreck for manny years and finally towed to the "Ship-breaking Yard(Graving Docks)" at Darukhana( near Dockyard road) in Mumbai.Bizarrely, i was the "Chief Engineer" on one of the tugs of "J.N.P.T" which towed this wreck ship drifting near "Elephanta caves" to "Darukhana Ship-breaking Yard" at "Reay Road"" sometime in 1999 or 2000. Fate and destiny can be frightfully bizarre as i really felt sad towing this ship on which i had some of my most memorable "Ship port visits" including my birthplace Mombasa on Wednesday(2-3-1988). Thanks to "Vishva Nandini", i at least got to visit Mombasa once again after our migration to Mumbai in 1968, memories of another era and another generation were revived.
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| Witnessing a "LIVE ROCK SHOW" at Yokohama Port in June 1988 |
6) M.V.MINERAL EUROPE
8/9/1988 to 23/12/1988
3/Eng
3 Months 15 days
Anglo-Eastern ;- The best modern and youngest ship that i worked in my entire career.It was the first time that i had sailed on a "U.M.S(Unmanned Machinery space)" class ship, besides it was one of the largest "Bulk Carriers" in the World in 1988. This ship could not navigate through the "Suez Canal" due to its massive breadth and draught and hence i once did the longest "NON-STOP VOYAGE" around the Cape of Good Hope of approximately 1 month between Rotterdam and Brazil on this vessel.
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| "M.V.MINERAL EUROPE".Giant of a Bulk Carrier. |
7) M.V.AKBAR
27/4/1989 to 13/9/1989
3/Eng
4 Months 15 days
S.C.I :- A passenger ship on the "Mumbai-Jeddah" Haj pilgrimage route.A SHIP I WILL NEVER FORGET IN MY LIFETIME FOR VARIOUS REASONS. Got a first hand experience of "Haj Pilgrimages" by ship and also experienced "Sea Burials" of old pilgrims who perished while accomplishing this strenuous voyage in rough monsoon Arabian sea.The ship used to roll and pitch like a bronco on land with kitchen cutlery receiving maximum damage and furniture being flung across the room akin to a visit by a poltergeist.. Pilgrimages by sea route has been phased out and replaced by "Air Travel" a more comfortable journey for aged pilgrims unused to rough sea travel. M.V.Akbar is now used as a " Coastal Passenger ship" between mainland India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, one of the oldest vessels of S.C.I still in active service.Experienced a "ACCIDENTAL MURDER" on this ship when my "Watch-keeper Oilman Mr Mohammed" in a fit of sudden rage hit his fellow deck quartermaster in the ship's galley while preparing end of the "12- 0400 hrs" watch-keeping breakfast.The resultant blow resulted in the death of the aged Quarter-master due to a heart-attack as he fell on the hot galley of the kitchen. There was no communal angle in this petty common fight that resulted in a freak death as both were Muslims by religion.According to my personal experience during my sailing years there is maximum communal harmony and integrity in the "MERCHANT NAVY" on board ships between fellow sailors akin to the "Indian Armed Forces". We sailors may become enemies due to various factors but never ever regarding a fellow sailor's religion or Atheism. The ship was sailing and on it's way to Bombay(Mumbai) and on arrival at Bombay port my Oilman Mr Mohammed was arrested by the shore police and a inquiry was officiated among the ship staff by the police department. Mr Mohammed was a middle-aged jovial man whose sudden burst of temper resulted in him being convicted as a murderer.I didn't follow the case and wonder how many years he spent in prison as later over the decades i had a Herculean mountain to carry to maintain my own family and personal lifestyle. It was while sailing on this ship that i split with my engaged girlfriend which later resulted in my total character and personality assassination. "Oil Corruption Scandal(M.T.Vallathol)" + Fiancée Breakup(M.V.Akbar) = Total Character + Professional assassination = disgrace.
8) VISHVA SIDDHI
19/9/1989 to 28/2/1990
2/Eng
5 Months 9 days.
S.C.I :- I can write a true life novel on my harrowing experience on this ship, including a mutiny by my staff later forcing me to "RESIGN" from the "Shipping Corporation of India(S.C.I)".I was never even called before a "Shipping court tribunal" to answer my part of the story of the reasons of the "Mutiny" nor did the "Mutineers" answer their side of the story. Dubiously, i was the first "OFFICER" to have been forcibly forced out of "Shipping Employment service", a " Sea board Coup" in a "Government Of India Company" where in 1990 it was difficult to "Sack(Fire)" a petty "Sweeper" or a "Ship Crew Member", let alone a "2nd Engineer Officer". In 1990, before the "ECONOMIC REFORMS of 1992" a "Govt Company" job meant employment guarantee until "RETIREMENT AGE OF 60". Till today i do not know the reasons for the same nor the benefits obtained by a "Global shipping company" by forcing an ordinary "2nd Engineer Officer" to resign under duress. Since then "Controversy and scandal" has dogged me until the time i finally quit the Industry in 2008, realizing that its better to be "Half- happy" than "Never-Happy".
