Back in the late '70's I was a jr Deck Officer on a US Lines containership running between the East Coast and Northern Europe (France, Holland, Germany & Britian). From appearances this was a highly desireable job, couldn't understand how I, a fellow w/very little seniority, was able to snag it at the union hall. All those ahead of me on the shipping list passed on it. Oh well, Gift Horse, etc.
I found out in a hurry upon reporting to the ship what the those in the union hall already knew. The Capt is the nastiest man I ever worked for, one of the few human beings I've met and view as truely evil. He was highly intelligent, very perceptive, and surgical in his ability to hurt people. Knew right where to stick the needle.
I was pretty green, a few trips under my belt. This Old Man had a field day playing w/me, I didn't eat, sleep or s--- right for the month I was on the ship. He'd come up to the wheelhouse on my watches and terrorize me.
One of the sailors who worked for me, Jimmy, was mentally challenged. Real sweet guy, would help anyone out, just wanted to be liked. During the McCarthy era the Maritime industry got caught up in the witch hunt. Jimmy, in trying to "please" some lady, went to the wrong kind of political meeting and signed some piece of paper, found himself in hot water. As a result his Merchant Mariner credential had a notation limiting him to working certain types of ships. Although that had been removed he still carried that document and was quite proud of it. Anyway, the Old Man would come up to the wheelhouse and "play" w/Jimmy. He'd chat w/him, smiling, pleasant voice, but would be saying things that in reality were making fun of him but going over his head. Jimmy would be smiling, happy that this person liked him and was being nice. The Old Man would be casting glances my way to see that I was catching how clever he was making this man look stupid. It's one of the sickest things I've seen. I could go on at great length about the Capt but that's not what this is about.
We got to the other side of the Atlantic, just below England, along her South coast we picked up a North Sea Pilot. These pilots come aboard a ship and guide it through the English Channel and North Sea working alongside the Watch Officers as a rule. They're experts in the area, have local knowledge of the area's hazards, traffic, regulations… They're not required like Harbor Pilots or Panama Canal Pilots, though the ship could possibly get a break on insurance. Anyway our pilot was this Brit in his 60's, Capt Pitt. The stereotypical English gentleman, understated, soft spoken, calm…
Our ship Capt just had to start f'ing w/Capt Pitt. I was embarrassed being there, Pilots are entitled to the same respect that Captains get in the Merchent Marine. Capt Pitt just ignored all the BS coming his way, conned the ship up through the Channel w/minimal fanfare, a real Pro. I chatted w/him, his back ground was incredible. Had been a harbor pilot in numerous ports of the old British Empire all over the world, retired as Capt of Supertanker and was now doing a few of these pilot jobs each month in semi-retirement.
Off the Normandy coast, the ship Capt came up to the wheelhouse and made a lot of noise how he was on a Liberty ship during the invasion. He then asked Capt Pitt what he thought of that, he responded in typical Brit fashion "That's rather interesting."
Ship Capt's response was to ask if Capt Pitt had made "that show", Capt Pitt replied "no, I'm afraid I wasn't able to make that one, I was elsewhere."
Ship Capt sensing a weakness asked "Really, where were you?" as if he was a slacker.
To the day I die I'll never forget this reply, it was priceless. Capt Pitt looked our Capt directly in the eye and in a soft voice that required the listener to focus, Pitt said "I was conning (piloting) ships in and out of Malta."
FYI, During WWll the Italians and Germans bombed Malta into the stoneage, people were living underground. It held.
Shortly before getting back to the East Coast the Purser asked me if I was making next trip, I replied no. Next thing the Old Man is knocking on my door. Asks me about next trip, I try to be respectful, say the Holidays coming up and family etc. He's persistant, possibility of promotion….. The next thing that happened was big for this 24yo. I'd spent 4yrs being trained at a military academy and was programmed that the Capt was GOD. This guy persisted, I looked him in the eye and said that it didn't seem like he was *#%$ing getting this, I never wanted to work w/him again. Ididn't.
Over the next several years I had the pleasure of working w/Capt Pitt a few times. When I brought up that particular Capt Pitt replied "He was a rather unpleasant fellow now, wasn't he?"
My description of him was more along the lines of Satan reincarnated.
One of our Capts became friends w/Pitt, they and their families visited each other.
Watched a WWll movie today about Malta, brought the above to mind.
Kevin G
Capt Pitt, A Sea Story
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