The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
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We surreptitiously purchased through ship chandlers small amounts of grey paint from a reputable paint company and were pleased with the results, as the ship began to look and remain smart despite experiencing plenty of bad weather. One summer's night in a small Irish port the skipper and I fell into conversation with some local fishermen who complimented us on how smart our ship looked. Despite being awash with money in the pub the fishermen bemoaned their lot in life and how expensive resources are to keep their vessels looking smart. Mulling the conversation over the skipper and I had simultaneous thoughts… Let's flog that bloody paint to the unsuspecting fishermen. Surely being slow inshore trawlers this troublesome grey paint was not going to ruin their existing dubious paintwork and what are the chances of us returning and meeting these guys again anyway? Being both very loyal company men we tussled with the rights and wrongs of doing this, however the old paint issue had gnawed at us long enough and here was a god given answer. Next morning we casually slid aboard the largest trawler and had a word with the skipper-owner who then spread the word around the rest of the local fishing fleet. In no time flat a deal was struck and gaggles of fishermen traipsed in and out of our fo'c'sle handing over hard cash for grey paint. We were cock-a-hoop with the results and had an awesome pot of money to share amongst ourselves. The skipper was happy, I was happy and the sailors were happy. We bid adieu and sailed away, smugly pleased. The money lasted for weeks and supplemented our drinking lifestyle nicely. Summer turned to autumn and gales swept in from the Atlantic as we plodded from one port to another, pleased with our smart ship and slush fund. One day we were paid a surprise visit from one of the ship owners who complimented us on how smart we kept the ship and that obviously the Admiralty grey paint was a quality "bargain buy" and could he look at what stock we had remaining, plus would we like some more. Feeling uncomfortable with how the conversation was steering, we tried hard to change subjects but he was adamant in talking about the bloody paint. Pressing us more he wanted to know had we experienced any difficulty in applying the paint to the hull. We reassured him it was fine and had experienced no difficulties at all. Giving us both a very long look he murmured, "mmm strange that, I'd like to take a drum away to be tested as we've had some very abusive complaints from fishing boat skippers in Ireland who claim they paid good money for a large amount of paint off this ship and the f***ing shite keeps washing off!" Yes, we were well and truly caught. The fisherman had remembered the ship's name, tracked down the company headquarters and exacted their revenge good and proper, telling the owners what had taken place. We squirmed with shame as the owner pushed for an explanation. Our long service and reputation seriously sullied, the owner departed but required from us a response and resolution within a week. We were truly mortified and decided our recompense should be the forfeiture of our monthly cargo bonuses. This we duly conveyed to the owners and it was immediately accepted. Many months passed and the sad saga was quietly forgotten until we met a truck driver on the quayside in Portsmouth who cheerily reminded us that he remembered the ship's name and that he was the guy who delivered us all that old grey paint from the Admiralty auctioneers and "how was it going?" Not wishing to be reminded, let alone talk about the bloody paint, we just said it was crap, to which he cheerily responded, "I know it was, I was paid to bring it to the ship instead of the dump as it failed to sell under the auctioneer's hammer, so this geezer gave me twenty quid to bring it to you. Your ship looks real smart now, although I'm sure it was blue before!" QUALITY OLD IRON PUT TO GOOD USE BY BADEN PASCOE T he New Zealand Maritime School based at the Manukau Technical Institute has come up with an innovative concept enabling first and second year cadets taking the Diploma in Marine Engineering to gain more experience maintaining medium speed marine diesel engines. Their land-based engine room houses four engines: Two Lister Blackstone ESSL8MA's that develop 770hp at 900rpm, an ERS8MA developing somewhere in the 600hp range, and a Lister HA6 air-cooled diesel that drives the starting compressor and a generator. The engines have an interesting history. They were donated by Heron Construction after they scrapped their suction dredge Teremoana in 2009. Teremoana was built by Whangarei Engineering in 1970 for the Tauranga Harbour Board. Later on she was purchased by Heron construction and put to other uses until she eventually became redundant. One could say these engines are now oldschool and outdated, Marine engineering students Vlad Ivanov and in some ways and Lindsey McLeod are honing their the New Zealand they are, as they were practical competency inengine room Maritime School's new all manufactured in the 1970s. But as tutor Roger Walton explains, using the latest diesel technology for this purpose is simply too costly. For example, when big end bolts are removed on some modern engines they cannot be used again and sets of these bolts cost mega bucks. Roger goes on to say that the main components in the three large engines are all hidden behind large side plates. Students can access most parts easily and are able to orientate themselves as to the general layout of a big diesel in a single view. Roger has replaced many of the gaskets with neoprene so the covers can be removed during each class. The types of exercises in which students participate are head and piston removal, crankshaft deflection, pump timing, and maximum pressure testing. Later on, other exercises will be developed and Roger would like to see a water brake dynamometer installed so that performance and efficiency can be measured. Inspection and measurement of all components will be taught during each class. This is a simply stunning setup for a learning environment, and I have no doubt that under Roger's management the students who pass through this facility will walk away with an experience over and above that offered by other courses in New Zealand and overseas. Well done, New Zealand Maritime School, Roger Walton and Heron Construction. May/June 2013 Professional Skipper 33