9) IRAN SEPPAH
17/7/1990 to 15/8/1990
3/Eng
28 Days
I.R.I.S.L (Shipping
Persecution begins)
10) JALA TAPI
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| Toured Tripoli for half a day in 1990.Here outside the "GOVERNMENT HOUSE" in Tripoli. Two Decades later in 2012 was surprised at the brutal revolution that overthrew Colonel Muammer.Gaddafi. In 1990 Tripoli was one of the cleanest and best Arab Country's i had visited. |
6/10/1990 to 7/3/1991
3/Eng
5 Months 1 Day
Scindia’s Steamship company
Had a mild "Psychiatric breakdown" while serving on this ship and was hospitalized in Port Said(Egypt) and later flown to Mumbai undergoing further hospitalization at a Marine lines private hospital. This incident and hospitalization overnight transformed my physical appearance and i began to rapidly put on weight, aftereffects of the medication.
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| On the poop deck of "Jala Tapi" in February 1991 during peak winter in North America. The sea was frozen and we were sailing behind an "Ice-Breaker".Notice the broken parted ice-sheet behind the ship. EXPERIENCE OF A LIFE-TIME. |
11) M.V.MALINI
12/2/1992 to 25/2/1992
3/Eng
13 days
Great Eastern Shipping.
12) M.V.RAIGAD
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| "PILOT BOAT" arriving alongside ship in Mumbai Harbour . |
11/11/1992 to 21/1/1993
2/Eng
2 Months 10 days
Garware Shipping. :- A repeat of the S.C.I "Vishva Siddhi" type mutiny.
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| "Christmas and New Year" Decorations and Celebrations.All ships celebrate Festivals with a grand lunch or dinner and a party. |
13) M.V.SHIVNERI
29/1/1993 to 15/2/1993
2/Eng
17 Days
Garware Shipping
14) M.T.NAND HARI
15/7/1993 to 26/7/1993
2/Eng
12 Days
Essar Shipping
15) M.T.NAND KALA
27/7/93 to 6/10/93
3/Eng
2 Months 12 days.
Essar Shipping
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| A Typical ship-board party:- Dancing and singing with a little booze and cigarettes. |
16) M.V.NAND RATI
12/12/1994 to 1/6/1995
3/Eng
5 Months 19days.
Essar Shipping :- A Essar punishment ship as i worked like a "Donkey" but was compensated by visiting some of the World's most exotic ports. Unforgettable memories of visiting Tokyo and Manila in 1995.
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| "Nand Rati" the ship in which i slogged the most and also visited some of the World's most glamorous Port.Here at the "Lakay Sing Along Restaurant" in Ermita Street of Manila..For the first time in my life sang a song on stage in duet with the local club singer..Sang "Hotel California" to a crowded restaurant and was also applauded ! |
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| "Nand Rati" loading Corn grain at Tacoma Port in U.S.A.(29-4-1995). Notice the "Canadian Geese" on the wharf, akin to pigeons in India. |
17) M.T.NAND SWASTI
9/10/1995 to 17/10/1995
2/Eng
9 Days
Essar Shipping
18) M.V.CHENNAI NERMAI
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| Typical "Officers Dining Hall" on the average Cargo ship. |
23/10/1995 to 11/1/1996
3/Eng
2 Months 19days
Essar Shipping
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| In my cabin.(Always Decorated my cabin with posters on all ships, akin to living at home). |
20) ESSAR DISCOVEROR
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| First time ever traveled by "HELICOPTER".Joining/Leaving the Drill ship was by Helicopter. |
29/4/1996 to 8/6/1996
14/8/1996 to 8/10/1996
2/Eng
3 Months 4 days
Essar Oil
(Propelled Oil drill ship) :- one of the best and most relaxing jobs of my entire shipping career, both in "Pay-scale" as well as comforts.I was basically a "Engineer safety officer" on board this complicated and sophisticated "Drill and Oil Exploration ship".
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| In my cabin on Oil drill ship "Essar Discoveror". |
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| A visit to "KONARAK TEMPLE" in Orissa during my service on "Essar Discoveror". |
21) M.V.PRAGATI
12/2/1997 to 16/6/1997
3/Eng
4 Months 2 days
Arabian Express
Shipping(Junk ships): - one of the worst junk ship owners that i sailed with where "Wages" were paid irregularly and hence crew and officers disinterest in "work ethics" and "work Discipline".
