Michael Wilson
Michael belongs to: The Doxford Engine Friends Association
Michael was born in West Sussex and went to school in London. He came to the North East to study at South Shields Marine College. He is an engineer in the merchant navy.
Michael was interviewed by Carl Greenwood on 26 January 2006. The interview took place at Sunderland Museum and lasted 25 minutes and 9 seconds.
Decline of the British shipping industry
"One of the things that is happening within the industry is the demise of the British seafarer"
One of the things that is happening within the industry is the demise of the British seafarer and within probably ten years, nobody is going to employ British seafarers because we’re going to be far to expensive to operate, and that is one of things that’s happening. And as I say, the third world countries, or Eastern bloc countries are now taking over our jobs and being paid far less for it. But for how long I don’t know- up until the ship owner gets sick and tired of them and then they’ll go somewhere else where it’s cheaper, so it’s really driven by market forces but there isn’t going to be a British merchant navy- we’re very much a dying breed.
Michael has 16 memories in the memorynet:
Training and apprenticeship- Following his father to sea
- First voyage and New York
- Changes in the merchant navy
- Leisure time and crew sizes
- Living conditions in the merchant navy
- Communication from sea
- Safety at sea
- Meeting George Gardner in Shanghai
- Joining the Doxford Engine Friends Association
- Decline of the British shipping industry
The Doxford engine at South Shields College- Students at South Shields College
- Apprenticeship agreement
- Photograph of michael
- Continuous Certificate of Discharge
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