Jan de Wit
This site is dedicated to the most adventurous and truly memorable time of my life during the late 60th and following 17 years. Starting as an apprentice working in the engine-room doing the "dirty work" in the oil polluted air and noise from a huge double acting Werkspoor engine it certainly was a memorable beginning of my seaman's life. With a number of ship's in between, my last vessel was a drilling ship on which I worked for 7 years as a relief Chief Engineer.
The unforgettable time on board of the Smit Lloyd vessels left me with the best of memories although looking back my whole sailing time really has been the best of my working time. Running on over 40 I thought it was time to do something else. A good friend of mine, who had been a diver on the same drilling-ship, asked me to join him running an export business on Taiwan. That was the start of a whole new and different period in my life.
The heading of this blog shows the deck of a Smit Lloyd supply vessel, with an anchor in the foreground.
The unforgettable time on board of the Smit Lloyd vessels left me with the best of memories although looking back my whole sailing time really has been the best of my working time. Running on over 40 I thought it was time to do something else. A good friend of mine, who had been a diver on the same drilling-ship, asked me to join him running an export business on Taiwan. That was the start of a whole new and different period in my life.
The heading of this blog shows the deck of a Smit Lloyd supply vessel, with an anchor in the foreground.
Adventurous trips on the Smit Lloyd supply vessels
1970: Smit Lloyd 15, Rotterdam, Netherlands
That is how it started, my first trip on a supply-vessel, I was very exited starting on a 20.000 ton Tanker to a 5000 ton coaster en finally the Esther of 2500 ton, my heart was with the supply vessels or tug boats. For unknown reason it became a supply vessel.
That is how it started, my first trip on a supply-vessel, I was very exited starting on a 20.000 ton Tanker to a 5000 ton coaster en finally the Esther of 2500 ton, my heart was with the supply vessels or tug boats. For unknown reason it became a supply vessel.
1970 Smit Lloyd 15, Rotterdam, Netherlands
1970 Smit Lloyd 9 Cork, Ireland
The Smit Lloyd 9 is supplying the Drill-ship, Glomar North Sea from the port of Cork in Ireland.
Drill ship “Glomar North Sea” drills Ireland's first offshore exploration well in the North Celtic Sea Basin
The Smit Lloyd 9 is supplying the Drill-ship, Glomar North Sea from the port of Cork in Ireland.
Drill ship “Glomar North Sea” drills Ireland's first offshore exploration well in the North Celtic Sea Basin
1971 Smit Lloyd 9, Stavanger, Norway
1971: Smit Lloyd 11, Agadir, Morocco
1970-1971: Smit Loyd 14, Fremantle, Port Hedland, Broome, Australia
A trip to Australia was high on my list. In the early 70th I flew to Australia, at that time it took about 31 hours from Amsterdam to Perth in West Australia. Staying overnight in the Captain Fremantle hotel and in the morning to the local airport and by helicopter to the location of the Ocean Digger. After landing on the helipad I was dropped with a basket on the deck of the Smit Lloyd 14.
December 1970 the SL 12 and 14 leave Adelaide with the Ocean Digger in tow for the East coast with Fremantle as the supply harbor. I came on board the SL 12 in February.
In Fremantle we got an Australian crew on - board, the officers remained Dutch. The crew, a bunch of ex convicts after all a good crew to work with and a lot of fun.
In April we left with the Ocean Digger in tow for the Northern Territories with Broome as supply harbor and an occasional trip to Port Hedland
A trip to Australia was high on my list. In the early 70th I flew to Australia, at that time it took about 31 hours from Amsterdam to Perth in West Australia. Staying overnight in the Captain Fremantle hotel and in the morning to the local airport and by helicopter to the location of the Ocean Digger. After landing on the helipad I was dropped with a basket on the deck of the Smit Lloyd 14.
December 1970 the SL 12 and 14 leave Adelaide with the Ocean Digger in tow for the East coast with Fremantle as the supply harbor. I came on board the SL 12 in February.
In Fremantle we got an Australian crew on - board, the officers remained Dutch. The crew, a bunch of ex convicts after all a good crew to work with and a lot of fun.
In April we left with the Ocean Digger in tow for the Northern Territories with Broome as supply harbor and an occasional trip to Port Hedland
1972: Smit Lloyd 9, St. Johns, New Foundland
Not high on my list but nevertheless a place I never been to so as usual I was exited to go to a new venture.
Smit-Lloyd , I came on board of the "9" in New Newfoundland. After getting a call from the office in Rotterdam, first thing I did is to look t the map. It looked pretty cold to me. I had heard stories already about towing icebergs in that area so I was prepared for my next trip.
Another adventure, after which I was promoted to Chief Engineer. The weather in New Newfoundland did not appeal to me at all. Our home base was St. John's.
From one of the inhabitants: The sea is very cold and violently, with waves crashing on cliffs and rocks. The ocean is where people work. In fishing villages and small towns along the coast,.the houses don't even face the water. They face inland, because the sea is something fearsome. For the people in New Newfoundland it is kind of a love/hate relationship. The ocean is terrifying.
I can understand that very well. It is not the most hospitable place on earth. Most of the time the harbor of St John's was frozen, with ice all over the ship . The engines had to be started about 4 hours in advance, just to heat up the oil and get the engine on running temperature. Sailing out of the harbor crushing through the ice always grabbed my attention. Once outside the harbor in full force gale it was back to normal again. Sailing in a zig-zag course to spot any icebergs floating around an being a possible hazard to the oil-rig.
