In the middle of the night, the phone rang incessantly. Confused, I woke up and noticed a phone by my bed that I hadn't even realized was there before. No one had ever used it. I picked up the phone.
On the phone, a voice from Captain Blake said, “Third, I got an email.”
I said on the phone, “An email? What time is it?”
Captain Blake said on the phone, “It is four in the morning.”
I said on the phone, “Four in the morning, and you are calling me because you got an email?”
Captain Blake said on the phone, “Yes. The company wants to know if you really need new safety equipment you ordered.”
I said into the phone, “I don’t need anything. If the company doesn’t want to pay penalties from inspectors, then the ship needs everything on that list.” I hung up. When the phone rang again, I ripped it out of the wall and went back to sleep.
In the morning watch, Captain Blake came to me and said, “I tried to reach you, Third, several times.”
I asked, “When?”
Captain Blake replied, “Last night around 4:30 in the morning. The company asked if you need anything else, so they can sum the order up.”
I said, “I don’t know. Maybe the phone stopped working. I didn’t hear anything. You can tell them I don’t need anything else for now.”
Captain Blake nodded and left the bridge.
The next night, for some reason, I locked the door to my cabin. I was asleep when someone knocked on the door. From the other side, I heard Captain Blake's voice, “Third. Third, we got another email.”
Luckily, the door was locked. I ignored him as he tried to open it. He walked away, and a few moments later, two people approached my door. Someone knocked on it.
Tom said, “Third, it’s me, Tom.”
I ignored him. Someone knocked again.
Tom said, “Sir. Are you awake?”
I ignored him because I had a feeling Captain Blake was close by.
Tom said, “Sorry, Captain. Third is not responding.”
Captain Blake said, “Ok.”
They both left the hallway. I was impressed that the Captain Blake woke up Tom just to wake me up.
In the morning watch, Captain Blake approached me and said, “Third. Last night I knocked at your door.”
I said, “I didn’t hear anything.”
Captain Blake said, “You really sleep like a log.”
I said, “It seems so. Why did you need me?”
Captain Blake said, “The company replied that everything will arrive at the next port.”
I nodded and thought in my head, ‘And this is the reason you woke me up in the morning. What is wrong with you?’
Captain Blake looked at the radar and asked, “What is your plan with the ships ahead of you?”
I replied, “To pass them as far away, to avoid any possible problems.”
Captain Blake walked to the steering wheel and changed course right in the middle of them. I walked over, changed the course back, and said, “I’m in command, Captain.”
Captain Blake looked at me all confused and said, “But you should pass this ship on the right and this one on the left.”
I looked at him and said, “Like I said, Captain. I’m in command.”
Captain Blake said, “Then I’ll take control for a moment.”
I said, “If you take control, I’ll leave the bridge and you can sort the mess you are going to get us into by yourself.”
Captain Blake looked confused and asked, “What do you mean?”
I replied, “Well, last time you left me in a pickle jar. I would never end up there because I plan ahead. Don’t touch anything while it is my watch and I’m in command.”
Captain Blake bowed his head and left the bridge.
At lunchtime in the messroom, the crew had a big roasted pork on their table, complete with an apple in its mouth. Everyone at the officer table watched as the crew feasted on the pork. The cook brought us fish soup and slices of cooked fish. I stood up with a plate in hand and went to the crew’s table to take a piece of pork and some noodles. I sat back down, and everyone watched as I feasted on the pork and noodles. 2nd Engineer Kurt followed suit, taking his plate to the crew’s table for a piece of pork. Soon, everyone else followed.
Captain Blake looked at everyone and said, “What have you done, Third? This is mutiny.”
I looked at Captain Blake and said, “I didn’t know that being hungry and taking something to eat falls into the category of mutiny.”
Captain Blake said, “Look what you've done. Now everyone is going over there for pork.”
Chief Officer Ben said, “You can eat soups and cooked meat all you want, Captain.” Tapping his right-hand index finger on the table, he added, “But from tomorrow, we want real food, or you will see what mutiny really stands for.”
