When I was going to sea in the early 50s one trip was from Cardiff UK to Wabana Belle Iles New Foundland for a cargo of iron ore, the ship was a regular merchantman, steam compound, up and down job. We sailed light ship meaning no solid ballast just salt water so she rode high in the water. The route was North Atlantic and the weather was bad, prop out of the water about half the time. One day off the coast of southern Ireland steaming 26 miles in 24 hours, next day lost milage, pushed back 2 miles. One day the radio fell off a shelf in the captain's cabin, he called the bridge and asked who was at the wheel (steering ship) it was an AB, Able Seaman, he was put on Forecastle Watch for the rest of the trip, and back, so as he was facing the storm, really wet and cold. At Wabana when loading ore is so heavy the ship had to be moved a number of times between the holds while loading so as not to break her back. The deck crew was talking about on the return trip, the danger if the ship had no water under midships owing to the storms, her back could be broken, however now she was low in the water even in the storm it would be doubtful if it happened. She still bounced around a lot but we arrived back OK, the food was poor even for British so I bought a carton of Cadbury's chocolate and eat the lot. Although we were in rough weather for 18 days and just docked for 8 hours no one aboard was sea sick, I always enjoyed bad weather as I was a coal burning fireman and the engine would be turning at fewer RPMs and that would make a big difference, so it was easy firing under those conditions. Not to forget sleep was so peaceful.
Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
