I think I was on board 2 days, then SS Chusan released her self from the Quayside, assisted by Tugs, pulling her into the middle of Estuary, then down to the English Channel towards the Isle of Wight.
During the 2 days at quay, I familiarized myself with the Refrigeration department, deep down in the ships Belly, underneath the cold stores,
This was divide into 2 sections, the first contained 2 enormous centrifugal steam turbine compressors, in which we used freon 22, a liquid gas used for refrigeration.
In the second section was around 6 V block compressors, motor driven, in which we used freon 12, also a liquid gas used for refrigeration.
We generated, cool air for the numerous cold rooms also for Chusans air conditioning system.
I was leaving Southampton on the 8-12 watch, In which I would hold until we arrived at Sydney.
This was not the ideal watch for socializing, as an Engineer Officer, we were permitted to go on decks, 1st as well as 2nd class to mix with the passengers.
But, being my very first trip, Deep Sea, One can expect this...............the 8-12 watch was the social life killer.
Work and sleep mostly, but that was OK, I expected this, seniority will come over time, then there will be another young Officer doing the social life killer watch, ie: 8-12.
I really don't want to go into detail about the work I did while on watch ( boring), but I remember the time as being very satisfying, also very hot and the 4 hours that each watch consisted of, passed very quickly.
Our first port of call was Cherbourg, this is where we did the (Bunkering) take on the fuel oil for the burners which heat the main Boilers, plus mail, food, freight etc.
This layover is normally around 24 hours, but maybe shorter in some other calls.
Southampton to Cherbourg was just a few hours sea time, but my dream was becoming a reality, soon the Deep Blue, en route to Capetown, South Africa,, WOW ,,,
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