The Merchant Marine Express

We’re underway again, and this time our ship’s destination is Toledo , Ohio . The ship slowly worked its way out of the long, curved and narrow Calumet River and out past the break wall last night and into Lake Michigan once the loading of coal was complete. I had turned in, for the night just prior to us departing yet I sensed nothing while I slept as this massive freighter carved a path below many small cantilever bridges, as it headed outbound towards the great lake. In fact, it would seem that this ship would resemble a slow moving snake as it slithers along the way, not making hardly a sound except for the small rippled wavelets it displaced.

I was finally pleased to walk up to the compact sized wheelhouse, this morning and take the ‘Watch’ instead of a ‘cargo watch’ that we’ve been doing, lately. Because we’re in and out of port almost continuously, every-other-day, a reprieve of standing the Watch in the Wheelhouse is a big break. Basically, ‘looking out’ the window and spotting for any other ships passing by or making weather notations would be all that I was to be responsible for- for the next four hours; let alone, day-and-a-half.
Our transit will include the fortunate passage through the southern part of Lake Huron- a location which is familiar to me since I live in the town of Lexington , which is situated in the vicinity of our intended track. Once our voyage to Ohio is complete, we will have transited through the St Clair River and Lake as well- through downtown Detroit and pass along its skyscape of familiar Automotive headquarter buildings. General Motors occupies the famous Renaissance Tower which resembles a giant convergence of shiny cylinders, standing upright. The famous Ambassador Bridge that spans between Detroit and the Canadian town of Windsor also rests here as it will be another icon that we’ll pass under.
My wife, Michelle, believes it’s finally time that a ship that I am onboard, passes by the town! Since I started working aboard ships seven years ago, not one time has a family member ever been able to visit or place eyes on my ‘workplace’. Gosh, maybe this time, someone like her will actually witness the fact that I do work aboard ship as I have stated, and they can see what a fascinating piece of machinery she is, from afar.
Well, the weather is unseasonably nice, by the way. Although the air temperature hovers in the low 40’s, with the sun shining, its nice to have the warmth and brightness of our celestial friend, as this could be a rare sight within a few weeks or days, to come.
Have a great day!
-Nadir

Tags: Arthur M.Anderson