Author - Lieutenant Commander J.David Douglas, F.N.I.,
Extra Master
The idea of this Course was conceived in 1979 by discussions between
Captain Chris Phelan, Director of what was then Southampton School of
Navigation at Warsash, and James Paffett, who was in charge of
N.M.I.(the National Maritime Institute at Feltham). N.M.I had been
contracted to carry out Investigations into Shiphandling problems in
the Suez Canal, when it was widened and extended to allow the passage
of V.L.C.C.s. For this purpose two 1:40 scale wooden models
were constructed. There was a model of the "Esso Bernicia", a 220,000
Dwt. single screw VLCC; the second model was of a 300,000 Dwt. twin
screw VLCC. The Hull, and in particular the rudders, shafting, and
propellers, were very accurately constructed to scale. Trials in the
wonderful Manoeuvring Tanks at Feltham showed that VLCCs of these types
could successfully be navigated through the Suez Canal, provided that
skilled shiphandling and knowledgeable seamanship were used. On
completion of these trials these models were no longer required by NMI.
For some years prior to 1979, a successful Manned Model Shiphandling
Course had been run by SOGREAH near Grenoble in France. Based on the
proven concept of Manned Model Shiphandling Training at Grenoble it was
considered that a new facility should be established by Warsash
utilising the two NMI models. Mike Longman, Principal Lecturer i/c
Simulation was nominated as project leader. Mike's first task was to
find a suitable lake; this involved looking at over 60 different lakes
in the area. Eventually we were very happy to sign a contract with the
Central Electricity Generating Board to hire their lake at Marchwood.
Preparations
for the Course
In the Autumn of 1979 the two model VLCCs were transported by road from
NMI to Marchwood, where they were launched on the lake. Lecturers from
the Ship's Bridge Simulation Section then carried out a series of Trial
Manoeuvres on the lake. From these Trial Manoeuvres plans were laid to
prepare the model ships and the lake for Manned Model Shiphandling
Courses to start in the late Spring of 1980. It was decided that
Lecturers for the Course would be provided from staff of the Ship's
Bridge Simulation Section.
The two VLCCs were lifted from the lake, and then transported to
Warsash, where Technical staff would convert them to the Manned Model
role by :-
- Covering the whole outside of the
wooden hull with fibre-glass sheathing.
- Providing weather-proof hatch
covers.
- Providing Wheel and Telegraph
Controls in the forward manned position for control of the
ship's rudder and propeller. Appropriate realistic time delays
were fitted.
- Other relatively minor
modifications.
The task of preparing the lake for manned model operations was given to
Mike Ward, which he progressed throughout the winter months. This task
required much thought and practical effort; also money was tight.
However Mike had an amazing knowledge of where various fittings could
be obtained at very favourable rates, he wasn't known as "the
Portsmouth Gipsy" for nothing. The lake had to be surveyed, shoal areas
marked, and artificial buoyed channels laid. Many of these original
channels, including the dreaded "Y" are still there today, and bear
witness to Mike's breadth of vision. It was decided to name various
features of the lake after Lecturing staff; thus we had "Ward's Island"
and "Longman's Passage". We wanted to name a tricky channel in the
south-west corner after Captain Chris Phelan - "Phelan's Bottom" was
suggested - however that formidable individual stated in no uncertain
terms that he was not having hairy mariners told to proceed into
Phelan's Bottom! We compromised by calling the channel and shoal area
"Phelan's Flats". It was interesting that no one seemed concerned about
mariners being told to proceed up "Longman's Passage"!
The
First Course
In May 1980 great activity took place to finish preparations of the
lake for the first Course. One floating pontoon was installed to serve
as a berth- other berths were on order. A Caravan was borrowed from the
Sail Training Association to serve as a Lecture-room. Charts of the
Lake and Course Notes were provided. Two dinghies were obtained to
enable Lecturers to follow the ships around the lake; they were
launched one Saturday morning by a highly skilled working party of 5
Master Mariners; unfortunately no one of this talented team checked
that the "plugs" were installed! The plugs found and inserted, the
boats bailed out, and finally we were ready.
Initially it was intended that the Lecturers on Course would be Mike
Longman, Mike Ward, and Bill Bayley; Bill Bayley's input during the
winter months of preparation had been critical, as he had recently
joined the staff after many years as a Trinity House Pilot, and his
expertise in practical Shiphandling was invaluable. Unfortunately
Bill's health did not allow him to take on practical duties on the
lake, and I was brought in at the last moment. Mike Ward fitted very
well into our concept of a suitable Lecturer for scale-model ships -
being fairly short we described him as a "scale-model Lecturer".
During our first season in 1980 the Mariners on Course were all
deep-sea Officers from the country's major tanker operators. They all
benefited from the chance to experiment realistically with the
practical problems of handling a very large ship. The initial
facilities were very basic - I still remember our devoted technician
John Frost crouching on the pontoon in the middle of the lake in the
pouring rain, charging the ships from a portable generator, and
attempting to avoid short circuits by covering the terminal connections
with his own oilskin. The Lecturing staff, compared to today, were
'Very green" in knowing how to fully utilise the advantages of manned
models; however we were all experienced mariners, and we did learn
quickly. But what made the Course so successful was the attitude of the
Mariners on Course - they all seemed to strike the right balance
between serious concentration and practical enjoyment.
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