It's not that I exactly went to sea, but for the first 12 years of my working life and for the last 12 years of their existence, I worked for Vosper Thorneycroft Ship Repairers and had plenty of experience of regular annual refits of:
- The original Canberra, Oriana, QE2;
- Red Funnel: Complete Tug fleet 1974 - 1986; all Ferries 1974 - 1986;
- British Rail/White Link: All Ferries 1974 - 1986;
- Mothball Fleet (Hythe); Floating Cranes; Floating Workshop;
- Plus loads of others I can't remember all the names of (RFA's, Dredgers, Floating Cranes, ice breakers) even the Gas rig that was in Southampton for a couple of years
- I also spent 2 years building Mk 10 Frigates (Engine room, Shafting & Propellers)
During all of this I worked in no's 4,6,7 dry docks.