Captain Blake just bowed his head and ate the soup.
Gradually, after a few days, the food improved to basic standards, and we were satisfied. We didn’t want anything extra, just normal meals, without being hungry all the time. During dinner, the cook made big stacks of pancakes and provided seven bottles of jam, each with a different flavor.
I asked the cook, “Why so many pancakes?”
The cook said, “It is my birthday.”
I said, “Happy Birthday.”
The cook smiled and said, “Thank you.”
2nd Engineer Kurt smiled and said, “I’m not sure if we will be able to eat all this.”
The number of pancakes was astonishing. I decided to make a cake of pancakes, each row with a different flavor of jam.
Captain Blake picked his teeth all over the table and looked at me. Eventually, he asked, “Why are you stacking the pancakes?”
I replied, “Since there are so many pancakes, I’ll make a cake of all flavors.”
Captain Blake asked, “But why not just eat regular rolled pancakes!?”
I replied, “Because now I want to eat a cake of pancakes.”
Captain Blake watched me spread jam and stack pancakes while he picked his teeth.
I cut a piece of pancake pie, and Captain Blake asked, “But why are you cutting it like that?”
I looked at him and replied, “So, you can stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. Let me eat in peace.”
Captain Blake said, “In the next port we must work on...”
Chief Officer Ben said, “Can we not talk about work every lunch and dinner?”
2nd Engineer Kurt said, “I agree. We can’t just eat in peace. Every day, all day we talk about work.”
Captain Blake just bowed his head and continued to pick his teeth. A piece of meat from his mouth flew onto my plate. I stared at it in disbelief. I glanced at 2nd Engineer Kurt, who just shook his head. I left the dinner and went to my cabin.
In the next port, a crisp scent of saltwater mingled with the earthy aroma of the surrounding evergreen forests. The rhythmic calls of seagulls echoed through the air, blending with the distant hum of industrial activity.
As cargo operations were about to start, Chief Officer Ben showed me the cargo plan and ballast plan in the Deck Office. Captain Blake walked in and glanced at the ballast plan. “You should pump the port side aft tank first,” he said.
I looked at Chief Officer Ben, and he just shook his head. “I already made the plan, and we will follow it,” he said.
Captain Blake said, “No. You should pump the port side tank first.”
Chief Officer Ben said, “Ok. I’ll bite. Why in the hell would I pump the port side tank first!?”
Captain Blake said, “Because it’s the right thing to do.”
Chief Officer Ben said, “Oh right. And there I thought there was a mathematical equation behind that statement. Just leave us be, Captain. I’m responsible for cargo operations, and my word is final.” Captain Blake left the deck office.
Chief Officer Ben looked at me and said, “To make myself clear. I’m responsible for the ship’s stability, and you will follow this plan to the letter.”
I nodded and replied, “Of course, Chief.”
Chief Officer Ben said, “Okay, I’ll go monitor the shore pumps. You follow the plan in the pump room.”
I said, “Okay. No problem.”
Chief Officer Ben left, and I entered the pump station.
Soon, Captain Blake entered the pump station and said, “Third. Pump the port side tank first.”
I looked at the Captain and said, “No. I will follow the Chief’s plan to the letter.”
Captain Blake said, “But I’m the Captain, and this is an order from a superior ranking person. You are only the Third Officer.”
I said, “We have a chain of command, and I have my standing orders from the Chief Officer.”
Captain Blake said, “But I’m canceling his orders.”
I said, “The Chief is responsible for cargo loading and stability, and I will follow his orders.”
Captain Blake said, “I’m the Captain…”
I said, “Please, Captain, don’t waste my time. I have to monitor ballast. Talk to the Chief Officer, not me.”
Captain Blake left. I saw him go on deck, probably to search for the Chief Officer.
After some time, Bosun Alpha came into the pump station and said, “Hello, sir.”
I said, “Hello, Bosun. What can I do for you?”
Bosun Alpha said, “I think we better pump the port tank, sir.”
