THE M.V. DIOMED

The Diomed was built in 1956 by the Caledon Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Limited in Dundee.

Technical Data on Diomed indicates that she was a cargo vessel of 7,980 gross tons with a length overall of 491 feet 6 inches and a cargo capacity of 551,341 cubic feet. Her 6 cylinder, 2 cycle, single-acting diesel engine was turbocharged, and it gave her a service speed of 15 knots.

From her first voyage in 1956, Diomed replaced Calchas as the Company’s designated training ship, and she operated in this role until 1963. The 22 midshipmen carried in Diomed were accommodated in the seamen’s house at the after end of the centrecastle, abaft No. 4 hatch. Training was planned so that, on any one voyage, half the midshipmen were on their first trip on her, and the other half were on their second. There were only 2 professional seamen on board, the Bosun and the Carpenter, and so the midshipmen were responsible for undertaking all the other duties of a normal deck crew. Senior deck crew positions such as Bosun’s Mate, Carpenter’s Mate and Lamptrimmer were allocated to senior midshipmen on merit.

Diomed was not equipped with a schoolroom, nor did she carry a dedicated schoolmaster. Whilst on board Diomed, midshipmen continued to study through a correspondence course, which was designed, administered and assessed by the Company’s training department, and the ship’s officers would offer advice and help if requested to do so.

Photographs and anecdotes are a great way to show that midshipmen not only worked hard but played hard.

Any material that you would like to display would be most gratefully received.

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