The Merchant Marine Express

It’s almost July and five weeks have passed since I’ve called this ship, my home. In the past two weeks, training has been the emphasis as many on board have taken seminar courses on this ship,on board other ships, or within a shore side facility.
I finished up my Chemical and Biological Officer’s course as I described, in my previous Merchant Express posting..and, no sooner, I was chosen among ten others to take another shipboard security course. You see, much of what is required on board government vessels are the vigilance of these on-going seminars that each mariner endures, so to prepare themselves for some type of disaster or casualty. Over the past seven years, I’ve taken no less than a dozen courses that teach and demonstrate certain security tactics which mostly help the interest of the mariners, aboard.. thereby, essentially, saving the ship.

There are no fire departments or police precincts on the ocean, so our training enables us to be self-sufficient in protecting and preserving the crew and the vessel.
This last course was called Shipboard Security Training (SST) and elements within the course would prepare us for threats from individuals like terrorists, potential irate indigenous people, or even one of our own. This two day training period took us aboard an anchored vessel, the Motor Vessel Boonyman. There, we were treated with a breakfast and then were introduced with fellow mariners- both Officers and unlicensed mariners whom we may have sailed with, on board ships in the past. The day went quickly and a lunch followed, before returning via a small boat, which, transported us to the remote pier.
During this class, methods on apprehending a suspect using a gun, and handcuffs, along with tactics on how to take down an individual were shown in this course. Searching for bombs and the technique used to scan a given area was taught and upon a simulated scenario, along with a team member, I found the preset trip wire that could have been the real thing and threatened the ship. Other teams of four, who had the similar task of searching for bags or improvised devices, were not so lucky, and we all shared what mistakes we made to make the practice test, go wrong.
It was fascinating to me, the many uses of a baton, as well, and how the Mate on Watch could use it to his advantage to disable a want-to-be perpetrator. Just a swift throw of a two foot wooden dowel could break bones, would you believe? The last subject of the course was the use of a handgun with ‘dummy rounds’ consisting of small plastic bullets were refitted and a small popping sound instead of the deafening blast of a conventional bullet. Small cardboard cutouts of silhouetted images of people were positioned outside on the bow of the BONNYMAN, and each student took aim- I had some choice words for the inanimate figures as I shot a couple of rounds into each. I figured if making any sound could, in essence, scare off any individual- any screaming with profanity would definitely, be the end all of such an encounter! (I disregarded the laughter that emanated from behind the shelter.)
This week was completed with the one-day sea voyage that this ship is required to fulfill, each month. Some members of the inboard security team’s Visas needed to be renewed and in order to do so, the ship has to venture offshore more than three miles. The one day trip costs an average of twenty-thousand dollars in operating costs just to satisfy the needs of the local government. But the time spent, went well, and the crew was tasked to conduct some drills and training to finish up the Quarter. One Drill ,the man-overboard Drill, was one that required the ship to maneuver after a simulated person fell over the side. The Chief Mate found a box to toss overboard, and the Watch officer on the Bridge, turned the ship one way, then with the help of other crew members, identified the minuscule target from hundreds of yards so the ship could approach within tens of yards for the rescue.
This type of maneuver, with the wake behind the ship resembling the shape of a Question mark, is called a “Williamson Turn” and works for persons who knowingly, fall overboard. In reality, a person’s head would be the only thing noticeable above water and with the combination of waves and the Grey background, finding the victim would end up with a slim chance of hope. The whole procedure takes a bit over an hour, so the victim might not end up conscious.
Well, it’s Saturday, and many on board have decided to go ashore and enjoy the nightlife of what Guam has to offer. The beaches are very isolated and are abundant with sea life and coral. The bright and glaring sun offers a sun burn, in return of a good time on the beach. And the effects of the sand and sun can truly calm the soul and play with your mind into daydreaming until the next day. This is why Guam has a saying of “haf a dai” truly meaning half a day…because who wants to be away from the cool, blue, inviting sea… at least not for a whole day?!
I shall enjoy my day, will you?
-Nadir

Tags: S.S Petersburg, Voyages