On Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 8:12 AM, Paul Montgomery <paul_at_paddleandoar.com>wrote: > This may seem odd to put in a kayaking forum, but I am posting it > because I think it's important for us to understand what is going on > around the harbours that we paddle in. > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ua-ppReV684 > > An interesting video despite having the most annoying soundtrack I've ever heard in my life. But it's certainly appropriate to kayakers who paddle around bigger boats (and they are almost all bigger). When I was working at Exxon I spent some time on a few of their 1950s vintage tankers. They were certainly of another era with exotic wood in the cabins, a library (!), beautifully appointed lounges, etc. Of course the work spaces were of another era too with no sound-proof control rooms for the engineers and bridges too small for all the electronics these ships now need. But they handled so well and were extremely fast; and sucked down bunkers too. One ship, the Exxon Lexington, had been built for a crew of 55 people (all men in those days, of course). There was one entire abandoned deck with sleeping quarters. I called it the "Lost City of the Lexington" because it was dark and eery with empty cabins. Some of the cabins had been turned into storage areas by the engineers. When I was aboard the Lexington in about 1989 we had a crew compliment of 22 people including 4 people in the steward's department (cooks, etc.). We had a Captain, three deck officers, a Chief Engineer and three assistant engineering officers, 5 able bodied seamen and 5 oilers to run the ship itself. Then there was the Radio/Electronics officer and 3 members of the Steward's department. In 1955 the ship had machinists, ordinary seamen (extra lookouts and deck maintenance), electricians, carpenters, and heaven knows who else. It was built to be run by 55 people and by the end of the 1980s there were only 22 aboard and at any given time only two people on lookout; and of those only the Mate on watch was required to remain on the bridge. Often alone. In reduced visibility we were supposed to put a lookout forward but almost never did because there was almost never anyone available to do it. It's even worse today. The engineers have what they call the "unmanned" engine room. The engineers work day shift doing maintenance and no one at all is in the engine room; they rely on remote systems with readouts on the bridge where there is one guy who has to understand what they mean and watch them while still making sure they don't run into anyone or anything. On a coastwise run where you might be in port every two or three days it's very easy to get exhausted because the entire crew is busy monitoring the loading or discharge process and the Chief Mate, in particular (who is the person on a ship charged with loading and discharging cargo) is often awake the entire time; and then may have to stand his/her watch when the ship gets underway again. Tugs are even worse. Companies love tugboats because they require even fewer crew members!!! They often only have 5 or 6 people aboard who have to handle the tow which, of course, is much harder to handle in rough weather so everyone turns out and then has to go on watch anyway. I'm only amazed there are so few accidents aboard ships. And if you knew how often tugboats had problems you probably wouldn't sleep well at night. Craig *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Jul 11 2011 - 09:01:40 PDT
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