The Merchant Marine Express

Even if the short, twenty-four hour port stay was merely for replenishing water supply, food, and newly arriving crewmembers, it was most welcomed for all the crew!

As we arrived on the evening of the 1st of May, or May Day, and were fast alongside the city dock at Berth 16 in Galveston, the 1st Assistant Engineer, Tim, hooked up a fresh water hose directly to the potable water
connection onboard. In fact, I learned that just as soon as we headed into port, the water supply remaining had been used up and the water was shut off for a period of approximately three hours. For anyone going ashore, the
luxury of a shower was out of the question! I guess a dosing of cologne would have to suffice for most.

While standing the Watch as the ship was secure alongside the city dock, I witnessed more than half the crewmembers departing for shore within the first two hours of arriving! The ‘Strand’ as it’s commonly known, is a
waterfront venue for restaurants, bars, shops as well as a marina by which one can charter a fishing boat and would be the destination of choice for many. I also spotted what seemed to resemble an oil rig converted into a
museum, just adjacent to our dock.. The distance from the Port to the Strand is a mere ten blocks, but as the crow flies, the distance seems shorter, but a cab ride of about five bucks is well worth it, anyway.

The Chief mate and even the Captain were among the list of officers and crew to quickly head into town. And before long, the ship would settle into a sleep-like state, except for the distant sound of water rushing through the hose and into the special holding tanks. An order of approximately two hundred tons of fresh water was requisitioned, and the slow fill cycle would take more than twelve hours to receive the precious supply. Electrical monitoring equipment keeps check of the level in the tanks and simple math such as a formula of “Rate divided by Volume” can be used to estimate completion.

Just as soon as my watch ended at midnight, and the level of water received was enough to resume water pressure aboard, I was able to take a quick shower and join a couple of the Engineer Officers ashore for a night-on-the town. Although it was late, the taxicab driver suggested a place nearby, where coincidently, some other crewmembers had happened to be, already. I got a taste of what small Texas life was all about; not the typical Country western bar, but some bar that the younger urban crowd gathered.

I remember a birthday boy at this bar/club who had just turned 21 and was gripping a large deep blue goblet which resembled a small fishbowl; the size that would keep a goldfish happy for a year, and within it, some sort of
beer or liquor. And as he turned the goblet around, the bright and sparkly words “PIMP” appeared as he showed it off using his hands like a model on the Price Is Right, showing off a prize to an anxious contestant. He seemed
truly content and among friends as even his mother along with his sister, while swaying to some upbeat DJ music in the background, appeared to be quite loaded as apparently their partying started quite a few hours earlier
in the night. I had many thoughts of how or at what time the party started, but could only imagine.

Well, nonetheless,.the following day, many of the crew, including myself, were slow to start the day but food and deck supplies, known as ’stores’ were delivered by truck onto pallets and lifted by our deck crane, first thing in the morning. We formed a line equidistant to one another as each box from the many pallets received were transferred from person-to-person much like a human conveyor belt. Many of the refrigerated items were still packed with Dry Ice and needed to be quickly stowed in the freezer.

Necessities such as Seafood, steaks and fresh fruits and vegetables, not to mention doughnuts and danishes ere among the carefully wrapped boxes. I’llbe attending breakfasts! In the afternoon, I called for a taxi to take me to a barber for a much needed haircut. The fare, for a fifteen minute ride only amounted to ten dollars and the driver gave me his card for the return trip. Uppercut’s was the name of the barber shop. Inside, memorabilia of autographed boxing gloves and pictures of such prized fighters like Mohamed Ali and Joe Foreman hung on the walls. Just one woman, ran the show yet, the lady did a nice job, except I feel as if she was a bit trigger happy with the three electric clippers. Never once, did she use scissors. Then as soon as she was finished with the haircut, she lathered warm shaving cream around my ears and at the back of my neck and proceeded to use a straight razor, making short, yet, sure cuts to clean the stubble of hair that remained. I was gritting my teeth with a bit of a grimace as she was seemingly content with jabbing at my skin. And my neck was left without a scratch! A perfect job, as I was glad it was over! Wheew!With Ten dollars less in my pocket,I was away!

I felt a bit of a freshened breeze as I walked towards the beach and I used my cell phone to take a picture using the integrated camera and sent a picture to my wife. I walked around for a bit, and was just thankful I was iven the chance of walking on solid ground.

I called Otis, the taxi driver to pick me up and he arrived no more than fifteen minutes later before whisking me away, back to the boat. Before long, we would be preparing the vessel for getting underway back out to the outer anchorage area, where we sat for the previous three weeks. At dusk, we hauled all lines in for the two hour transit bound for the anchorage; I stood ready by the Engine telegraph as the Captain barked orders over the radio as he was perched by the Starboard bridgewing. With Captain Schurman in command, as he is the captain to relieve Captain Smith who left for his rotational period, it was time for me to, yet again, become acquainted with a new Master. I should say that many onboard enjoy his style as well as his company but I shall make the best of it, as time goes on.

Have a great weekend folks!

Tags: Chemical Explorer