That’s what I was trained to think about when (before) taking in that last line and getting underway. Or whenever everything going smooth…what may I be forgetting. Timeless advice.
Exactly right, you have to play " what if" all the frigging time! I once had a third mate that would not call me as per standing and night orders when a ship was to be within 2 miles (CPA). Then near the coast off Darwin I came to the bridge to see a frigging ship passing port to port at 1/2 mile. When I asked why he had not called me, his comment was " you mean you want to know about 2 mile CPAs near coastlines too? " Yep, you have to check the details all the time… When things are going well question it, and then start looking for problems… I’d walk around the ship at least once and more if possible each day. Amazing what you will find on a daily stroll. Anyone that has ever sailed Master will tell you there is a sixth sense that rings alarms bells in your head, or that trouble has a " smell". It’s true, and if you can’t smell it you won’t last long at sea. And for the matter you need that one final screw thats either lose or missing entirely … The same screw that’s missing in the mind of a pilot… Yep, you have to like the taste of danger. To those that don’t know what I’m talking about, you ever will…
[QUOTE=Kennebec Captain;96983]Yes, but merchant mariners on the other hand are a bunch of fucking Albert Einsteins. This can be easily verified by reading some threads here.
K.C.[/QUOTE]
It is funny if you watch the TV documentary about the Maersk Alabama. Notice they never interviewed any of the crew, only the officers. But compare the interviews to those of regular civilians who have been captured or placed in life and death situations. They all cry about how terrible it was how they just wanted it to end. Now, the merchant mariner, yeah a tear or two may have been shed during the interviews and the tears were for the crew members trapped in the sweltering engine room but the talk was all about killing those pirate bastards.
[QUOTE=87cr250r;97102]… the talk was all about killing those pirate bastards.[/QUOTE]
Exactly, and the name of the organization responsible for actually pulling the trigger was…?
K.C.
BTW I wonder how the"emotional distress" .lawsuits filed by those “manilla-line-chewing, fire-pissing, octopus-boxing, Davy-Jones’-Locker-escaping, hardcore, tough-as-popeye-on-a-spinach-binge SAILORS” are coming along? I believe it was for $ 20 million. That’s a lot of spinach.
[QUOTE=Kennebec Captain;97121]Exactly, and the name of the organization responsible for actually pulling the trigger was…?
K.C. [/QUOTE]
I do believe I know the name. THAT was mighty fine shooting.
[QUOTE=87cr250r;97102]It is funny if you watch the TV documentary about the Maersk Alabama. Notice they never interviewed any of the crew, only the officers. But compare the interviews to those of regular civilians who have been captured or placed in life and death situations. They all cry about how terrible it was how they just wanted it to end. Now, the merchant mariner, yeah a tear or two may have been shed during the interviews and the tears were for the crew members trapped in the sweltering engine room but the talk was all about killing those pirate bastards.[/QUOTE]
I think I recall seeing an interview with one of the ABs. He was the guy who warned the capt about a pirate skiff approach attempt the day before and was given the brush off…and the rest is history. I’ll see if I can find it.
[QUOTE=Kennebec Captain;97121]BTW I wonder how the"emotional distress" .lawsuits filed by those “manilla-line-chewing, fire-pissing, octopus-boxing, Davy-Jones’-Locker-escaping, hardcore, tough-as-popeye-on-a-spinach-binge SAILORS” are coming along? I believe it was for $ 20 million. That’s a lot of spinach.[/QUOTE]
Yea, I posted this before, just yesterday I believe, folks from Maine use the most colorful language in the world, the above it a prime example. I’m almost fluent but never could I ever hope to be THAT unique. 
[QUOTE=Sweat-n-Grease;97133]Yea, I posted this before, just yesterday I believe, folks from Maine use the most colorful language in the world, the above it a prime example. I’m almost fluent but never could I ever hope to be THAT unique. :D[/QUOTE]
Thanks SnG but those are not my words, I stole them from another thread.
K.C.
[QUOTE=Kennebec Captain;97150]Thanks SnG but those are not my words, I stole them from another thread.
K.C.[/QUOTE]
That’s funny!
I made a full sea year as a cadet, three ships, my last was an American-Export Line ship, the SS [I]Examiner[/I], the C/E was a 50 year old man from Maine. He didn’t say much when on the job but ashore he was a sight to behold. At that stage in my life, and not being from Maine, a lot of his richly variegated prose flew over my head. He and the First insisted I accompany them ashore, [I]part of your train’en[/I] I was told. One day, in the respectable seamen’s establishment called John Bull’s in Piraeus, Greece, the Chief looked at the First and said of me [I]this crit’ah over here’ah, not too numb for a koohog.[/I] Yup, part of my train’en although I hadn’t a clue what he was talking about. I do now.
[QUOTE=Sweat-n-Grease;97073]Topsail, are you showing us you are a little shit with no experience but doesn’t know it - yet?[/QUOTE]
That’s right. I have no experience whatsoever in ramming super tanker, neither in grounding ship hard aground with state of the art navigation equipment. 
