Provenance is that it came from merchant-navy net in a poat from 'Brian' regarding the worst trip he was ever on.
post and follow-up post :-
Ivan,
I was with the Levenpool in Antwerp in December 1956, met a mate of mine, they had found a dead body in the water tanks, and had all broken out in scabs and bad guts. They were all trying to get paid off, she was on the Continent to South America run for two years. I guess there was always someone else worse off.
Cheers, Brian[/QUOTE]
Unfortunately it happens, remember when I used to survey tanks and double bottoms (now now lads not that type) it was always prudent to have someone with you, but not always possible, these were always moments of apprehension, especially doing DB's afloat, as if some silly bugger ran into you, you had no chance. I am small in stature and sometimes you had to reverse all the way back to the manhole through the lightening holes. How the big guys managed I do not know because even for me on the smaller ships it was difficult. Surveying double bottoms in the Waalhaven in December and January was not my favourite scenario, it was bluddy cold! It is easy to be forgotten when you are down there and once they've put the manhole cover in place, even without bolting, your days are numbered. I used to tow a heaving line behind me, but some clever barsteward would invariably haul it out in case it fouled the suction pipes, it was very difficult to win, but I'm still here
What I want to know is why did they always send a deaf seaman to shout "anybody inside"