[QUOTE=john;81579]I also want to thank Father Oubre, president of Apostle Of The Sea ( http://www.aos-usa.org/ ). He’s a mariner himself and occasionally still sails out of the same union hall as the ship’s crew (SIU Houston) so he’s in contact with all the major players here in the US and the seaman’s churches in Venezuela to assist as needed.-John[/QUOTE]
I sailed with Father Sinclair Oubre back in the '90s. Great seaman and shipmate. He’s served on several maritime commitees and no greater advocate for the American seaman. Cigar smoking, Harley riding, AB and Priest.
On the hitch we sailed together, we had a pump failure and fire with 200K bbl gasoline on board. With all the skilled sailors on board and Tampa Fire Dept, I think an AB with 'higher connections" was a great asset!!
This situation is obviously a stunt to show Americans who has control in “Hugo land”. Ironically, it is the polar opposite of the red carpet treatment shown to the HOS Ironhorse when they were there placing 4 christmas trees for new prospective wells. They had an entourage of dignitaries and press come aboard to record the propaganda of the event…Ironhorse is being chartered by Technip for a three year contract in the region.
According to crewmember Russel Macomber’s Facebook page the charges against the Ocean Atlas have been dropped and the vessel will sail today or tomorrow…
We should have sent a us navy destroyer to escort the ship into anchorage then called a general emergency aboard the ship and headed to sea. Once clear the ship could have swung by Cuba on the way home to allow any “local authorities” still aboard a chance to wave at their pinko cousins and get a few free meals at Gitmo!
[QUOTE=cmjeff;82357]We should have sent a us navy destroyer to escort the ship into anchorage then called a general emergency aboard the ship and headed to sea. Once clear the ship could have swung by Cuba on the way home to allow any “local authorities” still aboard a chance to wave at their pinko cousins and get a few free meals at Gitmo![/QUOTE]
Where is the “thanks” button. Oh, my son is a Gitmo right now. I bet he could arrange some special accommodations for them, too.