This is an extract from Tales from the Sea an autobiographical novel by Eddie Gubbins which charts his time at sea in the 1960's.
“ The sun, low down to the east, was shining from
a clear blue sky that day,” he said in a quiet voice. “
Hardly a ripple disturbed the water of the bay. To the
starboard of the San Fernando, lying at anchor off the
small oil terminal on the island, were the golden sands
of a beach. In Britain, on a day like this, such a beach
would be crowded. That morning it was almost empty.
Arcing around the bay, green jungle and forest climbed
steeply from the sand towards the ridge of a line of
hills.”
“ Directly shoreward from the ship, a jetty pushed
incongruously out of the jungle into the clear blue water,
the piles holding up the decking, grey and weather
beaten. Forming a tee at the end of the jetty was a berth
occupied by some brightly coloured but rust streaked
fishing boats and three navy patrol vessels. Hanging
from a metal structure on the jetty were a couple of
black rubber pipes connected to two silver pipelines
marching shore wards and disappearing into the jungle.
In the distance, half shrouded by trees, the tops of
several silver tanks shone dully in the sunshine.”
All this I took in at a glance as I came out of the
accommodation dressed in a pair of shorts and flip
flops,” he went on. “ In my hand, I carried a mug of
coffee. Standing by the rail, I breathed deeply of the
warm, fragrant air. The almost empty golden beach
invited me to spend a lazy day lying in the sun and
doing nothing. Away towards one end of the beach, a
few fishermen were tending their nets by their fishing
canoes.
“ This is, I thought, a perfect morning.”
“ It was early and, as I stood looking out over the
bay and the island, the ship’s crew were just stirring
around me. The bosun, his shorts and tee shirt
emphasising his wiry frame and tanned skin, waved as
he hurried by on his way to the bridge to get his daily
orders from the Chief Officer. The overweight chief
steward staggered, with an armful of towels and boxes
of soap, towards the mid ships accommodation where I
stood. He stopped to wipe his sweaty face with a large
white handkerchief, before disappearing through a door.
The lookout sailor remarked what a beautiful day as he
walked jauntily aft from the focastle to get his breakfast.
Just a normal morning with the ship at anchor waiting
for the berth to clear before docking and discharging its
cargo.”
“ While I slowly drank my coffee, I was gazing
out to sea through the mouth of the bay watching the
small waves break on the rocks near the headland.
Abstrusely, I noticed two black dots approaching low
over the water. Then, born on the slight breeze, I heard
the faint sound of aircraft engines. Before long, it
possible to make out the outlines of two single engined
planes. Curiously, I watched as the planes rushed
towards the bay wondering what they were looking for.
As far as I knew there wasn’t any oil under the sea near
this island. Therefore I reasoned, they could not be
surveying the seabed. Then they banked steeply left and
climbed over the jungle clad hills ahead of the ship.
Very soon, they disappeared from my view.”
“ Having finished my coffee, I was just about to
return to my cabin to dress properly for breakfast, when
I heard the planes approaching from the landward side
of the ship. Inquisitively, I strolled across the deck to the
other side of the ship to take a look at what the planes
were doing.”
He paused and took a long drink of his beer. “
One behind the other, the two planes were diving down
the slope just above the trees and heading straight for
the tanker. It was just as I had seen in a dozen war
movies as the Japanese planes attacked the American
fleet. I wondered idly if they were filming a scene from
a movie.”
“ When it was above the beach, the lead plane
levelled out and headed straight for the ship across the
blue water of the bay. I watched transfixed as a black
object detached itself from the underside of the plane. It
fell slowly in the direction of the after deck. Suddenly I
realised it was going to hit the ship. In a panic, I dived
for cover behind the bulwark.”
“ There was an almighty bang and the ship
shuddered as though it had run full speed into a very big
wave. The stays on the mast and the wireless arial
twanged. Diesel oil spattered the accommodation from
the geyser which exploded from the damaged deck.
Pieces of metal splashed into the sea. Over everything
was the sound of hissing as steam escaped from
fractured pipes. All over the tanker, alarm bells were
ringing and hooters wailing.”
I noticed he was sweating profusely and his hands
were shaking such that he gripped his glass tightly “
Nervously, I lifted my head above the bulwark and
risked a look. I was in time to see the first plane wheel
away, rushing out to sea and climbing into the cloudless
sky with its engine screaming. “
“ Turning back, I saw a black object fall from the
second plane. Once more I flung myself for cover
behind the oil streaked bulwark There was another ear
splitting bang. The shuddering and shaking of the ship
was followed by the screaming of fractured steel. The
second plane headed out to sea, rushing after the first.”
