I worked for over 35 years as a merchant marine deck officer through a union. I had a few”permanent” jobs where I would return to the same ship, but I preferred rotary (temp) jobs of 4 to 6 months duration. These were dispatched through the union hall by level of seniority and who had been out of work longest.
Toward the end of my career, I was out at the LA-Long Beach union hall, waiting for a particular ship that I liked.
When one of the union’s contracted ships is in a US port, the hall sends deck officers to assume the 1600 to 0800 and weekend watches to give the ship’s officers some time off.
I took a 1600 to 2400 port watch while waiting for the job. It was late November, although I hadn’t sailed on this ship, I was familiar with the class, big transpacific containerships.
I went on board a bit early and reported to the young chief mate who is the cargo officer. He knew nothing about me, but I was all too familiar with his type, condescending, ambitious, ready to eat his young for advancement to captain. After listening to his dos and don’ts, I got a handheld radio, went down on deck and relieved the ships officer monitoring cargo ops.
After a while, the chief mate called me on the radio, and told me to report to his office.
I got to his office and he told me the captain would be right there and wanted to talk to me. Shortly, the captain walked in. He asked me if I had a car and explained that the stores(supplies) that were loaded didn’t include Christmas decorations, and such, he needed to go ashore and pick some up.
I explained I had a rental car, but obviously he wasn’t on the rental agreement. He was a bit annoyed at my observation and said don’t worry about it. I couldn’t resist it, I told him he could use the car, he’d be responsible for any damage, and I couldn’t have any drinking. Now he appeared more than just a little annoyed and said to me sarcastically don’t worry you’ll get your car back.
What the heck, probably couldn’t tick the captain off anymore so I said to him “Captain, if I don’t get my car back, I won’t give you your ship back.”
The chief mates jaw dropped to his knees, and I wasn’t quite sure if I was in for a tongue lashing from the captain. Took a few seconds but he started laughing which was the signal to the chief mate he could also laugh.
Sometimes life is just too serious.
Kevin G
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Toward the end of my career, I was out at the LA-Long Beach union hall, waiting for a particular ship that I liked.
When one of the union’s contracted ships is in a US port, the hall sends deck officers to assume the 1600 to 0800 and weekend watches to give the ship’s officers some time off.
I took a 1600 to 2400 port watch while waiting for the job. It was late November, although I hadn’t sailed on this ship, I was familiar with the class, big transpacific containerships.
I went on board a bit early and reported to the young chief mate who is the cargo officer. He knew nothing about me, but I was all too familiar with his type, condescending, ambitious, ready to eat his young for advancement to captain. After listening to his dos and don’ts, I got a handheld radio, went down on deck and relieved the ships officer monitoring cargo ops.
After a while, the chief mate called me on the radio, and told me to report to his office.
I got to his office and he told me the captain would be right there and wanted to talk to me. Shortly, the captain walked in. He asked me if I had a car and explained that the stores(supplies) that were loaded didn’t include Christmas decorations, and such, he needed to go ashore and pick some up.
I explained I had a rental car, but obviously he wasn’t on the rental agreement. He was a bit annoyed at my observation and said don’t worry about it. I couldn’t resist it, I told him he could use the car, he’d be responsible for any damage, and I couldn’t have any drinking. Now he appeared more than just a little annoyed and said to me sarcastically don’t worry you’ll get your car back.
What the heck, probably couldn’t tick the captain off anymore so I said to him “Captain, if I don’t get my car back, I won’t give you your ship back.”
The chief mates jaw dropped to his knees, and I wasn’t quite sure if I was in for a tongue lashing from the captain. Took a few seconds but he started laughing which was the signal to the chief mate he could also laugh.
Sometimes life is just too serious.
Kevin G
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
