Captains Inspection

[Louis De Sousa]

Just received this from a friend.For some reason i dont have one. 



Louis

[cunardqueen]

Was every cabin inspected, or just a random selection?  The classic Alan Whicker programme Fast Boat to China shows some of the officers inspecting a work station in the Columbia, it would seem the waiter didnt exactly get glowing comments.
 Regarding Disciplinary action, what form could this have taken?? confined to the cabin?no shore leave, docked a days pay, no tips, no drink, No afternoon tea service??
 

[Louis De Sousa]

Was every cabin inspected, or just a random selection?

Random selection

Regarding Disciplinary action, what form could this have taken?? confined to the cabin?no shore leave, docked a days pay, no tips, no drink, No afternoon tea service??

None off the above.A lot depends on what is wrong with the cabin.If the cabin is not tidy,hoovered,beds made etc, and if you new onboard you might get away just a verbal warning if you an older crew your name goes down in the book,if you repeat more times you might get sacked.

Next can be if they find stuff that is not allowed in crew cabins like for example food from crew mess or passengers items,here it will depend much on the Captain.Some might sack you some might give you a second chance.

Next if they find any drugs or everthing that can put the ship in a danger,here you will be sacked on the spot.

Hope that helps Myles.

Louis

[Beardy Rich]

Drugs found in a cabin would result in the occupants being sacked. Unfortunately, I helped escort one crew member to the bridge to see the Staff Captain after it was found that he'd been caught with drugs. He was dismissed.
However, there were crew members who used to enjoy the odd 'joint'. A favourite haunt was 3 deck aft.
I can remember 'doing the rounds' accompanying the Staff Chief Engineer on one occasion, inspecting the cabins.
Most cabins were usually OK, but there was always one untidy sod who had neglected to ensure his cabin was presentable.
It was also common practice to 'acquire' off-cuts of carpet from the public rooms for our cabins. I remember struggling on my own to fit a quite luxurious piece of gold coloured carpet in one of the cabins I stayed in. The result looked fantastic for about a week! No matter how hard you tried to keep it clean, it didn't take long for the grime to start building up.

[Pat Curry]

Who knows where the British Legion was on the ship, and who were the members? 
Many captains pretended to know but didn't (and it wasn't the F'oc's'tle Club!!!)

[Twynkle]

Who knows where the British Legion was on the ship, and who were the members?  
Many captains pretended to know but didn't (and it wasn't the F'oc's'tle Club!!!)

Hi Qweet-two
Haven't a clue!
However - if there have been 'Clubs' for the Crew, Officer, Staff etc
It could be that you have provided a great idea with your question...
What about a Topic for Clubs and Get-Togethers etc?

By the way - were the staff and others who weren't Crew as such, subjected to Captains Inspections - and what about Junior Officers?

[Pat Curry]

Yes Junior officers cabin's were inspected.  My greatest friend on the ship we a junior galley officer and had a fish tank complete with fish in his cabin on 6 deck.  He had already been on the ship for over 10 years, and always had this cabin when on board (four months on two off).  When on leave someone else would use it (and feed the fish). Considered luxury in 1968, and outdated by 2008, all were small but nice (I thought) with locked porthole cover ( opened illegally by some to reveal the daylight and the sea just inches below).  Each junior officer cabin had one bed, an arm chair (scrounged from public areas after refit/replacement).  They had a TV (with some channels being crew only) sink and a fridge.  Each 'alleyway' had a block of six cabins and a shared bathroom.  These alleyways had names like 'Hyde Park Corner'. 
Not sure if all ranks were inspected; doubt if the seniors were. 

Let's keep the whereabouts of the 'Legion' ( as the members called it) open for now and see if anyone knows.   

[Michael Gallagher]

Note from the Forum Administrator - this text below may not be used outwith this forum without permission.


The blocks were known as:

Chinatown
The Old Bailey (security staff cabins)
Sinbad
The Bronx
Bond Street
Kings Road
Piccadilly Circus
Wellington Place
Manila Street
Times Square
Manhattan
Marble Arch
De La Cruz Avenue
Chelsea
Canon Street
Mayfair
Smokey Mountain
Knightsbridge
Manila Boulevard
Nightingale Square
Maida Vale
Sailors Lane
Worcester
Visayas
Minda Dano
Leicester Square
Hyde Park
St Thomas
Grosvenor Square
Earls Court
Brooklyn
Napa Valley
McArthur’s Lane
Oxford Street
St James’ Park
Luzon
Roker Park

[Michael Gallagher]

The Old Bailey...

[Twynkle]

Hmm!

This is amazing 'News!

[Pat Curry]

Thanks Flagship
Do you have other similar pictures?   Hyde Park was adjacent to the Print Shop and near the galleys.
And they will all still be there, in tact on the ship.  Memories.

