We already know that China is giving military training to its seafarers but now the US Navy War College os warning that China has put political commissars aboard their commercial ships
Yes; they do. More than one Lake pilot has experienced this.
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I’d love to hear more about their experiences with that. I spoke to old timers in my early days sailing who said when they met Soviet sailors in port and invited them to come visit their (American) ship they had to have a commissar accompany them — often an annoying, pompous prick… but the stories of their antics were shocking and somewhat amusing.
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Yes Chinese ships have Commissars onboard, at least on the various heavy lift ships I have been visiting over many years (2003-15) in various capacities (MWS, Loadmaster, Cargo Owner Rep.)
The Commissars haven’t interfered in the operation, been unfriendly, or any annoyance, nor have I noticed any Masters, Officers or crews being afraid of them.
Some have even been helping on deck when preparing for the loading/unloading operation.
PS> My first involvement with COSCO*s HLVs was loading a jack up barge JP117 on HLV TAI AN KOU in Batam, 2003:
I was COSCO’s Loadmaster for this loadout in Stavanger in 2011, (also on Tai An Kou):
COSCO’s HLV fleet: https://coscoht.com/semi-submersible/
I don’t know about military training for Chinese maritime officers or crews,
BTW; Isn’t some sort of military training part of the curriculum at US Maritime Academies?
No, unless they do the optional Navy SSO program.
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Kinda depends on what you classify as “military training”
You learn to march and salute and all that bullshit. You also take Naval Science.
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It was not necessary a “commissar”, since we had only one on each ship, but the rule was “three people only”, meaning in foreign port only “trpoyka” could be allowed to go on shore or to visit other vessels. Obviously, everyone in “troyka” was suppose to make sure other two “behaving properly”…
P.S. “commissar’s” real title was “zampolit” - deputy captain in political affairs. This assholes were always second most senior officers, and some times the most senior.
As far as I know they always had them, it’s not some kind of novelty .
Same “buddy system” applied on East German ships. (AFAIRC from meeting them in Indonesian ports in the 1960s)
Probably also on Polish ships (??)
The British had the Royal Navy ( their opinion- officers and gentlemen)
The Royal Navy Reserve composed of Merchant Navy who had undergone military training (seamen not gentlemen) in the opinion of the former.
The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve composed of people from a variety of occupations with the officers coming mainly from the professions. Rather unfairly labeled as gentlemen amateurs trying to seamen .
During WWII many gave valuable service such as Ian Fleming and here from my home town a lawyer who commanded a submarine in the Mediterranean theatre as an RNZNVR officer.
Usually the 2/M on the COSCO bulkers(I only had 2 in ten years)…low key, but you could tell they had an oversized presence aboard. A friend had a guy tear apart his bag one evening…he seemed upset there were ten McDs cheeseburgers. The excuse was “I am security Mr Pilot, must check. Must check.”
The balance of the crew was very quiet when he was around.
China has had political “officers” on Chinese flag vessels and in Chinese companies for many years. Chartered or flag of convenience vessels in my experience no.
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I don’t think so. I had a friend, Polish engineer, he never mentioned something like that.
If He was born in 1980 or later He may have no idea what was going on in the fleets till 1989. I am busy right now but later I will describe in detail the militarisation of POL(Polish Ocean Lines )Liner company, PSS( Polish Steam Ship ) Tramp shipping, and several deep sea fishing and littoral fishing companies. They had abt 170, 150 and 500 ships respectively ( figures from 1980). All gov. owned and managed. We had no soviet style commissars who were quite visible but secret rats and commie snitches. I happened to be a victim of such a rat in 1984 .
I know the Russian FESCO ships carried a political officer and also had a policy of at least two crewmembers together when ashore.
I’m sure you are familiar with the phrase; “The men of Blue flue and the Gentlemen of British India”?
PS> No Political officers or Commissars on either AFAIK.
PZM (Polish Steamship) in its current iteration is a class operation; well made ships, professional seamen, and seeming well managed. I will admit I only had first hand knowledge from '99-'09 and second hand from '09 on, so that certainly does not account for “the time before” and Pact membership by the Polish gov’t.
Interestingly, the old “Kapitonas” class boats of LISCO (Lithuania Shipping) had rather large and compartmentalized radio rooms…looked awfully similar to a CIC in the “second room”. Poked around a bit when I was a pilot and there were power cables, empty radio racks, plotter tables, and what I am 99% certain was an old rifle rack WAY in the back (third compartment).
Times, they have changed!
After completing your apprenticeship with BI you were told to find another company and when you had your masters ticket you were promised a job as 3rd Mate. Then it was dead mans shoes.
Polish officers I have sailed with have had a first class nautical education.
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Always enjoyed working with Polish crew.
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