This is what my Captain’s teacher told him at SUNY while he was in school, and what he relayed to me on this last tour. We had the most dysfunctional STWD department ever and most of the time it was just two SA’s or a cook and an SA or some other screwed up mixture. We had guys getting sent home from the galley left and right and when our stwd went home on a medical we got the most insane relief. I think that she was literally psychotic. At the least she was an ex meth addict and prone to manic episodes. I think my captain aged 20 years from dealing with her. She would pull stunts like come to the bridge in pilot waters to ask about meal hours and other things like that. I definitely did not envy his position this tour.
I imagine others have had some similar issues? stories? I havent even scratched the surface on how ridiculous this last tour was.
[QUOTE=Third Coast;117118]This is what my Captain’s teacher told him at SUNY while he was in school, and what he relayed to me on this last tour. We had the most dysfunctional STWD department ever and most of the time it was just two SA’s or a cook and an SA or some other screwed up mixture. We had guys getting sent home from the galley left and right and when our stwd went home on a medical we got the most insane relief. I think that she was literally psychotic. At the least she was an ex meth addict and prone to manic episodes. I think my captain aged 20 years from dealing with her. She would pull stunts like come to the bridge in pilot waters to ask about meal hours and other things like that. I definitely did not envy his position this tour.
I imagine others have had some similar issues? stories? I havent even scratched the surface on how ridiculous this last tour was.[/QUOTE]
Yes, the Stwd dept can be a huge time suck. Preparing three meals a day, ordering food, keeping inventory, menus and so forth, it doesn’t seem like it should be difficult for three people but occasionally I get a group that can’t do it. Fighting with the crew, fighting with each other, on and on.
Company doesn’t like flying people around overseas so I only fire the very worse and just try to keep things in one piece till payoff. Lots of tasks more critical then babysitting the Stwd dept. so if they are putting out three meals a day and no death threats I give guidance but try not to waste too much time with them.
The ship I’m on the steward is a belly robber, the chief cook can not cook for shit, and the SA is a lazy bum. Other than these opinions I have no problem with them.
This post turned me from lurker to poster. It is sad that the stewards department is the biggest drain on a captain. I agree with other posters that there are a lot of turds(having had to work with them) sent out to sea to cook for them.
I’ve heard it time and again how food is the greatest morale booster on a vessel but still inexperienced,uneducated, and lazy cooks are being sent out.I think companies need to do a better job screening applicants and checking that their credentials do match there abilities. As we all know reference checks are a joke doing no more than verifying employment.
On every vessel I’ve worked on the Chief Steward has always reported to the captain,many captains are too hands off and have the attitude that as long as there are three meals put out it’s good enough. I am not an advocate for a captain who micro manages either. Occasionally checking on future menus, looking at the walk in coolers and freezers,and checking on the general cleanliness of the galley will save them a lot of aggravation down the road.
Cooks are the lowest paid and hardest working crew members on most vessels. If they are getting the job done let him or her know they are appreciated. Also constructive criticism goes along way when implemented properly.
^ I agree with you remarks for the most part.The captain does need to be involved in the steward’s department. A captain also has to pay attention to deck and engine.
Where I am the C/M and 1 A/E to name a couple work harder then the cook for sure.
This thread is about dealing with a highly dysfunctional steward dept. Depends upon the circumstances. If you get a couple claims of harassment or fake medical claims (which you have to treat as real) it can take a lot of time to deal with. Crew’ grumbling about the food but sometime the best option is limp home and pay em off.
EDIT: Cleanliness of the galley, messes and food storage spaces is a Port State Control issue so neglect of these areas is not an option for the captain sailing deep-sea foreign.
I will certainly say that with the vessels I have run, it seems that there are more problems with the personnel in the steward’s department than with any other on the ship. On the research vessel I commanded, there was only one cook who didn’t cause me grief and he was off workboats. All the others over three years always had some issue which caused me no end of misery.
Still I often say that they have the hardest job and most important one to do onboard because theirs never ends or gets quiet time. They have produce meals day in and day out regardless of how busy or not the vessel is. Many times they are understaffed for what they need to do as well.