PERMISSION GRANTED TO DRINK BEER AT AN AGE OF FIFTEEN:CUBA 1963

ONLY FIFTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND  PERMITTED TO DRINK BEER: CUBA IN 1963

He was only fifteen years of age when he went ashore to make it in Havana,Cuba. The year was 1963. Too young for the hard life at sea, you may say. But he was not too young be served beer in the bars in Havana in 1963. He was not interested in politics at the time but he made his private observations about the conflict between Cuba and the United States. He  appreciated the special service he got at the bars in Havana. Due to the restricted boycott of Cuba launched by the politicians in Washington, the bars in Havana could only sell beers two days a week. But the young Norwegian sailor got beer all the days of the week because he looked so young!

The official relationship between Cuba and the United States was complicated. The Norwegian ship,” M/S Benny Viking ”  was owned by the Norwegian shipowner O.N. Henriksen situated in the city of Risør.

The young sailor had signed on the ship in New York in February 1963. When the ship came closer to Cuba, the sailors on the ship saw American fighters flying very close to  the ship for investigations of the ship. American warships were also observed by the crew as if a stage of war existed between Cuba and the United States. But how was the daily life in Havana at the time in 1963? Relaxed and very nice. I was treated very well, told the former Norwegian sailor, Asbjørn Rueslåtten ,during my conversation with him about Cuba, the war and Fidel Castro. I had a good time,he said.The city of Havana was a peaceful place even if  the American blockade of Cuba had made the daily life for people very difficult.

The Norwegian sailor, Asbjørn Rueslåtten, had joined the sea in 1962.

He signed on the famous Norwegian school ship , Christian Radich, in 1962 for about seven weeks training in seamanship.

He signed on the ship: ”M/S Benny Viking ” in 1963 as a cabin boy or a galley boy. The daily works of the cabin boy was to take part in cooking and cleaning. The crew had to get the  meals served in due time. The ship went on a voyage between the United States, Caribbean and South America. Only fifteen and ready for the life of an adult with permission to drink beer  all the days of the week! The working  hours on the ship were 14 hours a day. He began he work at 0600 and finished at about 1930. Not much time for parties and light entertainment ashore. Cuba was a nice place.People were very kind to the young cabin boy. He loved Havana, Cuba and Fidel Castro. Later on he studied the political situation on Cuba. In year 2017 he is still angry with the Americans who make life so difficult for the ordinary people on Cuba. Fidel Castro is not a target for American political assassination any more. Even during the presidency of the late President  John F. Kennedy , Fidel Castro was a target for  secrets attempts to assassinate him. In 1961, the Minister of Justice, Robert Kennedy initated the ” Operation Mongoose”  to eliminate  the new leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro. The mission failed.

The young Norwegian sailor did not know much about the dramatic political events that took place. But he disliked the close meetings with American fighters  and warships which came too close to the ship.

” M/S Benny Viking ” was a political target for those who were in charge of the blockade of Cuba. The ship was put on a list of ships not wanted for American harbours about 14 days after the visit to Cuba.

What happened to the not wanted ship? The ship got a new name: ” Benny” only. Later the ship was sold to a shipping company in Panama : ” Comp.de Nav. Indian Star Line( Trapani S.R.L) ”. The new name was: ” Stella Oceanica”.

What about the young Nowegian sailor who had a short meeting with ” Castro Cuba” in 1963? He went  on sailing as cabin boy , galley boy and a cook. He went ashore for good at an age of 22.

Cuba, Havana and the exprience with a dramatic political event are memories not forgotten by the sailor, Asbjørn Rueslåtten.

Some memories, souvenirs, from the life at sea.

Asbjørn Rueslåtten passed away on November 5, 2021.

 Asbjørn Rueslåtten was a member of Drammen sjømannsforening situated at the City of Drammen, Norway.

Asbjørn Rueslåtten on the left side of the photo and Tedd

 Urnes on the right of the photo taken during a meeting at the Drammen sjømannsforening, the City of Drammen,Norway.