Rotterdam port strike 1973
The various PONL-related facebook groups are great for keeping everyone in touch and people's recollections from the past are fascinating. The following is an excellent example which was posted on the Facebook P&O Nedlloyd Friends group and which we reproduce here with the kind permission of the author, John Selsig:
To my own surprise I found a ” historic historic” picture which must have been taken in the mid 70’s at the wooden cabins at the Unitcentre Waalhaven Pier 7 Terminal Rotterdam. The terminal was actually a previous coal terminal and at the beginning of the Trio consortium started there 50% was still coal. I still know the staff from L to R, Aad Koolaard, Bert Nijman, Rina Veen, Klaske Bosschaert, myself and fhe late Henk Nolte.
What a team and teamspirit, yes it brings back memories.
The Rotterdam Port Strike 1979 which lasted nearly 2 months which sometimes was a bit “ stressfull ” as striking labour intimidated fhe Unitcentre labour also to strike.
Also do not forget the times that the offices upon opening were filled with millions of “ longhorn beetles” which were ” flying over” from bulkcarriers discharging grain by floating grain elevators in the middle of the Waalhaven.
In those days the OCL vessels always arrived in the weekend as in Hamburg/Bremerhaven working 24/7 was not done.
Also at that time the ships usually remained from 24-36 hours in Port in order to handle say 800-1000 moves, which enabled some of the crew to visit the famous ” Monkey Bar” at Heyplaat.
To be honest the Spare Ribs were terrific.
With many thanks to John Selsig for permission to use this story and his photograph here.
25/11/2021
If you have a story from your time with the company that you would like to share then please contact ponlheritage@gmail.com.