[Twynkle]

At first glance, there could be a new boardgame in this - QE2 'Monopoly'
(Go straight to The Old Bailey - Don't collect your $200 onboard spending money')

Were the 'sections' divided according to departments? 
For example, as the security staff were together, does this mean then that other 'gangs',
teams or say hotel-side staff, or engineers each allocated their own areas of sleeping quarters?

How did this work out with the Night, Day and 4 hour Watches for example?
Having spent time over years working at night -
it was usually the case then,
that night duty people had their own separate areas for sleeping.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Next can be if they find stuff that is not allowed in crew cabins like for example food from crew mess or passengers items,here it will depend much on the Captain.Some might sack you some might give you a second chance.

Next if they find any drugs or everthing that can put the ship in a danger,here you will be sacked on the spot.

What happened if someone was sacked? Did they work out their contract? Were they given notice? Did they get dropped off at the nearest port? If they were sacked on the spot, what did they do until the nearest port was reached?

[Imonlygoingforone]

Let's keep the whereabouts of the 'Legion' ( as the members called it) open for now and see if anyone knows.   

Oh I know where the Legion is, I used to frequent it quite regularly! In fact I remember having a drink or 2 with you Pat down there! I wonder if the clock got taken home - I hope so!

Cheers

[Pat Curry]

Pleaaaaase do tell me who you are?  And reveal the location the the Legion.

[Beardy Rich]

Yes, where was the 'Legion'? I'm guessing it might have been a name given to the crew bar on 6-deck aft though I'm sure it used to be called something else.
It wouldn't be the P.O's club would it?

[Pat Curry]

No it wasn't the PO's club.  More than one captain thought it was, much to the legion members 'mirth.  No captain was ever invited to imbibe there!!!

The Petty Officer's Bar became the Fo'c's'le Club the location of which was forward on 2 deck.
Look at a deck 2 plan eg
http://www.chriscunard.com/qe2_deckplans.php
2 deck.  See Cabins 2004 & 2002.  Between them there is a steel door there.  It says 'no admission' . But if you did go through it you were immediately in the Fo'c's'le Club.  It was noisy between about 9pm and closing time 1am,
So 2004 and 2002 were used by crew (musicians if I recall).
On the Club side of the door it said 'Do not use this pass door.  If you do you will be reported to the Captain.' or something like that. 
So where is the Legion??

 

[Pat Curry]

Oh I know where the Legion is, I used to frequent it quite regularly! In fact I remember having a drink or 2 with you Pat down there! I wonder if the clock got taken home - I hope so!

Cheers

Got it now Ash!  I was a bit slow off the mark.  Will post a photo of you at the Legion shortly

[Beardy Rich]

So where was the Legion then? I noticed there was a dart board in wherever it was in the Whicker's World 'A Fast Boat To China' programme.

[Mauretania1907]

A silly question (I HAD to ask it) What happened to someone sacked 'on the spot'. (were they instantly thrown off the stern) Or were they thrown off at the next port, having to make their own way home as best they could - paying their own fare. I do know there is a caveat in most cruise brochures that if a passenger misbehaved so badly, they could be put off the ship at the next port of call, there to pay their own way home, with no refund of cruise fare. That did happen to some young men who were always drunk on Fairstar. They were offloaded at a port and had to get home by themselves. Fairstar's ship's police were headed by an ex Sydney police officer who had retired. Apparantly he took no prisoners. This was when Fairstar was owned by Sitmar.

[skilly56]

Rich,
The Legion used to hide as far forward as you can get (actually, I just got told by B. Hone that some of the silly old F---s are probably still in there!

Cheers
Skilly

[Beardy Rich]

Thanks Skilly. If it was as far fwd as you could get it sounds as though it might have been run for or by the Deckies.
I never visited that area but I think the Deckies used to have all their ropes/hawsers etc there. The furthest fwd I ever went inside the ship was prob the bow thruster comp't.

Really wish it was possible to revisit the ship to re-acquaint myself with it 

[skilly56]

Hi Rich,

Not quite that far forward! It was on 2 Deck immediately aft of the mooring deck on the port side. Directly below the crew office. The young fella presently cooking my steak on the barbeque used to drink in there occasionally. Evidently the Legion was the place to be after the ship hit Dubai in '08!
I bet you went to the bow thruster room to get your connections onto the bulk beer storage tank up there.

Cheers
Skilly

[Beardy Rich]

Aha... so that's were the Legion was. I never ever knew anything about it! You know... I'm learning more about the ship now than when I was on there 

If I could have one wish, it would be for QE2 to return to the UK and for it to be open to the public for viewing (all of it, not just the public rooms).

I think that joining this forum has re-kindled my interest in the ship and I do miss being at sea. It's difficult to put that feeling into words but I'm sure you know what I mean.

Regards,

[skilly56]

Ash,
Is that Ash A, the SO?

