As young boys interested in ships, both Gordon Hislip
and Justin Merrigan spent their school holidays and weekends marvelling at
the busy shore activity that saw the St Columba and her fleet mates
sailing in and out of Dun Laoghaire,
Their interest was noted by many Sealink staff at the port who allowed
them to view the ship operations at close quarters, but it was
particularly recognised by Mr Tony Mullen, one of the dedicated
Piermasters in charge of Sealink's shore operations at the port.
For Gordon and Justin, Tony’s enthusiasm and encouragement proved a
turning point in both their personal and professional lives, each gaining
a true friend and mentor.
Justin clearly recalls the day he first met Tony, when he was introduced
to ‘the new Piermaster’ by Piermaster Jim Halpin, following the retirement
of the then Senior Piermaster, Paddy Hickey. An immediate friendship was
struck up as Jim joked ‘sure Justin’ll show you around’!
At some point after Tony’s debut as Piermaster, Gordon arrived on the
scene and Tony quickly and readily provided to him an insight into the
workings of a ferry port and to see at first hand all of the operations
involved in handling the Sealink vessels in a time when duty free travel
was in its heyday, foot passengers travelled in their hundreds and more,
and the only viable route to the UK and beyond was by ferry. Justin well
recalls Tony telling him about this ‘great young lad’ who he should meet
and in due course the introduction was made and a new and lasting
friendship began.
During visits to the port along with Tony, his fellow Piermasters and all
of the team, both gained a thorough appreciation of all that was involved
in the discharge and loading of vessels, the critical nature of timing
activities correctly and ensuring that the people in the operation ashore
and afloat played their part in a professional and punctual manner. The
end result of what could in busy times appear as chaotic, was that
passengers, cars and freight were seen through the port efficiently and
safely to board the ships or travel on to their destinations.
Both were also fortunate to meet many of the Sealink deck officers and
masters in the course of visiting the pier with Tony. This fostered their
interest in the ships and led to many privileged crossings on the bridge
with the most professional of seafarers, and a lasting connection and
friendship with those who crew the Holyhead ships - some remaining in
command of the HSS Stena Explorer and the mighty Stena Adventurer to this
day.
Tony had a very obvious love for the literary world and he loved nothing
more than to browse the shelves of Dublin’s fine bookshops. No surprise
then that on seeing in Justin a desire to write about ships and shipping
he persisted in encouraging him to produce a book and, when offered the
chance, to take up writing in the well known magazine Sea Breezes. This
Justin did and it was a great personal joy for him to be able to dedicate
his 1995 book detailing the history of the Fishguard – Rosslare service to
Tony.
In Tony's inimitable style and sometimes unconventional wit, both boys
could see the true value of a positive personal approach in dealing with
staff and customers alike through the good times and the bad, but always
with the motive of looking after people.
He would often laugh heartily if someone didn't quite see eye to eye with
his approach in times of frustration. Fundamentally, in his future career,
Gordon appreciated Tony’s example of the need for a sense of humour in a
tough business! In times of delay or service disruption he used to say
that freight was great as "the freight doesn't talk back to you". Gordon
however, could never quite agree with him on that one!
Upon every arrival, Tony would be straight up to the gangway, helping
passengers down the slope, greeting them almost individually and sending
them quickly on their way – wonderful stuff!
And before the ship sailed, high up on the bridge of the ship, who will
ever forget the familiar sight of Tony, ship's papers in arm, striding
purposefully across the causeway in all weathers to personally hand them
over to the loading officer?
Gordon and Justin clearly remember a very genuine sense
of pride in Tony, job done, standing on the quayside underneath the bridge
wing while ropes were cast off as the master would shout down through
cupped hands "right time". It was a measure of the high personal regard
the masters all had for Tony that this was usually the call even if
letting go a couple of minutes late after a troubled turnaround! Anything
less would result in a few choice words muttered under his breath as he
walked away having seen the ship safely off the wall.