22) M.V.PRAPTI
27/11/1997 to 10/3/1998
2/Eng
3 Months 14 days
Arabian Express Shipping Company.(Pay Crisis).The company never paid its wages on time to the crew as well as officers and hence at times there were local shipboard arguments over work schedules and payments.
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| "M.V.Prapti" at Jeddah Port. Notice the "Car Carrier docked at the harbour. |
23) M.V.VINTA
8/7/1998 to 8/8/1998
2/Eng
1 Month
Sinha Shipping Company.
“Insurance ship? or Horror :-This was the worst ship that i ever sailed in my entire career as far as "Seaworthiness" and safety of human life was concerned.An extract from my shipping sailing memoirs on the worst ship in my sailing career . Total Bangladesh crew and thanks to my report to the authorities we were signed off in Bhavnagar after a single voyage to a gulf port of Qatar and back to Bhavnagar in India The ship had a 9 cyclinder " 9UEC 52/105D Mitsubishi engine " very similar to the Sulzer "RD" and "Rt" series engines on which i have had maximum sea sailing experience. In a 24 hour period there was a underpiston scavenge fire at least once if not twice ! Unbelievable but true. Engine would be stopped and the under piston scavenge spaces cleaned and later engine restarted and ship sailing full ahead. Ahoy !No A/c on board and we used to sleep on the deck during the Gulf voyage. Approaching Gujarat the "Steering flat" spaces got accumulated with water due to excess sea water ingress from the Steering flat packing gland. For "Braggers Rights Club" should mention that my arc-welding skills saved the ship as i welded a pipe and connected a pump to drain water from the steering flat compartment and hence prevent flooding and gradual sinking of the ship.Should have received a award !Luck saved our voyage and we finally docked at Bhavnagar where most of us signed off.It was from Bhavnagar that i visited "ALANG SHIPBREAKING YARD", the World's largest shipbreaking yard in the 1990's and got to view the display of various ships parked on the beach akin to a car park .Was sad to see beautiful large ships awaiting their turn for being dismantled into scrap."M.V.Vinta" is forever etched in my memory although i sailed on it for just a month.This was my last "OCEAN SAILING VESSEL" and later i switched over to "Coastal and Inland shipping" in Indian waters and ports.Seemed that the "Owners" of this ship either wanted to "SINK" it and claim insurance or were genuinely "Substandard Ship Owners" functioning on a meager shipping budget of manning and machinery management. Every Industry has its "Good,the bad and the Ugly"!Bizarrely, after having left the "Ocean Sailing Shipping Industry" in 1998, the scourge of piracy has become the latest casualty of this Industry in the 21st century.Numerous "Indian Sailors" are being held captive in Somalia, some even disappearing, and after having served on "M.V.Vinta" i can understand their plight and horror.
Lucky to be "ZINDA"?
24) M.V.SHIVAJI
25) M.V.ELEPHANTA
26) M.V.NHAVA
15/1/1999 to
14/12/2000
C/Eng
Employed as "Chief Engineer(C/Eng)" for a total of 1 Year 11 months on 3 different port tugs on a 15 days On/15 Days Off basis at a salary of Rs 15,000/15 days. These tugs were owned by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust for port ship handling operations and based in the "Nhava Port" of New Mumbai. The salary and living conditions on these tugs were a pittance and a embarrassment for my qualifications compared to "Ocean liners" or "Coastal Vessels" but gained a lot of knowledge in "Human relationships" as well as a understanding of the rural life of common local Maharashtrians. Also learnt the "Internet" during my 15 day's off unpaid leave which greatly helped me through the worst phase of my personal and professional life. Got to learn the art of fishing as one of the crew members on these tug's was a expert at setting "Net Traps" for catching lobsters and crabs. Whenever the tug was anchored alongside the wharf this local seaman would set his traps into the sea from the tug boat. During winter he caught lots of lobsters and once a gigantic king size crab, the largest crab i have seen in my lifetime. J.N.P.T being a protected port harbour is beyond the fishing limits of common fishing boats or fisherman and hence this crab got a chance to grow to this gigantic size. Worked rotationally on all these 3 tugs owned by "J.N.P.T Port" and managed by "Orion Shipping Agencies Pvt Ltd". If i had been fluent in Marathi language could have definitely got a shore establishment job in J.N.P.T Port but in hindsight seems its providential i didn't take a shore establishment job.
Manned by “Orion
Offshore Pvt Co”.
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| A View of Container Terminal of "J.N.P.T(Mumbai) (1-12-2000):- India's most modern port. Our tug's helped in arrival and departure of various types of ship into this most moderinsed harbour of India. |
27) M.V.ONYX
22/1/2001 to 20/3/2001
2/Eng
2 Months
Samson Maritime Ltd.
