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MY SHIP IMAGES

John Leary Photography

  • Portfolio
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  • Gallery 1
    • Cargo Ships
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  • Gallery 2
    • Pleasure Craft
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    • 1960's
  • Gallery 3
    • Introduction
    • P & O 175th Anniversary
    • Queen Elizabeth's Maiden Arrival
    • Britannia's Maiden Arrival and Departure
    • Anthem of the Seas
    • Royal Yacht Squadron's 200th Anniversary Review
    • Queen Victoria Onboard Visit
    • Queen Mary 2 Onboard Visit
    • Cunard Queens
    • Fastnet Race 2019
    • Independence of the Seas Maiden Arrival
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Link Test Page

The stories contained within this section relate to some of the experiences I had during my short time at sea employed as a Radio Officer (R/O) in the early to mid 1960's.

This time period was considered by many as the Golden age for Radio Officers in the British Merchant Navy. From 1970's onwards the numbers of Radio Officers in the British Merchant Navy declined through a combination of fewer ships and changing International Radio Regulations relating to Safety of Life at Sea. These factors together with lack of investment by British shipping companies in containerisation, falling freight rates and of course changes in technology, particularly the development of Satellite communications led to fewer job opportunities. Before the year 2000 there was no longer any regulatory requirement for ships to carry Radio Officers so the Sun finally set on a career that had provided a wonderful job opportunity for young men and women with a taste for travel and adventure.

Some, but not all of the stories reflect my interest in the technicalities of the job of R/O but I hope that any reader who is not interested in the radio nuts and bolts of the job will still find something to interest them and hopefully obtain a flavour of life at sea for a R/O in the British Merchant Navy all those years ago.

The picture below was taken on the Boat Deck of the Steam Ship (SS) Manaar in the Indian Ocean during the early part of 1966. As you can see the image has suffered badly from an attack of mould which the best endeavours of my photo correction software cannot remedy entirely.

SS Mahseer

 It Aint Arf Hot Mum   The Third Passenger The Sport of Kings  The Good Red Wine of France  Lightning Never Struck Twice
 The Captain's Cupboard  Big Al's Chowder      
         

 

 

This Web Site now contains over 1610 images. It is planned to add more images to the Galleries in 2021.
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