Union Company Days

My old Super 8mm films from my days as an apprentice with Union Steamship Company the 1980's.
Created with MAGIX Video deluxe 17 Plus

[@stuartscott60]

Stu Scott loved this - recognised Paul Hines in a heartbeat and Port Pirie. Ngahere was my first ship in 1977, signed my indentures in the Lytellton office in December and sailed for Buff for wheat.

[@brianingarfill1773]

LOL LOL lots of funny scene's especially the cadets in their "short short's" where did the guy get the "Blue Star" tee shirt, my favourite company.

[@mrdunns3338]

Very reminiscent of my time with BP Tankers, started as Engineer Cadet at South Shields in 1972 and left in 1982 as temporary leccy /3rd. Went into seismic for 5 years then back to tankers with a small family owned UK company until pulled the plug 9 years ago.

[@derrickbenfell6829]

A great Company to work for-thanks for the video

[@rangatira2000]

Thank you for that. I never recorded my time like that. I am replaying this over again. "Ngahere" first ship in 76.

[@struck2soon]

You are welcome Tim. It all seems like a long time ago now, doesn't it?

[@rangatira2000]

YIp. Nah. I lie. It seems like yesterday.

[@johnclarke9506]

Not much makes me laugh these days... but that did. Port Pirie: what a place. Wonder if it is too late to change my holiday plans. Great closing shot of the rat guards blowing uselessly on the breeze.

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

Great video, do you have any aboard the Union Rotorua or Union Rotoiti the gas turbine RORO ships? Or the Marama? Australia used to have a great merchant navy until the unions killed it off.

[@stuartmillar8264]

Andy, I am sure your friends in the Galley loved you and the other apprentices wearing your dresses from the rag-bag.... Remember "Twice as tight and ten degrees warmer!"

[@struck2soon]

They LOVED us! And if we were looking for a fresh dress, we could always borrow one from the Chief Officer.(Dave Tilley)

[@rangatira2000]

struck2soon Umm....do you mean Dave TILLING?

[@DJS385]

Cool video. Did you ever sail with Capt Griff Tedd? He retired in 1982 but prior to that was master on the Union Hobart and Union Lyttleton.

[@struck2soon]

Jono Gibson no I didn't. I joined in June 82., and the Union Hobart and Union Lyttelton didn't carry apprentices. "Bluey" Suckling was the first master I remember, but sailed with quite a few over the next few years. "Gentleman John Marshall" was probably my favourite.

[@DJS385]

@@struck2soon Good to know, Griff is my grandfather and passed away last week at the age of 97. Have just been trying to find details on his shipping years with Union Company. Thanks for your information.

[@bazza945]

I have memories of Ngahere from working her by Morse wireless from Awaruaradio/ZLB. Also vertically all other company vessels in the fleet too. It may have been Ngahere I took a Meteo Wellington radiogram from while she was in Foveaux Strait. Something made me check the figures for the ship's noon position on a marine chart for the area. It was just as well, there was a slight error, it placed Ngahere 40 miles UP the Mataura River! To this day I have no idea how I twigged there was something wrong.

[@struck2soon]

It seems a long time ago that ships had radio officers!

[@alanhill4334]

I was 3/o on the Ngahere in 1970.

[@struck2soon]

Crickey! I'll bet they weren't known as "slow greens" then, probably more like "fast greens"...probably still had the yellow stripe on side of hull too?