[QUOTE=Topsail;97293]That’s right. I have no experience whatsoever in ramming super tanker, neither in grounding ship hard aground with state of the art navigation equipment. ;)[/QUOTE]
My apologies Topsail. I’ve been reading your posts, I buy but only the first two rounds, OK three. I enjoy your ship pictures too.
I got navy time but brown shoe (naval air), not black shoe (naval vessels) so I do get a tad grouchy when everybody and his brother gangs-up, no matter how richly deserved.
Fair enuf?
[QUOTE=Sweat-n-Grease;97294]My apologies Topsail. I’ve been reading your posts, I buy but only the first two rounds, OK three. I enjoy your ship pictures too.
I got navy time but brown shoe (naval air), not black shoe (naval vessels) so I do get a tad grouchy when everybody and his brother gangs-up, no matter how richly deserved.
Fair enuf?[/QUOTE]
Well you know, I try to be fair with everybody. If you fuck up on a tall ship, a bulk carrier or on a guided missile navy vessel, it’s the same to me. I will not care for incompetency no matter where it comes from. I have a free perceptive on the matter … even with pilotage.
There’s quite a few warships that transit on the St-Lawrence every summer with pilot on board. I do my very best to avoid them. Why ? The navigating officer wants to do the pilotage himself !!! If he does a mistake, who do you think they going to try to blame ? No thanks, I am not a scapegoat, too smart for that. How would you feel if the Navy would pursue you … Thence no sympathy !
[QUOTE=Topsail;97297]Well you know, I try to be fair with everybody. If you fuck up on a tall ship, a bulk carrier or on a guided missile navy vessel, it’s the same to me. I will not care for incompetency no matter where it comes from. I have a free perceptive on the matter … even with pilotage.[/QUOTE]
How interesting, I have the same attitude with aircraft.
I have had no accidents, then and today.
What does this mean?
For one thing, lucky, for the next in line, keep your ducks in order.
[QUOTE=Topsail;97300]There’s quite a few warships that transit on the St-Lawrence every summer with pilot on board. I do my very best to avoid them. Why ? The navigating officer wants to do the pilotage himself !!! If he does a mistake, who do you think they going to try to blame ? No thanks, I am not a scapegoat, too smart for that. How would you feel if the Navy would pursue you … Thence no sympathy ![/QUOTE]
With THAT I am in total agreement.
I do my best but my turn could be tomorrow … only God knows.
Touching wood, keep my eyes open and play low profile !
SINK YOUR TEETH INTO THIS…
Guardian Crew Gets New Home as USS Warrior Arrives in Sasebo
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mackenzie P. Adams
Posted April 1, 2013
SASEBO, Japan - The crew of Ex-Guardian (MCM 10) watched from the pier as USS Warrior (MCM 10) arrived at Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS) March 27. In an unusual crew-swap situation, the crew of Ex-Guardian will be transferred to Warrior and remain forward deployed to CFAS effective March 31.
The Ex-Guardian ran aground on Tubbataha Reef in the Philippines Jan. 17, was beyond economical repair and was subsequently decommissioned and stricken from the naval registry Feb. 15.
“It’s been difficult for the crew, both officers and enlisted, not having a ship,” said Lt. j.g. Jared Shrader, Warrior’s Damage Control Assistant. “Sometimes there is a sense of confusion, but now with Warrior here we have a clear purpose.”
Warrior, which was most recently deployed in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility, is an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship similar to the ex-Guardian, which will make the crew’s transition to manning the ship and making it operational a little easier.
“The crew has been training for the last month and a half, running drills and visiting other ships, “ said Shrader. “We’re excited to get on board, take possession of this new warship and get back out to sea like we were meant to do.”
“We’ve been training like we fight back on the ship, and we can’t wait to get back out to sea,” said Engineman 2nd Class Nicholas Davis, Warrior’s Main Propulsion Supervisor, who credited his leadership for maintaining unit cohesion for the past two months. “Ever since the incident the chain of command, from LPOs [leading petty officers] up to the 7th Fleet, has been very supportive of us,” said Davis. “They made sure we had uniforms and that the crew stayed together.”
Lt. Cmdr. Mark A. Rice, commanding officer of the Warrior, introduced the crew to the new ship with an awards ceremony on the pier, thanking them for the courage and dedication they showed when Ex-Guardian ran aground, and handing crew members who had been on board a letter of recognition.
“It was an incredible challenge but you demonstrated the greatest character in meeting that challenge. All 79 Guardian Sailors made it home because of it. As we move towards the future, know that I have always been proud to be part of this crew.”
[QUOTE=Sweat-n-Grease;97131]I do believe I know the name. THAT was mighty fine shooting.[/QUOTE]
You have got to be kidding me. Wasn’t Rice the CO of the Ex-Gardian? The same crew from the CO down on another one? Simply amazing.
[QUOTE=Xmsccapt(ret);104358]You have got to be kidding me. Wasn’t Rice the CO of the Ex-Gardian? The same crew from the CO down on another one? Simply amazing.[/QUOTE]
“And I’m wondering where the lions are -
I’m wondering where the lions are”
~ Bruce Cockburn