The Merchant Marine Express

We happened not to see any craft which was reported missing, off the coast of Tampa.

We did receive the distress message on VHF 16 that following night, while underway, and proceeding outbound for sea. It was late night on the Sunday, and the seas were such that anyone floating in the water without a beacon light or any other way of making a signal would be nearly impossible to locate.

In all probability, we could have been in that vicinity of the boat which is now been located and has all the major news networks focused on the rescue efforts, but we will never know if any of the victims might have been close.

Locating a swamped vessel, is like searching for a piece of lint on a carpet. Our Able Seaman or “lookout” on the eight-to-twelve watch had his eyes peeled for any signs resembling a distress from any vessel, out at sea. Unless a call from US Coast Guard alerting “all mariners to keep a good lookout and to report any sightings”, our lookout stands a watch, and tries
to scan the waters for anything; just uncertain of what that “anything” can be, they are most sensitive to anything small, bobbing on the water.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of those men who are still lost. The seas aren’t forgiving, at all. All precautions need to be taken for anyone who decides to take a ride out on a boat, even if it’s for a few hours. Consider getting a weather report from either television, or other boaters, or by contacting the local Coast Guard Station.

Do plan for any contingencies, folks. Bring life jackets, flashlights, blankets, extra water with you in a duffle bag on any fishing trip or any pleasure-seeking boating trip. Also Bring with you, a zip-lock bag with your wallet and other valuables, contained inside. Invest in a fifty-cent whistle,too.

Our ship is an astonishing six hundred and seventy-eight feet in length with almost a hundred foot width or “beam”. The distance to the water extends to almost twenty feet and we have four foot tall railings around the perimeter.
We can safely hold on as the ship sways and pitches. But any twenty foot boat has hardly the capability of withstanding twenty foot seas for more than a couple of hours out without true courage and intense concentration from all hands, aboard as they try and keep their sanity. An experienced navigator must know how to poise the vessel in such a way to minimize
rolling. Also, this effect may cause some onboard, nausea and will increase the chances of weakness and deliria.

Stay safe!

Tags: Chemical Explorer