I always enjoy Andrew Linington’s Ships of the past articles, but I was particularly pleased to see RFA Resurgent take centre stage (Nautilus Telegraph, June 2020). I was on Resurgent for her last foreign voyage, to the Pacific coast of USA and Canada, and also previously served in her sister ship Retainer.
It was widely thought that these ships were considered ‘naughty boy’ postings by our appointers in London, and we never sought to disabuse them of this notion! It is true that they took a lot of work for the engineers to keep them in good order, but with the generous manning of chief, second, 4 thirds, 3 fourths, 7 juniors, 3 electricians, 2 fridge engineers and usually a pair of cadets, I don’t recall the workload ever becoming onerous. Any displays of dismay at being given an appointment to these elderly ladies of the sea were, therefore, purely for effect, in the knowledge that a great trip awaited us!
Stephen Piper
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Strong opinions welcome – in your own name
As far as tackling 'fire and rehire' is concerned, this challenging issue remains a high priority for the Union, with extra weight given to our campaigning by a vote of members (in their own names) at the 2023 General Meeting.
We won't keep cadets if we continue treating them like this
Until companies are willing to invest in a decent standard, you will have trouble attracting cadets, as conditions are far worse than in the 1970s when I did my cadetship.
Join us at the PSNC reunion
I am writing to let Nautilus members know that the Pacific Steam Navigation Company's annual reunion will take place this year in Bootle on 27/28 March.