[BITList] Lloyds List Article 23.2.09.

[Michael Feltham]

Hugh,

There is an Irish Company called ARKLOW,green hulls.  They tramp  
around N. Europe and the Med.
I think it was last year that they appointed 2nd.Mates to all their  
ships.  When I asked people aboard,why the company had done this, the  
reply was "Arklows had got in first, i.e. before there was a shortage  
of 2nd. Mates".  Before it becomes compulsory.

I spent three years on small ships, I used to do the evening 8 - 12.   
It meant the Mate and 2nd.Mate did 10 hours a day.  A civilised way of  
doing things with no risk of exhausted Mates.

Mike