Members and guests attending our last meeting on 27 May were privileged to hear from John Mansell, Chartered Master Mariner and a Fellow of the Nautical Institute, a man with a seafaring career spanning 35 years. These included 13 years of world-wide service aboard cargo ships followed by 22 years on the Cook Strait Rail Ferries, 20 of them (1974-1994) in command. John’s talk was largely on his sea-going experiences with little mention of his later substantial 20-year career in international maritime law.
Growing up in Wellington, John was attracted to the sea from a very young age, spending much time on the waterfront looking at the ships. . A fourth form teacher, married to an officer on the Union Company’s Monowai, made him aware of a cadetship scheme the company offered. At the age of 14 John arranged an interview and was accepted providing he attained School Certificate. He then worked as a labourer for 6 months to save the £150 needed for his bond (£50) and uniform.
During 4 years’ sea time as a cadet he crossed the Tasman 52 times (it was calm for just 5 of them!) and travelled to Singapore, India and North America. Then, after 3 months’ study, 6 papers and an all-day oral exam, he qualified at age 20 for his Second Mate’s certificate and joined Shaw Savill line as a junior watchkeeping office. After a further five years watchkeeping service and two more examinations he qualified as a Master Mariner.
On an early, pre-container trip to UK with frozen lamb in the holds and bales of wool piled five high on the deck he was on watch during a severe storm in the Bay of Biscay when the ship rolled excessively. Lamb carcases are not a dense ballast load and the heavy top load influenced the pendulum-like period of the rolling which, out of synchronisation with the sea, increased the angle of the roll. The radio officer, who had been on the ship for 20 years, had never had a worse experience. The crew’s piano, bolted to a bulkhead, broke loose and was completely demolished. The captain came to the bridge but left John, as watch-keeper, to handle the ship. They survived.
In 1971 John got a position as Second Officer with the interisland rail ferries and two years later was promoted to Captain, spending the next 20 years plying the Strait. In all he has crossed the Strait over 9000 times, 8000 of them as Captain. His longest crossing of this rough stretch of water was 10 ½ hours.
The more ordered life of a ferry captain allowed him to have a home in Wellington, to get married and to raise a family.
In 1994 he left the ferries and was appointed General Manager, Maritime Operations at the newly formed Maritime Safety Authority. He retired to Martinborough in 2014.
The South Wairarapa Rebus Club meets in the South Wairarapa Working Men’s Club on the fourth Friday morning of each month and organises an outing in those months with a fifth Friday. Anyone in the retired age group who may be interested in SW Rebus Club is welcome to come along to a meeting as a visitor. Please contact David Woodhams, 306 8319
