I've only told you a small part of it - was aboard a 100,000 ton LPG tanker which, some two days later ran into a spot of bother when the refrigeration engine ceased to function and me and the rest of the crew were sitting on 100,000 tons of LPG rapidly heating from liquid to gas but with nowhere to expand to.
Captain sent me and another couple of the crew to have a look at the tanks. Gas tanks are held in double skinned flasks, so to inspect you climb down into an enclosed space before opening the inspection hatch. As we did so, we all got a face full of LP gas which caused long term damage to our lungs and on reaching Rotterdam several weeks later we failed our medical exam and that was the end of my naval career. In the meantime, needing repairs and no port facilities available (no port would have us within 100 miles because of the votility of our cargo), we had no choice but to vent the cargo to the air and then ballast with sea water before proceeding on our journey - we were hove - to for four days in mid - atlantic off Namibia venting the tanks.
Yes, in 1969 for two days Had my first draft ale in Dublin! Then on to London...and the continent. Bequia anyone?