Rhederi M. Jebsen
China Trader "Emma Jebsen" - 12
More about people and life onboard -
Christmas 1976
"Emma Jebsen's" two youngest "crew" members - -
1977-01-001 - All sailors should have their own rabbit, - of course Here Chief Engineer Verner Mullman with his personnal rabbit, - jan. 1977 - (Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)
A great shot of Chief Engineer Verner Mullmann - in his usual great mood - - -
But also a little bit sad to remember, because verner too - is not with us anymore - - RIP Verner - -
I served together with Verner for several years onboard "M/S "Emma Jebsen" which was our permanent ship, - and it started already during the construction in the Nobiskrug ship yard in Rendsburg - Germany - where Verner was Jebsen's representative during the building process, - and I served as Verners assistent - - -
And that co-operation continued until I stopped my employment with Jebsen! Not because I was not happy or NOT satisfied - on the contrary -, but the company sold more and more ships, and at the end of my employment with Jebsen, they only had three ships left! And NO newbuildings was in the pipeline!
And having too many Chief Engineers and too few ships, I realized that I could most likely not be appointed permanent Chief Engineer - - - -
That's why I looked to USA, where an upcoming company looked for people that copuld handle diesel engines, - and about a month later I was Chief Engineer - and earned lots of dollars - and I almost became half an american the next more than 25 years - -
But I often thought about Verner - and I wanted to visit him one day when I was home for vacation, but I allways postponed the project to next time - and next time again - - - -
But then I heard that Verner had actually left his body - and gone to the other side - so I could forget everything about visiting him - - - I was too late - - - And I was sad, - very sad - - -
RIP Verner - you were the BEST - - -
Just a funny episode about Verner - - -
One day he called me up from the engine room to his cabin!
What's up now??? Did I do something wrong with the engine???
No, - nothing like that! He had been ashore and bought canvas, - a frame on which the canvas was going to be mounted, - oil paint - many different colours, - and brushes for oil painting - - -
He knew that I worked as an artist in my free time, - and now he would see if he had any talent in that field - - - He simply asked me how to do?
I had to disappoint Verner with the fact, that if he had no talent, he would not be able to create art - - - He HAD to have this gift of nature before he could be a new Rembrandt or Gauguin - - -
Then he said: OK - show me how to do - - -
Yes, - no problem - so I showed him how to suspend and fasten the canvas over the frame and how to tighten the canvas afterwards with smaal vedges - - -
I showed him how to prepare everything - and also to use thinner for the paint - - -
But I understood from Verner that now he wanted ME to paint a painting - - -
Well - I had no motive, no inspiration and no time - - - - I had an engine room full of people to take care of - - - I could not just start painting a painting - - - ?????
But he insisted - so out of the blue, - without inspiration, - with no motive, I painted a fishing boat in high seas - - -
And Verner was delighted - NOW he knew how to paint - and I could go down to my people in the engine room again - - -
If Verner ever painted a painting of his own - I do not know, - and also I do not know what happened to the "masterpiece", - I painted in his cabin - - -
But fun to think of - - - yes Verner, - I miss you - - - RIP
1977-01-006 - However, - the true ownership of the rabbit is here seriously disputed by youngest crewmember Irene. - (Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)
1977-01-007 - Finally the rabbit is shared, - and harmony is restored - - (Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)
1977-03-100 - Here something different, - gambling in the crew's mess. Chan Lap Chung in the process of "skinning" the deck crew! (When they could not pay, Chan Lap Chung would take them to the engine room to work their debt off by cleaning and polishing!) - (Photography by Karsten Petersen ©)
Duty Officer Birger Hauerslev fending off a massive kung-fu attack by Crew Cook Leung Chi Man. - (Photographed onboard "Emma Jebsen" in 1974)
Don't you NEVER, EVER do it again!!!!! Photographed onboard "Emma Jebsen" in 1974 - (Photography by Karsten Petersen)
M/S "Emma Jebsen" - Relaxing in the Officer's day room. Coffeee break I think -
Sitting in front, - reading -, 2nd. Engineer Erik. Sitting at table to the left, - one of the mates, - Erling -, and sitting behind to the left, - the Webmaster, 1st. Engineer Karsten Petersen -, - and finally behind to the right, the Radio Officer Jørgen - - -
M/S "Emma Jebsen" Officer's eating something on the recreational deck -
Left to right: 1st. Mate Niels Rasmussen, - 1st. Enginer Karsten Petersen (The webmaster), - and to the right 3rd. Engineer John Peter Moeller.
The two fierce looking dogs are the property of the Danish Consul General of the Philippines, who joined us on a trip between Manila and Hong Kong.