“ Except for the ringing in my ears, all sound had
gone. Then there was the grating of steel plates twisting
apart, steam whistling from holes in the pipes and the
splash of oil landing back onto the deck. What had
happened was so fantastic, it was unbelievable. A tanker
innocently anchored in a sun brushed bay being bombed
in broad daylight in peacetime. It could not be true but I
only had to look around the deck to understood that it
had taken place.”
“ Cautiously, I climbed to my feet and looked
over the bulwark. Oil was bubbling out of the holes in
the deck but no longer shooting skyward. At first, I
thought my eyes were playing tricks for it appeared the
ship was bending in the middle. Yes, I told myself on
closer inspection, the aft end is higher than the centre.
The funnel looked as though it was slowly falling
towards the main deck such was its angle to the vertical.
At the same time, the ship was settling deeper into the
water.”
“ Shaking my head to clear the ringing in my ears,
I did not have time to think too much about that had
happened. Looking up, I spotted Captain Ruddock on
the boat deck above my head staring aft at the buckled
deck and the funnel bending towards him. His face was
white which matched the knuckles of his hands gripping
the rail so tightly I thought he was going to snap it away
from its anchor points. As though he could not believe
what he was seeing, his eyes were staring in horror at
the after deck and his mouth was hanging open.
Incongruously, I noticed white shaving foam still
clinging to his chin.”
“ Spotting me on the deck below, he demanded in
a hoarse voice. ‘ What happened?’”
“ ‘Two planes came over and dropped bombs on
us,’ I answered bluntly still too much in shock to be
diplomatic.”
“ ‘Whatever for?’ he muttered more to himself
than me. ‘ Those bloody rebels, I suppose.’ ”
“ Then pulling his shoulders straight, closing his
mouth and wiping the shaving foam on the towel he
held in his hand, he was the Captain of the San
Fernando again.”
“ ‘ Run up to the bridge and get the Chief Officer
to sound boat stations. Remind him to get the radio
officer to send out an SOS. After you have done that,
meet me in my cabin.’ His order was crisp and firm.”
“ Other crew members were pouring out of the
accommodation both amidships and aft calling out in
alarm. They were dressed in a variety of clothing, many
having that minute risen from their bunks. Alarm bells
started sounding the long pulses that told the crew to
assemble near the lifeboats. Looking rather confused
and scared, the crew started to make their way to the
boat decks.”
“ As I raced up to the bridge, Captain Ruddock
was already issuing orders to organise the crew. When I
arrived breathless in the wheelhouse, I found the Chief
Officer and the bosun staring aft and issuing orders over
the emergency phone.”
“ ‘ The Old Man orders everybody to muster by
the lifeboats,’ I shouted as I rushed through the bridge to
the stairs leading to the Captain’s cabin. ‘ He says to
make sure that the radio officer sends out a mayday or
SOS.’ ”
“ ‘ Where are you off to?’ the Chief Officer
demanded harshly. ‘ I need you here with me.’ ”
“ ‘ I have to help the Captain.’ I replied.”
“ ‘ Make sure the radio officer has sent out an
SOS as you pass his office,’ he shouted after me.”
“ Stopping by the radio office, the radio officer
assured me that he had sent out an SOS in answer to my
question.”
“ Leaving the radio officer waiting for a reply to
his SOS, I raced down the stairs to the Captain’s
accommodation. Loudly above the sound of the alarms
and the noise of creaking metal plates, I knocked on the
door of the Captain’s cabin. When bidden to enter, I
found Captain Ruddock on his knees, dressed in his
uniform and stuffing papers from the ship’s safe into
two brief cases.”
“ ‘ Everybody is mustering and getting into the
lifeboats, sir,’ I said rather breathlessly. ‘ The radio
officer has sent out an SOS and is waiting to see if there
are any replies before going to his boat station. He has
the emergency radio ready for use in the lifeboat.’ ”
“ Captain Ruddock smiled slightly. ‘ Good work.
You are to take one of these brief cases up to the bridge.
I will bring the other. Try to make sure it stays with you
no matter what happens. It contains copies of all the
ships papers and records. I have the originals. Between
us we should be able to make sure that these are taken
ashore and saved.’ ”
“ Taking the brief case from the Captain, I ran
down the stairs to my cabin. On the way my shoulders
banged painfully into a bulkhead as the ship took a lurch
but I ignored the pain. When I got to my cabin, I
quickly dressed in my uniform ignoring the shuddering
and bucking of the ship and the groaning of the plates. I
shoved my personal effects, my discharge book, identity
book, photos, letters and money into a bag I kept for this
purpose. Some of the other cadets during my time at sea
had scoffed at my caution but it was vindicated now.
