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I know TV is bad, but I was reduced to watching the Discovery Channel "Mighty Ships" last night...No drying paint to watch, so that's my excuse.

Viewer Warning: DON'T....its absolute rollocks! I thought "Yes, may be interesting to see what is posted as the world's largest Diesel" but when the commentator tells us that they are replacing a "piston Rod" on a running engine, I thought "Hmm, that'll be a bit gymnastic!"....I *think* what they really meant a head stud had snapped and they were replacing it....'least I *think* that's what they were doing.

Still, at least the engine was painted Eau-de-Nil :)

And to add insult to injury, they showed an inspection of the double bottom tanks (thought they called them "bilge tanks") and who was going down them but the Mate and the Chief??!!! Yeah, right! It was obvious the Chief didn't get into an oily boily very often, he could barely get through a standard sized manhole....That would never have happened in the 70's....Where's the Gadget??!

Still, if you have some time to waste, try http://vimeo.com/52194031

Hi,

Came across an excellent book about the Merchant Navy recently. It’s by a journalist called Rose George who, as well giving vivid accounts of the importance of the Merchant Service during the Second World War, also goes into some depth about latter day Somalian piracy. She even manages to make a long trip she took by container ship sound interesting. That’s no small feat, speaking as someone who served for a while on one of the damned things. The only criticism I would make is that I think she’s been a bit naive at times. She uncritically repeats recent sailors’ tales which were old, and probably untrue, even when I was a boy. It’s almost like the sailors she interviewed were spinning yarns. Say it ain’t so!
It’s called ‘Deep Sea and Foreign Going’ and is a fascinating read. She makes a compelling case that the service deserves far more respect than it usually receives,
Best wishes,
Barrie Condon (O/T on the New York and California Stars, a very long time ago)