The Merchant Marine Express

Besides cargo operations, the remaining time between Watch allows you to do one of two things- sleep or lose sleep by venturing ashore. If you elect to sleep, you gain the energy required only to find yourself waking up for the next Watch. Your ability to set foot on the country your ship has just berthed alongside, is reduced to only to the peripherals of the pier lying next to the ship or as one may have the fortunate chance of walking the pier in order to assist with loading “stores” or ordered items the Chandler or Agent has requested on the ship’s behalf, or to view draft marks. A journey ashore will only tap into your energy reserves, yet the value or benefit of what lurks beyond the pier might offer ’something’ to the seaman, or not. This is the gamble.

Since Spain, back in late August, and mid November, I have counted a total of three days between going ashore and ordering ‘anything’ at any store, restaurant, or bar. The load-out of cargo in the Persian Gulf prohibited the crew from ever leaving the wharf for security reasons. Interactions between the locals were limited to quick conversation aimed at lashing gangs or dock supervisors and solely for work purposes.Underway time between ports
averaged about twelve to fifteen days.

The crew can get ornery from a lack of personal space and the thought of any entertainment opportunities disappear in thin air as our minds quickly make the realization that the next port will only be for refueling or maintenance, with no chance of any ‘port time’ or mainly, ‘ashore time’.

Please understand, too, that it is our human nature to be social creatures. Even if we may hold back any feelings towards other individuals, the normal behavior for most ashore, may be the need to make a leap or dash for freedom by fleeing to ‘get away’. On ships, we do not have this simple choice. And conflict may happen as a result of this undesirable closeness. However, physical confrontation is taboo and this will result in surely getting some time ashore or as the circumstances warrant, an individual might be locked up in a stateroom and be kept on continuous watch if deemed dangerous to the crew.

Let the truth be told, there is a sense of quietness now. Many aboard who feel anxious or peeved by the sort of behaviors what other shipmates are exhibiting are oblivious to the underlying premise; this is the way we as
merchant mariners may cope in a cooped-up environment. But it is the reason many at sea act in a childish nature, perceived by those on the beach, because our outlet starts the moment we sign off and head for home as we’ve been given the go ahead to be someone we’ve only imagined in our dreams.

Hopefully, the child within-landlubbers can deal with.
Have a great weekend!

Tags: MV American Tern