Slinging this over my shoulder, I raced back up the
stairs to the bridge still clutching the briefcase with
copies of the ship’s papers.”
“ On reaching the wheelhouse, panting from
running on a heaving and vibrating deck, I saw Captain
Ruddock standing on the bridge wing looking aft. By
the time I joined him, the water was lapping over the
main deck and when I looked forward all I could see
was the focastle. Looking back aft, it was as though the
engine room and the accommodation in the stern were
completely cut off from the amidships. The decks were
at crazy angles and the funnel looked as though it might
fall into the water. The four lifeboats were now being
filled with crew under the supervision of the other
officers. Air and oil were bubbling up from the holes in
the tanks spreading a black sheen over the waters
surrounding the ship.”
“ Out of the corner of my eyes, I looked at the
captain not wanting him to feel I was staring. His face
was lined and drawn. To me, he had that broken look of
somebody who had come to accept defeat. Where they
gripped the rail, his hands were shaking. His shoulders
slumped as though he had aged considerably in a short
time.”
“ Seeing me for the first time since I arrived on
the bridge as ordered, he nodded. ‘ You had better get
down to your lifeboat.’ ”
“ ‘ What about you?’ I asked even though I knew
the answer.”
“ ‘ There is a life raft at the end of the bridge. I
intend to stay here until just before the bridge goes
under.’ He laughed sadly. ‘ Actually, unless the ship
capsizes, I think she will ground before the water
reaches the bridge. There was only twenty feet below
the keel when we anchored, so when it settles on the
bottom, the top of the accommodation should remain
above the water. Go on. Go for your lifeboat. I can see
the third mate is waiting for you.’ ”
“ ‘ If it is all right with you, I would like to stay.’
I never understood what made me say that but it
appeared to help the Captain.”
“ Captain Ruddock put his arm round my
shoulder and squeezed. ‘ Thank you. You have to have
some sympathy with the ones who ordered this. Up in
those hills some men are fighting the central
government for some measure of autonomy.’ ”
“ ‘ Why bomb us?’ I was curious.”
“ ‘ They see this ship as a part of the government
machine. Again I suppose they are partly right. Some of
the oil we are delivering will be used in the army’s
trucks and equipment. Therefore, to them, we are
helping the government suppress the rebels. In these
situations, young man, there are no grey areas. To the
rebels, those not helping them are their enemies and fair
game for assault. I am afraid we have been caught in the
middle. I must say that was some precision bombing
from a small plane. The pilots must have been skilled.
As far as all the reports to me have indicated, nobody on
the ship was really hurt.’ ”
“ He waved the last lifeboat away commanded by
the Third Mate. I have to admit as the lifeboat moved
away from the ship and deck under our feet bucked and
shuddered, I was more frightened than I would ever
admit to anybody. Despite my fear, there was no way in
which I could have left this vulnerable man on his own.”
“ The Captain and I stood and watched as the
lifeboats pulled away from the sinking ship. Two patrol
boats had left the jetty and were racing in our direction.
Once again my heart stopped as we felt the grinding of
broken plates beneath our feet. At one time, we had to
cling to the bridge rail as the ship lurched and heeled
over to starboard.”
“ The water was steadily climbing up the
structure, level now with the main accommodation deck.
There was a groan and a long hiss as though an old lady
had lowered herself painfully into a chair. The bridge
rocked and swayed. The Captain and I saw the stern
twist and then settle. The tanker heeled over to port.
With a whoosh, the remaining air bubbled from the
superstructure in a rush. Then there was silence. Even
the hiss of escaping steam had ceased. With a lurch, the
ship was still.”
“ The water was now level with the boat deck and
the oil sheen spreading out from the ship into the clear
waters of the bay look thick and ugly.”
Captain Ruddock turned to me and said, ‘ Thank
you for staying with me.’ ”
“ We walked down the twisted stairs together to
the boat deck below the bridge carrying the ships
papers, my personal belongings and the Captain's bag.
By the time we arrived, a patrol boat was alongside the
boat deck waiting. I stepped aboard, helped by the crew.
The Captain took one last look round his command and
stepped aboard after me, leaving his ship to the mercy of
the elements.”
Tales From The Sea by Eddie Gubbins is available from Amazon and www.createspace.com as a paperback. From Kindle and Amazon for downloading as an ebook.