In my 38 years at sea as an R/O and ETO, I never found shipping companies very willing to train crews in any new machinery or technology, preferring to either poach ready-trained personnel or to throw us an instruction manual. The few training courses I went on were to familiarise me with the basic radio equipment of a new company. I paid for courses myself – then they were happy to take me.
New types of fuel demand new techniques. It's important that crews are not just thrown the instruction book and then blamed for whatever goes wrong, due to the well-known parsimony of shipping companies. Will anyone get proper training?
On another tack: I see that Rishi Sunak is threatening to put asylum seekers on 'disused cruise ships', if there are any – cruising seems to be booming again. Does our sea-blind Prime Minister realise exactly how many personnel would be needed to run one cruise ship as a 'migrant processing centre'? Everybody usually employed would be needed. It would be no different to having a ship alongside: so all maintenance, catering, power, fuel requirements. Nothing lacking except actual navigating (you can't get to Rwanda by sea). And what owner would be willing to prostitute a ship like that, except in exchange for millions? Maybe P&O Ferries...
Rose King
More letters
Visitors welcome at new Falklands memorial bench
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In memory of Don Hunter
Former radio officer Donald 'Don' Hunter, a Second World War veteran who campaigned tirelessly to ensure recognition for fellow Merchant Navy seafarers, has died at the age of 98.
Clan Line reunion 2024
The annual Clan Line reunion will take place at The Liner Hotel in Liverpool on Wednesday 2 October 2024 and is one of the last remaining reunions to be held by a former major UK shipping company.