I looked at him, all nervous, and said, “You think, Bosun?”
Bosun Alpha looked behind him at the door, scratched his head, and said, “Yes, the port tank first, sir.”
I looked at the door and saw a shadow on the floor. Someone was behind the wall in the hallway. I said, “Bosun, leave the stability to the Chief. Now, please leave me be.”
Bosun Alpha said, “Yes, sir. Sorry, sir,” then stepped out and added, “Sorry, Captain. No go.”
Captain Blake’s figure appeared from behind the wall. I shook my head as he walked back and forth in front of the door for some time until he finally left.
After a few hours, Chief Officer Ben said on the portable VHF radio, “They will have a half-hour break. Cargo operations will stop. Stop the ballast operations.”
I used my portable VHF radio and said, “Stop ballast operations.” I stopped the pumps and closed the valves. I walked out on the deck to find Chief Officer Ben.
On the deck, I saw Chief Officer Ben still near the shore pumps, and I walked to him.
Chief Officer Ben said, “What’s up?”
I said, “Nothing, just wanted to tell you how the Captain sent the Bosun to tell me which tank to operate.”
Chief Officer Ben nervously ran his right hand through his hair. “That man is crazy. He harassed me for almost an hour. Since then, I've been hiding from him to avoid the headache,” he said. Chief Officer Ben looked over my shoulder and added, “I can’t believe this. Here he comes again. Come on, follow me.”
I looked and saw Captain Blake as he walked towards us. I followed Chief Officer Ben to the front of the ship.
Chief Officer Ben looked to see if Captain Blake was following us, and he was. “Come on. Follow me,” Ben said.
I followed Chief Officer Ben to the stern of the ship. He checked to see if Captain Blake was still following us. Once he spotted him, we moved back to the front end of the ship. We played cat and mouse for half an hour until the shore resumed cargo operations.
I walked back to the pump station and continued to follow the ballast plan. The Captain passed by, looked at me, but said nothing. I felt fed up with this loony bin. A few thoughts crossed my mind, ‘There is no point in navigating since all these frustrated people from RO-RO ships will start coming over here. At this rate, I’ll end up in an asylum.’ I decided to finish my career as a seaman with this ship. I chanted in my head, ‘No more.’
2nd Engineer Kurt walked into the pump station and said, “You want to go out this afternoon?”
I said, “Okay. I don’t want to play cat and mouse on the ship.”
2nd Engineer Kurt laughed and said, “What!?”
I said, “The Captain is just grinding everyone with his ideas, and people are avoiding him.”
2nd Engineer Kurt said, “That man is a menace. I have a perfect spot for you. Just come down to the engine room; he will never find you there.”
I laughed and said, “See you later then.”
2nd Engineer Kurt smiled and left.
After our duty ended, we stepped off the ship at the port. The dockside was a flurry of movement, with workers skillfully maneuvering cargo. Walking towards the town, we traversed a path lined with weathered wooden planks, each step resonating with the echoes of maritime history. The surrounding area had shops and local eateries.
The main street welcomed us with a blend of rustic and modern architecture. We decided to stop at a cozy burger restaurant. The scent of sizzling patties and freshly baked buns wafted through the air, instantly making our mouths water. We found a quaint booth near the window, offering us a perfect view of the bustling street outside.
As we settled into our seats, a friendly waitress approached us with a warm smile. She wore a classic diner uniform, complete with a playful name tag that read "Jessie." She was slim and tall, with long, flowing black hair that framed her face beautifully. Her demeanor was friendly and curious. She said, “You are not local!?”
2nd Engineer Kurt said, “No. We came with a ship.”
Jessie said, “I heard. Your ship is the first in some time now. I hope they revive the old routes.”
I said, “I never saw such a big burger establishment. Looks a little like an older building.”
Jessie smiled and said, “Of course, you don’t know. Back in the old days, this was a hooker saloon for the mariners. A lot of seamen would disappear here. It was discovered that the hookers would get some of them drunk and make them disappear using a trap door. Down below, they would kill them and loot their bodies.”
