I spent 4yrs attending a maritime academy,graduated in the mid-70's w/an unlimited USCG Unlimited 3rd Mates license which said I was qualified to work as a deck officer on ocean going ships.
We were all quite full of ourselves, ready to straighten out the maritime industry and set it right. One instructor, gave us a stern talking to. He was a WWII vet, Capt in his mid-20's, had a couple ships torpedoed from under him, etc,etc, when he spoke I listened. He told us we had the best training available, but when we got out there to keep our mouths shut and listen, everyone had something to offer, be it the messman or the capt. There were plenty of salty adjectives and adverbs in this monologue. Fortunately I heard him.
My first job I find myself as a 3/M on board a then state of the art cargo ship known as a LASH ship, I was in heaven. Art, the other 3/M (there were 2 of us) was a fellow in his early 60's, WWII vintage, had worked his way up from seaman (known as a Hawes-piper) and got his license during the war. His appearance was far from impressive, lacked a few teeth, hard to understand between a southern accent and often a wad of chewing tobacco, the residue of which sometimes ended on his shirt front. Keep in mind it wasn't that long ago I'd marched across the stage in my dress whites to shake the academy Superintendent's hand and get my graduation packet.
I joined the ship in Norfolk Va, next port was in the Med, so had a week passage to get settled down. I was the 12-4 (AM & PM) watch officer (similar to an OOD) on the bridge underway w/3 seaman. My first underway watch, a 00-04, we'd just cleared the coast and traffic when I went to relieve Art who stood 8-12's. He thoroughly brought me up to speed, hung around longer than needed to "chat" before going below. I then looked out into the darkest, loneliest night I'd ever experience. I was running a 900ft ship at about 20kts into the blackness relying on a couple of radars doing collision avoidance w/grease pencil on the screen. Every ghost or false target was a potential collision.
Anyway, Art was a Godsend w/his quiet advice, "I think I might do it this way…" or "Kevin, that ship up to the north needs watching, he might be fixing to turn down here…" it was gentle but priceless. I had a problem w/one of my sailors, an old timer having a bit of fun w/the new 3/M. Before going to the Capt it occurred to me Art might be of assistance. After telling him my problem, he chuckled (this was not a laughing matter to me) and told me Perez was having some fun at my expense then told me how to remedy the situation to end it w/Perez or other sailors who might want to play games
(and gain respect in the process as I later learned although Art failed to mention this key piece).
Eventually we were in the Med running close along the coast in heavy traffic. I came up for my 00-04 watch, Art was quietly conning, bring me up to speed on the situation. I was pretty overwhelmed, we had a major course change coming up within the hour and I just didn't see a solution w/out getting the Capt up for help. Art kept the conn well past midnite, turned it over to me during a lull, then stuck around and "chatted and had a cup of coffee". I was hearing "Kevin, I suspect this little coaster over there is going to be turning to the right, should open up a hole where you could think about starting your turn", or "I'd be watching that fellow there, he might want to be heading west in a bit". Art's "chat" lasted through the traffic and the course change. I think it was around 0130 when Art headed down below, his parting words were "Kevin, you handled that traffic quite well".
Art and I worked together another 4mos, never saw him again. Heard about him, in his younger days we was a wild man, he'd quieted down by the time I'd met him. Those that I respected talked highly of him, as do I. Last I'd heard his hard living had taken its toll and he'd passed on.
Over the past 40yrs there were times when I was bone tired waiting for the watch to end and my relief would come up and not be entirely comfortable w/taking over. I'd think of Art and tell my relief to take his time, get a cup of coffee I'd keep the conn for a while while he got comfortable w/things then he could take it. I sometimes stayed up and "chatted a bit".
I was very lucky to have Art and many others mentor me during my career.
Kevin
We were all quite full of ourselves, ready to straighten out the maritime industry and set it right. One instructor, gave us a stern talking to. He was a WWII vet, Capt in his mid-20's, had a couple ships torpedoed from under him, etc,etc, when he spoke I listened. He told us we had the best training available, but when we got out there to keep our mouths shut and listen, everyone had something to offer, be it the messman or the capt. There were plenty of salty adjectives and adverbs in this monologue. Fortunately I heard him.
My first job I find myself as a 3/M on board a then state of the art cargo ship known as a LASH ship, I was in heaven. Art, the other 3/M (there were 2 of us) was a fellow in his early 60's, WWII vintage, had worked his way up from seaman (known as a Hawes-piper) and got his license during the war. His appearance was far from impressive, lacked a few teeth, hard to understand between a southern accent and often a wad of chewing tobacco, the residue of which sometimes ended on his shirt front. Keep in mind it wasn't that long ago I'd marched across the stage in my dress whites to shake the academy Superintendent's hand and get my graduation packet.
I joined the ship in Norfolk Va, next port was in the Med, so had a week passage to get settled down. I was the 12-4 (AM & PM) watch officer (similar to an OOD) on the bridge underway w/3 seaman. My first underway watch, a 00-04, we'd just cleared the coast and traffic when I went to relieve Art who stood 8-12's. He thoroughly brought me up to speed, hung around longer than needed to "chat" before going below. I then looked out into the darkest, loneliest night I'd ever experience. I was running a 900ft ship at about 20kts into the blackness relying on a couple of radars doing collision avoidance w/grease pencil on the screen. Every ghost or false target was a potential collision.
Anyway, Art was a Godsend w/his quiet advice, "I think I might do it this way…" or "Kevin, that ship up to the north needs watching, he might be fixing to turn down here…" it was gentle but priceless. I had a problem w/one of my sailors, an old timer having a bit of fun w/the new 3/M. Before going to the Capt it occurred to me Art might be of assistance. After telling him my problem, he chuckled (this was not a laughing matter to me) and told me Perez was having some fun at my expense then told me how to remedy the situation to end it w/Perez or other sailors who might want to play games
(and gain respect in the process as I later learned although Art failed to mention this key piece).
Eventually we were in the Med running close along the coast in heavy traffic. I came up for my 00-04 watch, Art was quietly conning, bring me up to speed on the situation. I was pretty overwhelmed, we had a major course change coming up within the hour and I just didn't see a solution w/out getting the Capt up for help. Art kept the conn well past midnite, turned it over to me during a lull, then stuck around and "chatted and had a cup of coffee". I was hearing "Kevin, I suspect this little coaster over there is going to be turning to the right, should open up a hole where you could think about starting your turn", or "I'd be watching that fellow there, he might want to be heading west in a bit". Art's "chat" lasted through the traffic and the course change. I think it was around 0130 when Art headed down below, his parting words were "Kevin, you handled that traffic quite well".
Art and I worked together another 4mos, never saw him again. Heard about him, in his younger days we was a wild man, he'd quieted down by the time I'd met him. Those that I respected talked highly of him, as do I. Last I'd heard his hard living had taken its toll and he'd passed on.
Over the past 40yrs there were times when I was bone tired waiting for the watch to end and my relief would come up and not be entirely comfortable w/taking over. I'd think of Art and tell my relief to take his time, get a cup of coffee I'd keep the conn for a while while he got comfortable w/things then he could take it. I sometimes stayed up and "chatted a bit".
I was very lucky to have Art and many others mentor me during my career.
Kevin
