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MY TRIP ON A BOARD'S COLLIER. |
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I had known for some time that I had been selected for a trip
on one of the Board's colliers, and Friday, the 11th July, the day
of my departure arrived. I was to join the collier at London. The journey to London was uneventful and at 1.46 p.m. I arrived at Kings Cross. At the ticket barrier I was met by Mr. Traynor, the local welfare officer, who told me that as the ship was due to sail at 3 p.m. we would have to hurry to Barking Power Station where it was berthed. The collier was the S.S. 'Captain J.M. DONALDSON', the sister ship of the Lord Citrine. I went aboard and was introduced to the Master, Captain Macdonald, and his officers. The Captain then showed me to my cabin which I found to be very well furnished and included a very comfortable bunk, which I noted with some relief as I was ignorant of the proper way to sling a hammock. We were not sailing until 6 p.m. and I enjoyed a good tea before we left. The food throughout the trip was extremely good and always very welcome. At 6 p.m. the river pilot came aboard and under his direction we headed towards the open sea. An hour later the pilot left us and we set course for Blyth. Once out at sea the weather became misty and visibility deteriorated to about one mile. This was of no consequence as the ship was equipped with latest navigational aids. These included a Marconi radar set, and equipment for determining the depth of the water. Finding the ship's position was simplicity itself as a Decca Aid to Navigation was also incorporated. This operated on three shore transmitters whose signals were picked up by the apparatus, and by taking the readings of three meters and referring them to the chart the ship's position was accurately determined. Our course took us past several old wrecks and sand banks, all of which were marked by flashing buoys and an occasional light-ship, and as they were also marked on the chart they served as an additional check on the course. |
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