merchant Navy Apprentice 1951-1955

An account of world wide travel on Tramp and Liner voyages in the 1950's.    Long voyages to many countries and remote locations working and living in basic conditions aboard often old pre war ships with primitive facilities like hand pumped water for washing and drinking.    These were the years before air conditioning and on board bars!     Many of the ships had wood decks  and open rails giving a totally different atmosphere to modern vessels.    Time in port could be weeks or even months.   It was a precious experience, both good and bad, but made nostalgic by the passage of time.