[BITList] Situations Vacant

[David Harvey]

Well, you could point out to the Marine Board that the original crew didn't 
have any certificates, so why bother now. In the early days at Barry Beach 
the Marine Board didn't worry about certificates, deck or engine, or 
pilotage exemptions. We has an AB, Scots of course, ex QM from Port Line who 
took on the job as Chief Engineer, and a damned good engineer he was too. 
Tidewater in those days was under American control and they didn't give a 
toss about certificates either.

Reminds me of "Captain" Randall who built the first paddle steamer on the 
River Murray. No shipbuilding experience, no maritime experience. They 
cobbled together the ship including a boiler that when tested they hid 
behind trees and watched it expand and deflate expand and deflate. With true 
ingenuity they wrapped the boiler in chains and it operated for years on the 
river with the occasional sweating up of the chains. Now beat that Hugh.

Dave
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill and Diana" <billanddiana at bigpond.com>
To: <bitlist at lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 8:45 AM
Subject: Re: [BITList] Situations Vacant


> Hi Hugh,
>
> The term 'Engine Driver' is used on State Certificates, such as issued
> by the Marine Board of Victoria.
>
> <quote>
> This certificate entitles the holder to Act as Chief Engineer in a
> Commercial vessel:
> Of propulsion power less than 250 kW operating in designated Australian
> Coastal and Middle Waters laterally along the coast and within a limit
> of 600 nautical miles to seaward.
> <end quote>
>
> The problem for the operators of this vessel is the fact that no steam
> ships have been built, or training courses held, for decades.  The area
> where the paddle steamer is to operate is a long way from the nearest
> big city - (Melbourne, about 400 klms) and marine engineers with steam
> qualifications don't exactly queue up in numbers looking for work or
> fall out of the trees.
>
> Had it been me building this boat, I would have been tempted to fit a
> nice little quiet Yanmar diesel in a sound proof compartment doing all
> the real work.  The steam aficionados would have to be satisfied with
> the occasional waft of steam from the coffee percolator or a 'Toot toot'
> from an imitation ships whistle.  But then, I am just a practical type
> of bloke.
>
> Salaams
>
>
> HUGH wrote:
>> I note they are looking for "a marine engine driver Grade 2 with steam
>> certificate."  That's a somewhat obscure and faintly patronising
>> qualification, so maybe that's why they're having trouble getting 
>> candidates
>> for the post.  Regardless of that, it's heartening to know that 
>> experience
>> is deemed necessary - all too often nowadays it's only necessary to fancy 
>> a
>> go at something.  Indeed, it wobbles between requiring too much and too
>> little.
> <snip>
>
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