2nd Engineer Kurt was speechless.
I said, “Some history. Good to know.”
Jessie gave us the menus and said, “You know, there are still rooms on the upper floor from back in the day. If you want, you can join me later on the beach. I’ll be looking for some seashells.”
A big man passed by and handed her keys.
I asked, “Who is that man, a bouncer?”
Jessie smiled and said, “No, that is my husband.”
2nd Engineer Kurt nodded his head.
I said, “Right!!! We’ll pass on the seashells and just give us your biggest burgers.”
Jessie said, “Well, your loss,” and she left for the kitchen.
2nd Engineer Kurt said, “So many red flags.”
After some time, Jessie brought us big burgers stacked with everything they found in the kitchen. It was a monstrosity held together by big toothpicks. 2nd Engineer Kurt and I struggled to eat them since they were so big. We couldn’t open our mouths, so we had to cut them slowly with a knife and eat them with a fork piece by piece. They even had eggs inside. After we ate the burgers, we went for a walk through the city.
As we ventured deeper into the town, we encountered historic buildings that told stories of the past. The town's maritime museum offered a glimpse into the rich heritage of the region, displaying artifacts, photographs, and stories of seafarers who once navigated these waters. The streets were alive with the friendly chatter of locals, who greeted us with warm smiles and a genuine sense of community.
Near the bridge, a car almost ran us over as we walked in the pedestrian area. The car stopped near the fence, its interior filled with smoke, making it difficult to see the two people inside. The passenger window opened, and a young person’s head popped out, asking, “Do you want a smoke?”
2nd Engineer Kurt and I looked at each other, and I replied, “No thanks.”
The driver laughed and floored the gas pedal. The tires screeched, and the car sped away quickly.
2nd Engineer Kurt said, “Those boys are high.”
A young person swaggered past us like a cowboy and spat on the ground in front of us. I just smiled.
2nd Engineer Kurt said, “And this one… a tough kid.”
A group of bikers rode past us on their motorcycles, honking their horns as they went by.
I said, “Maybe we stick out in this place.”
2nd Engineer Kurt said, “Let’s just stop at this market. I want to check out if they have pants.”
I said, “Okay.”
We entered the big market and saw a few overweight people riding electric shopping carts. 2nd Engineer Kurt browsed some pants while I eyed a stand displaying guns and rifles near the counter.
A man stood up behind the counter and said, “Do you like what you see?”
I looked at a black pump-action shotgun and said, “This looks real.”
The seller said, “Of course, it is real, only 120 USD for this beauty.”
I said, “You sell real guns in a market? I probably can’t buy it because I’m not from around here.”
The seller said, “All you need is an ID with a picture.”
I said, “But I don’t have your country’s papers. I’m a foreigner.”
The seller said, “Do you have a passport with a picture?”
I said, “Yes, of course.”
The seller said, “There. You have it, an ID with a picture.”
I said, “But I can’t bring this shotgun with me. How will I explain this at the border?”
The seller smiled and said, “Just move to this country, and you’ll have no problem with owning the right to protect yourself.”
2nd Engineer Kurt came from behind me and said, “Come on, let’s go.”
I waved goodbye to the gun seller, and we left the marketplace.
We walked down the street, and I saw a big sports car parked in front of a car dealer.
A seller just appeared from nowhere and said, “How can I help you?”
I said, “We are just passing by.”
The car seller said, “And this beauty caught your eye.”
I said, “Well yes, of course, but we are foreigners. I can’t buy it.”
The car seller said, “Of course, you can.”
2nd Engineer Kurt bumped me with his elbow on the side. I just smiled as we continued down the road.
2nd Engineer Kurt said, “Everyone here is eager to sell you something.”
A police car pulled up beside us and honked. We halted, and the policeman lowered his passenger window. He said, “I can see you're not from around here. Come on, I'll give you a ride. Hop in.” We sat inside.
I said, “How did you know we are not from around here?”