On my tour we never spotted one, but the weather always remained in my memory. I recall one day that we had to stay in port because of the high waves up to 60 feet. After a few hours our agent came on board and said, ok guys you can go out now because the waves are only 40 feet high, and out we went.
Not high on my list but nevertheless a place I never been to so as usual I was exited to go to a new venture.
Smit-Lloyd , I came on board of the "9" in New Newfoundland. After getting a call from the office in Rotterdam, first thing I did is to look t the map. It looked pretty cold to me. I had heard stories already about towing icebergs in that area so I was prepared for my next trip.
Another adventure, after which I was promoted to Chief Engineer. The weather in New Newfoundland did not appeal to me at all. Our home base was St. John's.
From one of the inhabitants: The sea is very cold and violently, with waves crashing on cliffs and rocks. The ocean is where people work. In fishing villages and small towns along the coast,.the houses don't even face the water. They face inland, because the sea is something fearsome. For the people in New Newfoundland it is kind of a love/hate relationship. The ocean is terrifying.
I can understand that very well. It is not the most hospitable place on earth. Most of the time the harbor of St John's was frozen, with ice all over the ship . The engines had to be started about 4 hours in advance, just to heat up the oil and get the engine on running temperature. Sailing out of the harbor crushing through the ice always grabbed my attention. Once outside the harbor in full force gale it was back to normal again. Sailing in a zig-zag course to spot any icebergs floating around an being a possible hazard to the oil-rig.
On my tour we never spotted one, but the weather always remained in my memory. I recall one day that we had to stay in port because of the high waves up to 60 feet. After a few hours our agent came on board and said, ok guys you can go out now because the waves are only 40 feet high, and out we went.
,1972: Smit Lloyd 45. Aberdeen, Scotland
Just a short rip in between as I was not infavor of 2 month trips in the North Sea with always bad weather.
The "45" was a new ship to me. Used to the "A" vessels with a fairly spacious engine room, the "45" was cramped.
Very seaworthy ship's the 45 was rolling 45 degrees when at anchor on the rig's location.
I was glad when the trip was done with.
Just a short rip in between as I was not infavor of 2 month trips in the North Sea with always bad weather.
The "45" was a new ship to me. Used to the "A" vessels with a fairly spacious engine room, the "45" was cramped.
Very seaworthy ship's the 45 was rolling 45 degrees when at anchor on the rig's location.
I was glad when the trip was done with.
1973: Smit Lloyd 32, Fremantle - Djeddah
Paul, the personnel manager, called me from the head-office and asked if I would be interested in a trip to Singapore and pick up the Smit Lloyd 32, which original had been build in Australia and was run by an Australian crew.
On the train to Schiphol airport and on the plane to Singapore with the whole crew. The 32 was a disaster and completely run down by the previous crew. Anyway the engine ran and just to be sure we changed the oil on both engines. You never know how long they been running on the same engine oil!. On the way from Singapore to Djeddah, absolutely beautiful weather with a sea like a mirror. That gave us plenty of time to clean up the mess left behind.
After about 2 weeks we arrived at Jeddah, we stowed enough Heineken in the bow thruster compartment as you never know when you would need some. In Jeddah was a "no alcoholic beverage" rule so customs spend some pleasantries with the captain behind closed doors and left again after a few whiskeys while we enjoyed a cold one behind closed doors down below. A bag for the voltage meter just could hold 4 cans so we checked on a regular base the refrigerator. The cans where hidden behind the cooling unit in the refrigerator and kept at just the right temperature.
I can't remember seeing a rig in 3 month. We spend most of the time goofing around at the proposed location for the rig and with 6 divers on board the best location for the jack up rig needed to be checked. We had a small boat with an outboard motor and after some repairs got it working. I as chief engineer assigned myself to accompany the divers to various locations. The water being clear and an emeral green was excellent for diving and that was my first experience with 2 commercial bottles on my back to explore the absolutely beautiful sea-bottom with corals and fish I never had seen before.
Paul, the personnel manager, called me from the head-office and asked if I would be interested in a trip to Singapore and pick up the Smit Lloyd 32, which original had been build in Australia and was run by an Australian crew.
On the train to Schiphol airport and on the plane to Singapore with the whole crew. The 32 was a disaster and completely run down by the previous crew. Anyway the engine ran and just to be sure we changed the oil on both engines. You never know how long they been running on the same engine oil!. On the way from Singapore to Djeddah, absolutely beautiful weather with a sea like a mirror. That gave us plenty of time to clean up the mess left behind.
After about 2 weeks we arrived at Jeddah, we stowed enough Heineken in the bow thruster compartment as you never know when you would need some. In Jeddah was a "no alcoholic beverage" rule so customs spend some pleasantries with the captain behind closed doors and left again after a few whiskeys while we enjoyed a cold one behind closed doors down below. A bag for the voltage meter just could hold 4 cans so we checked on a regular base the refrigerator. The cans where hidden behind the cooling unit in the refrigerator and kept at just the right temperature.
I can't remember seeing a rig in 3 month. We spend most of the time goofing around at the proposed location for the rig and with 6 divers on board the best location for the jack up rig needed to be checked. We had a small boat with an outboard motor and after some repairs got it working. I as chief engineer assigned myself to accompany the divers to various locations. The water being clear and an emeral green was excellent for diving and that was my first experience with 2 commercial bottles on my back to explore the absolutely beautiful sea-bottom with corals and fish I never had seen before.