And you had better not miss rcording a single plot or bearing !
Well, there was a time when the only chair on the bridge was the Masterâs chair, and it was verbotten for anyone to touch, other than the Pilot. Then, as bridges grew conmesurate with the ships, a second chair appeared; this one for the Pilot. Then, when a coffe pot was added, so was a sofa. But when the RTOs were kicked out and GMDSS kicked in, that was when the saloon bridge era started. BNWAS ?, we donâ need no stinkinâ BNWAS !
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We never knew what we didnât have. The masterâs chair sacrosanct, no tea or coffee facilities and a WWII developed radar that had been known to acquire a target in the past.
We did have an Indian crew of 40 including an Indian butler and a cup of Java or a tray complete with teapot, jug of tinned milk and cups appeared on request 24 hours a day.
Vessel was a 125,000 DWT tanker and British officers, 2 engineers each watch, Day work Chief and Second Engineers. 4 mates and RO, (technical wasnât in the job description). The Chief Steward was rarely sighted tucked away counting his ill gotten gains.
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I often wondered how the master filled in his day. He sent off a PCS every 3rd day although the RO and I as 2/M were the main authors.
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Well, there was always a settee, Rickster! During the last decade or so, it became common for me to see mates sitting during sea watches, and unlicensed contracts containing a clause that a chair shall be provided. I didnât care that my lookout sat, as long as the job was taken seriously.
When I was still sailing AB in three-men watches, we brought the coffee along with ourself at the turn of the watch. Tales abounded of doctored pots of coffee delivered to disliked mates. Lookout was at the bow or monkey island.