We completed loading at Liverpool and sailed 22^nd March 1956 to Australia via Suez. Very stormy weather prevented chippy sounding bilges until we had left Biscay behind and turned the corner into the Mediterranean  even then it was quite rough and we were still rolling a lot.
Chippy then reported that No.7 hold was flooded to sea level! All attempts to pump the bilges were unsuccessful the suction blocking in the hold, the Chief Engineer Charlie Marachel had an idea that the emergency fire pump suction pipe, which went by way of the hold, was leaking and ordered it to be closed. He then got me to drill a 3/4" hole through the bottom of the hold from the propeller tunnel, using a ratchet drill, in the hope that the water could be drained into the stern gland bilge and then pumped out, more holes being drilled if necessary (some hope!). However this proved to be impractical as the hole blocked up within a very short time.

We therefore arrived at Suez and anchored for 10 days whist the hold was pumped out and cleaned. What a mess from burst drums of oil and catalyst, not to mention smashed dunnage. It was then found that the emergency fire pump suction foot valve in the hold had been frost-damaged during the survey at Antwerp, and due to the fact that the pump suction valve in the propeller tunnel had remained closed during loading, it had not been detected before we sailed.
This was at a time when Nasser was threatening to nationalise the canal and the last British troops were leaving the canal zone. Three armed police were placed on board and we were only allowed off for one day after purchasing a pass, which was confiscated when we returned on board!
On the passage through the canal at night we had to tie up for a time, blacked out, whilst the Egyptians had a practice air raid warning.
During our trip ashore I took a photograph of the J/3E. having his shoes polished, only to be chased down the street by the polisher waving a 6" knife and threatening to cut my throat for taking his photograph, luckily in those days I was a good runner!

We left Geelong after dinner on a very dark night with patchy fog and poor visibility. The pilot was navigating the ship in Geelong Bay when Captain Bob White realised that he had made an error and countermanded the pilots orders, just too late to prevent the ship bottoming on the mud approx 1/2 mile off the cliffs at Clifton Springs.
The tide was dropping fast and it was decided to wait until the morning tide before attempting to re-float with the assistance of three tugs.
However even with full power astern and the efforts of the tugs she remained fast in the mud. We had full power astern for 30 minutes and the Astern Turbine in the L.P. Turbine casing had never been so hot from superheated steam ,and the oil impregnated lagging near the bearing caught fire!! the S/3E. soon put it out with an extinguisher.
A diver was sent down to do a full inspection and he reported that no damage was done to the hull but that we were very fortunate as there were rocks approx.100 yds ahead of the bow.
It was decided to lighten ship and try again at the next high tide in 10 days time. Cargo was therefore discharged into lighters and fuel oil pumped into an oil barge to lighten the ship by approx 3,000 tons. Four tugs were used for the next attempt and the Stbd. anchor was taken aft by one of the tugs to use as a kedge anchor. Soon after getting the telegraph for astern we slid off by way of the channel that had formed in the mud as we grounded.
On arrival at Melbourne a Royal navy ship that was in port signalled a Bible reference by signal lamp, which when checked read "And when they saw the Star there was great rejoicing".
Later rumours suggested that the pilot was under the influence of alcohol when he came aboard. About a fortnight later he was reported to have touched bottom when piloting the Orient Line Orsova and was sacked!

The narrow gauge railway is the railway used to transport the Meat and Wharfies (dead and live meat!) from Rockhampton. To the right of the railway can be seen the Bunkhouse where the Wharfies used to stay for their stint at Port Alma, whist to the left can be seen the Catering/Canteen buildings. This was where if you were lucky you could purchase a cold drink from a Paraffin Fired Absorption type Refrigerator, I think that this must have been unique to Australia as I have never seen a paraffin fired one since, (eat your heart out British Gas).

The mudflats shown in the other photograph was used to stage a football match between the Deck plus Engineer Officers versus the rest of the crew, after Chippie had made and erected a set of goal posts.

Not a very good idea really!,  we retired back on board bruised and battered after the game was abandoned when the ball burst, thankfully!