[MacTaf]

I do recall the working alleyway being referred to as "Boogie St" on one ocassion..But not sure that was part of the Ship's Lingua Franca? However I would be interested to know if the "Dhobi Arms" survived the various refits, as the name inplies it was almost opposite or adjacent the old ship's laundry.A great place for a livener.. The Laundry in the heady days of 78 was manned  by Singaporean Chinese Guys..

[Beardy Rich]

The Dhobi Arms was certainly still in existence up until the 1986/87 refit in Bremerhaven. A favourite haunt of scousers in particular I believe?
I  think the guys in the chinese laundry were probably the same ones that were onboard during your time on the ship MacTaf.

[MacTaf]

With regard to anybody dismissed on the spot, it would have been after an on-board enquiry subject to the NMB's (National Maritime Board's) Code of conduct. Dependent on the outcome & severity of sanction. It would have  been pretty serious to be dismissed & immediately removed from the vessel.Cunard as a responsible Shipowner would no doubt have assumed initial  responsibility for repatriation. However clawback would have been dependent on whether the crew member was employed directly by Cunard or a concessionaire company. If the crew member was employed by Cunard & registered with the Merchant Navy Establishment that would most certainly not been the end of the matter. A local disciplinary hearing where the Seafarer was registered with the Merchant Navy Establishment " Pool" would also have been convened. Which had various powers & sanctions including removal from the Pool.  Suspension of Pool benefits or in the more severe cases a recommendation to HM  Secretary of State for the removal of all seafaring credentials   

[Lynda Bradford]

If I could have one wish, it would be for QE2 to return to the UK and for it to be open to the public for viewing (all of it, not just the public rooms).

I agree that is would be fantastic to see all of the ship and to hear stories and memories of both passengers and crew.  I hope your wish comes true.  

[Matron]

A silly question (I HAD to ask it) What happened to someone sacked 'on the spot'. (were they instantly thrown off the stern) Or were they thrown off at the next port, having to make their own way home as best they could - paying their own fare.

The rule was that if you were dismissed, you were given your flights home, but if you resigned, you had to pay for your fare.  Events that tended to result in dismissal were things like assaulting another crew member, being over the alcohol limit etc.

[Rod]

Whether of not the sacked person was flown home usually depended on the severity of the crime and the compassion of the Staff Captain as between flights home were paid for by the miscreant, and if they flew home on a crew flight they were not charged.
Once on a world cruise I had an assistant mechanic that I had to "log" time and time again! No I was not a martinet, I was not the best behaved Officer on the QE 2. After the 5th or 6th logging I believe it was the Staff Captain decided he deserved he be sacked.. His logging took place during his watch. He got sacked, Staff Captain said he would fly home on the next leave flight, he was returned to duty, otherwise he would lose money. So he came down to the boiler room with 2 hours to go on the watch. 8-12.
After about 15 minutes he started screaming at me and threatining me that he was going to do bodily harm to me. This was at the boiler room console. The tannoy microphone was on the console shelf so i just held the talk button down so the MCR could hear it.  After about 4 minutes, the MCR sent someone down to investigate...they were having a cup of tea!  They called the Masters at Arms to remove this guy and I finished the shift on my own. Evening shift 8pm they put a new guy on with me....John remember him well..got to know him well...just released from prison after spending 18 years for murder.
The threatener was logged and sacked again! The Chief Engineer was a witness on the bridge and asked that the man be flown home immediately. Staff Captain denied. This guy was put back on duty.  For those of you that know the boiler room...there are many areas that can be accessed from above.

[Rod]

So I had to stay under a catwalk where thing couldnt be dropped on me.
I had an escort from watch to the cabin to the wardroom back to my cabin.
Then I found the solution....Jack Humphries the Donkeyman!...Told him what was going on and he took care of it.

[carljhson63]

Oh yeah captains inspections were pretty random, i can recall once before a refit We went topside to see what we could salvage before they started to refurnish the cabins.all passengers were gone and the carpenters, fitters were all doing their jobs,we kind of found a few good items. A TV video recorder ,fridge, curtains , lamps spot lights a bar and then re decorated our cabin. it was really nice home from home. even got a wooden plaque on our door "club 458'.and on our first voyage guess what, we heard a shout captains inspection. Well you can imagine that we kinda scurried around to hide everything. We did a pretty good job. Captain came along saw our cabin was clean and tidy then they left. We were relieved and got everything back out and back to normal put on a video sat down relaxed and began to watch death wish. Just then capatain came back to our cabin and said that he forgot to mention.......... then realized is this the same cabin we were in 10 minutes ago. took a look around smiled then said "well lads i will be back next week and i expect all these items to be returned to where they came from "... guess we were lucky but all the stuff was being replaced anyway.So we stripped our cabin bare and took it to storage.The chief steward at the time was a great bloke i cant remember his name big guy thick glasses, he did let us keep the tv and fridge though hahaha.

[Peter Mugridge]

There is a strong irony in the title of the film you were watching, is there not?!