(junk tugs & supply v/ls) The company owned mostly junk tugs and supply vessels during my tenure with them.
28) OCEAN AMBER
26/03/2001 to 10/05/2001
3/7/1 to 8/9/01
25/10/1 to 23/12/1
15/2/02 to 21/5/2
C/Eng
10 Months
Approx
Samson Maritime Ltd
[45 Days Onn-Off approx]
29) OCEAN TOPAZ
5/8/2002 to 24/10/2002
C/Eng
2 Months 19 days.
Samson Maritime Ltd
30) M.V.SAMUDRIKA - 2
10/3/2003 to 9/4/2003
2/Eng
1 Month
Oil And Natural Gas of India (O.N.G.C Supply V/Ls)
Manned By S.C.I.
“Orion off-shore agencies”
45 Days Onn/Off Employment :- A very hectic shipboard life as the vessels were aged and constantly on charter between "O.N.G.C" oil rigs situated in different locations in the"Bombay High" area and its cargo and refueling base of "Nhava Port". Shore leave, if any was approximately 3 to 4 hrs in a month , just a visit to "Nhava village" and the local bar for a beer and some snacks, besides phoning home."MONSOON SAILING (June to August)" on these "Off-Shore Supply ships" was akin to "Adventure White water rafting sailing" or "Mountain altitude climbing", a authentic test of "sea-aptitude","Sailing-skills" , "Monsoon weather acclimatisation" besides "Marine Engineering knowledge"! ;"National Geographic" has often shown these similar weather conditions in their "Crab Fishing" documentary about the dangers and sea conditions of fishing in New-Foundland(Canada).
31) SINDHU - 2
12/5/2003 to2/07/2003
2/Eng
1 Month 20days
S.C.I.
32) SAMUDRIKA - 12
30/8/2003 to 12/10/2003
2/Eng
1 Month 13 days.
S.C.I
33) SINDHU - 2
27/6/2004 to 5/09/2004
2/Eng
2 Months 9 days
S.C.I
34) SINDHU - 1
14/2/2005 to 16/4/2005
2/Eng
2 Months 2 days.
S.C.I
35) S.C.I - 06
28/6/2005 to 16/8/2005
2/Eng
1 Month 18 days
Shipping Corporation of India Ltd supply V/L’s
Through “Orion Offshore agencies” ,I joined the "Shipping Industry" after a long gap due to personal reasons.
36) S.C.I - 06
10/10/2005 to 29/11/2005
2/Eng
1 Month 19 days
S.C.I
37) FEROZE GANDHI
6/2/06 to 14/5/06
2/Eng
2 Months 28 days
"Feroze Gandhi" was my last "Sailing Ship" and had to leave the ship on compassionate grounds as my father was seriously ill at home in Mumbai but S.C.I was not willing to relieve me . Co-incidentally the Captain of the ship Mr B.Som's mother had expired and he was to be relieved immediately and hence my reliever Mr D.R.Mangala was sent to our location on another supply ship which was actually sent to get back captain B.Som. Finally after handing over my duties to my last sea going reliever both Capt B.Som and myself set sail on the vessel and headed back to Nhava. Since then have not worked as a "Marine Engineer" on any "Sailing Ship". "FEROZE GANDHI' was my last sailing ship in a sea career that began in 1983.
38) SEA CONQUEST
10-6-2008 to 15-9-2008
C/Eng.
3 months 5 days.
Hind Offshore Private Limited.
Idle at home one day on visiting "Seaman's Club" at Ballard Estate was offered a temporary shore based job. After 2 years of quitting sea sailing worked for the organization "Hind Offshore Private Ltd" on "Ship maintenance and Surveys". Their vessel "Sea Conquest" was anchored at Ferry Wharf(Bhaucha Dhakka) where ship repairs were done and later was "Dry-Docked " at Meryweather dry-dock in Mumbai and this was akin to a "Shore Job" not requiring me to sail out to sea. Due to personal reasons i couldn't stay away from home in Mumbai for a very long period, hence stopped sea employment at a young age of 48 and now concentrating on manning my own personal "SHIP(Read House Wealth)" through "Investments".!.
TOTAL NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY AS AN "ACTIVE SAILOR OFFICER" = 25 YEARS. TOTAL NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHIPS SAILED OR WORKED ON = 38
NOTE:- ALL PHOTOGRAPHS WERE UPLOADED INTO THE DIGITAL FORMAT FROM MY COLLECTION OF "POSTER CARD PHOTOS" TAKEN DURING MY SHIPPING CAREER BEFORE THE INVENTION OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY.
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