Maritime History

Arne Pyson

I was on board the M.S. "Prins Albert" as crew  from 1967 till 1970 as a steward on the Oostende-Dover line. I was 15 years old when my father died, so I had to stop my schooling and get to work. Here on the Oostende-Dover line I started on June 1st. 1967 as a commissary in 2nd Class. I served also as a restaurant steward in the1st. class Bar and as a Cabin-steward.

1970 I have to do my army service for 15 month.

 When I come back to civilian live, I return again to the ferry line and served on all the other ships till the line was stopped in 1997. In 1994 I become Chef-steward and in 1995 Business Unit Manager in the catering companies.
On the Prins Albert the restaurant 1st. Class was in the front (down below deck) The 1st. class Bar  was in front of the ship, with the windows on the bow, the 2nd. class Bar was midships and aft there was the 2nd. class restaurant, becoming later a small self service area, were they served coffee, tea and sandwiches. In the front opposite the 1st. class bar there were two first class cabins, midships the other 2nd. class cabins on the promenade deck.

The 'Prins Albert' was a very fast ship. I remember that we do from Folkestone to Oostende (normal 3 1/2 hour crossing) leaving Folkestone at 09h00 we arrived at Oostende at 11h55 -IN LESS THAN 3 HOURS !! On bord was a memorial, telling the "Lucky Albert" story from World War Two.

I most tell a joke about what the crewmembers do:
In the  front of the restaurant was a figure in dark wood carving, a nude female figure, with on the one side, Oostende on the other side Dover and between this, lunging down, this nude female symbol of a mermaid.
Some of the crewmembers cut a bit of hair from a brush and stuck at with glue between the legs of the female figure. It stayed for about 2 weeks while the passengers have there meal in the restaurant and nobody noticed. This wooden statue is now in the Belgian National Maritime Museum in Antwerp. (without the hair of course............)

Arne's Father

My father was in the Ostend-Dover line service from 1936 till 1964 as a steward and he sailed on all the vessels. During the war he was in the armed resistance and captured by the Gestapo in 1944 and put on transport to Germany. He was 13 months a political prisoner in the concentration camp of DACHAU, and was liberated by US Troops in April 29^th. 1945.

 He had a Norwegian friend in the camp (Arne) who was hanged by the SS. That’s how my name (ARNE) comes from;

Photograph©Arne Pyson. Text as received

Note: Along the way I have come to know many people, some I have yet to meet. Arne is one of these people and we have exchanged photographs and emails on the subject of these ships.