The ships officers’ union I worked through provided relief officers from 1600 to 0800 the following morning and weekends to ships in US Ports. This gave the deck officers on board a chance to have some time off.
I took a port relief officer assignment in Long Beach, aboard a container ship that would be sailing to the Far East on a 42 day trip in early December.
Reported aboard around 1530, went up to the chief mate’s office, the cargo officer, to touch base with him. He briefed me and then some about cargo ops, etc. he was young and rather full of himself, in a hurry to get the fourth stripe on his shoulder and sail captain. I was about 50, had seen plenty of his kind, not a big deal.
A couple of hours later, the chief mate called me on the radio and told me to report to his office. When I got there, I was introduced to another man, the Captain. He explained to me the stores (supplies) that were loaded didn’t include the items for Christmas. Did I have a car he could borrow to pick up the items? I didn’t find his manner to be warm and fuzzy, explained to him I had a rental car. He said he would assume responsibility.
I couldn’t resist it, told him I couldn’t have any drinking while he was using the car. He seemed a bit insulted and sarcastically told me not to worry. I’d get my car back. Again, I couldn’t resist it and told him that if I didn’t get my car back, I wouldn’t give him his ship back. The chief mate’s jaw dropped to the deck, and the captain glared at me for a second before he started laughing. Everything worked out well, the ship got its Christmas decorations and trimmings, and hopefully the chief mate got a bit of a lesson in humility.
Kevin G
I took a port relief officer assignment in Long Beach, aboard a container ship that would be sailing to the Far East on a 42 day trip in early December.
Reported aboard around 1530, went up to the chief mate’s office, the cargo officer, to touch base with him. He briefed me and then some about cargo ops, etc. he was young and rather full of himself, in a hurry to get the fourth stripe on his shoulder and sail captain. I was about 50, had seen plenty of his kind, not a big deal.
A couple of hours later, the chief mate called me on the radio and told me to report to his office. When I got there, I was introduced to another man, the Captain. He explained to me the stores (supplies) that were loaded didn’t include the items for Christmas. Did I have a car he could borrow to pick up the items? I didn’t find his manner to be warm and fuzzy, explained to him I had a rental car. He said he would assume responsibility.
I couldn’t resist it, told him I couldn’t have any drinking while he was using the car. He seemed a bit insulted and sarcastically told me not to worry. I’d get my car back. Again, I couldn’t resist it and told him that if I didn’t get my car back, I wouldn’t give him his ship back. The chief mate’s jaw dropped to the deck, and the captain glared at me for a second before he started laughing. Everything worked out well, the ship got its Christmas decorations and trimmings, and hopefully the chief mate got a bit of a lesson in humility.
Kevin G