It always seemed unfair that Tony would always seem to
end up working late on Christmas Eve. It was of course simply the way the
roster rotation fell, but almost without fail it would coincide with some
of the worst weather of the winter and delayed or even cancelled sailings.
Justin clearly remembers keeping Tony company in the Piermaster’s office
on the end of the Carlisle Pier on three Christmas Eves in succession,
identifying bus companies in the Yellow Pages who might be willing to meet
the heavily delayed inward ship and take weary and sea sick passengers to
their country destinations long after the last scheduled trains had
departed. To many, Justin is sure; he was a saint – if only the passengers
knew of his efforts.
At the time the Piermaster/Duty Manager would regularly update the
recorded information phone service for passengers wishing to check the
status of sailings at the port. While such services can often sound bland
and rehearsed, Tony’s updates were characterised by a real sense of what
was going on and one could appreciate when all was not well by the tone of
the recording. A ship delayed by rough weather would be “cleared, cleaned
and depart as soon as possible”.
Gordon and Justin both recall Tony’s advice for cancellations involving
transfers to other ports “ring the railway stations, bus companies and
every taxi driver in the book if you can – at least if they won’t come
here to find no ship and they will still be on their way”. And they always
remembered and appreciated Tony’s sound customer service ethic in dealing
with an irate customer “let them sound off, then explain what you can do
for them”. This would prove to be particularly useful advice to Justin in
the first year of SuperSeaCat operation between Liverpool and Dublin!
It seemed obvious that Gordon and Justin would make a career for
themselves in the ferry industry and both were privileged to work for the
company under Stena Line ownership, spending some time working with Tony
as part of the team, and both recall him being referred to affectionately
by all simply as “Chief”.
Life is life and both Gordon and Justin would leave Stena for new pastures
and in subsequently coming up through the ranks, albeit under different
flags, Tony's interest in their careers and counsel in difficult times was
always valued. To this day, dealing with demanding port operations, Gordon
sometimes looks at a situation wondering "how would Tony handle this one?"
In Gordon’s case, an opportunity to join P&O Pandoro, and subsequent
promotion to an operations management role with P&O Irish Sea, dealing
with literally hundreds of freight movements every day on the Irish Sea
routes found him haunted by Tony’s possibly inaccurate view of “freight
not talking back” when there were problems! However Tony would regularly
comment to him in a conversation on the fact that “you look busy – sure
that’s great”, as he would see the P&O vessels working on his commute from
Sutton to Dun Laoghaire pier.
When Justin was given the opportunity to work in Dublin Port as Duty
Manager for a new ferry service to Liverpool he had doubts. But Tony said,
‘sure what are you afraid of, I’m here, just ring me if you have any
problems.’ During his last week with Stena Line Justin was rostered with
Tony who made sure he was well prepped for his new role – by having him
perform all Duty Officer tasks for the week. And again in 1999 when Justin
was invited to relocate to Australia with High Speed Craft builder Incat,
Tony was first to comment – ‘get going’!
It is however clear in both of their cases, that what Tony Mullen fostered
in them both would irreversibly change the ferry business for ever,
whether that was for better or for worse is yet to be determined!
Times change and while involvement in port operations has in some respects
sadly lost its personal touch to a degree, the commitment to service
exemplified in people like Tony Mullen and his colleagues is one which
proudly pervades through the business and for what they both learned from
Tony they will always be deeply indebted to him.
After a lengthy career with British Railways, Sealink and Stena Line,
Tony's retirement from the ferry business was sadly to be all too short,
and he passed away following illness.
Missed by his devoted family, friends and former colleagues alike, Tony
will be fondly remembered in many ways. For Gordon and Justin, they have
lost a dear friend who was instrumental in shaping both their career
direction and their approach as human beings, all of which have stood to
them and for which they are truly grateful.
Tony Mullen - May the ships always sail "Right
Time”!
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