The policeman smiled and said, “No one walks around this place. We all drive cars. You were easy to spot. Where are you headed?”
2nd Engineer Kurt said, “To the ship at the harbor straight ahead.”
The policeman said, “Okay. Here we go.”
As I looked through the car window, the scenery unfolded like a moving painting, each frame telling a different story. The early morning light cast a golden hue over the landscape, illuminating the lush forests and rolling hills that surrounded the town. The natural beauty of the area was ever-present, creating a picturesque backdrop that seemed to belong in a postcard.
We passed an intersection just before a train, pulling an endless number of wagons, crossed. The policeman remarked, “Good, we passed before the train. Otherwise, we would be stuck here for forty minutes.”
I looked at the train and said, “That must be some strong train to pull all those wagons.”
2nd Engineer Kurt asked, “How do you like it here?”
The policeman glanced at some people near the road and replied, “It’s good. The only problem is that some people have too much money, and then they want power. Everyone is into politics.” He then stopped the car near the port entrance and opened the door for us to get out.
A car stopped near us, and a person got out, carrying a box full of donuts. He had a tag on his chest that read, “Ship's Agent.”
I exited the police car and said, “Halt. We need to inspect this suspicious package you are holding.”
The agent looked confused and asked, “Who are you?”
I replied, “The donut police.”
Everyone laughed.
I said, “I’m the Third Officer from this ship.”
The agent opened the donut box and said, “Feel free to pick. They are for the crew anyway.”
I picked a cream-filled one from the middle and looked at the policeman. “Do you want one?” I asked.
The policeman smiled and replied, “No thanks. You guys take care now.” The policeman waved goodbye to us and left with his car.
2nd Engineer Kurt and I walked with the agent to the ship.
The agent said, “Yesterday, I barely slept. My back was killing me. The Captain wanted me to deliver him some soda cans. He believed it is cheaper this way than to order a ship chandler[1].”
I said, “Next time, save your spine and call a ship chandler.”
We climbed aboard the ship and found Chief Officer Ben on deck. He said, “Captain is all over the place trying to speed up cargo operations. He doesn’t understand that we do things differently on a tanker.”
I said, “RO-RO ship is in his blood. There is no coming back from that.”
The agent handed a box of donuts to Chief Officer Ben, and he said, “Here, this is for the crew. I’ll head out to the Captain to give him some papers he needs to sign.”
I said, “I’ll walk with you.”
We left Chief Officer Ben and 2nd Engineer Kurt.
I walked with the agent to the Captain’s Office. Captain Blake was seated behind his desk.
I said, “Captain, I want to go home in the next port. Please arrange my replacement with the office.”
Captain Blake hesitated to speak as he glanced at the agent. Finally, he said, “Okay, Third. I will contact the office.”
I left the Captain's Office and walked outside. I watched a duck and her ducklings swimming carelessly across the harbor. Once I felt calm and relaxed, I went to my cabin. A few days later, the ship left the port.
At the next port, I disembarked and went home. Upon arriving home, I contacted the company on my mobile phone.
I said, “This is Jack Tanner.”
A female voice responded, “Please wait. I’ll patch you up to your boarding agent.”
After a few seconds, a male voice answered the call and said, “Hello, Jack. Tell me, what can I do for you?”
I said, “I’m retiring from this line of work.”
The boarding agent said, “We’ll talk after you get some rest.”
I said, “No amount of rest will change my mind. I'm done. Best forget about me.”
The boarding agent said, “Sad to hear that, Jack. Then I can mark your file as former employee.”
I said, “Yes. I’m done with ships.”
The boarding agent said, “Okay, Jack. It is done. Take care.”
I said, “Goodbye.”
I gathered all my ship documents and placed them in a box in the attic. As I looked at the box, a thought came to my mind: ‘I will be the first in my family to stop the tradition of sailors.’ But I had made up my mind, and now it was time for a new chapter in my life.
END
[1] Ship chandler - a retail dealer who specializes in providing supplies or equipment for ships
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