The Ship Managers

The most common statement of a seafarer planning, talking or musing over moving ashore must be "it won't happen to me"! To explain this simple utterance it is necessary to look at past performance of the many seafarers who have taken the great step of moving ashore and to understand the clear principle of "them and us".

Those ashore are normally 'the managers'; those that control and attempt to ruin the livelihoods of those who are still at sea. Many managers ashore today are ex-seafarers! In simple terms they were once good sailors who got on with the job, liked a drink and just fitted into the general theme of things as the ship ploughed its trade. And then one day they made a life altering decision and moved into the office; things that they once did are suddenly frowned upon and the art of understanding evaporates before they have even farted on their lovely new swivel chair.

It could be said that by simply climbing over the fence there is no turning back. It is a one way package that precludes the luggage, encumbrance and emotion that comes with a life on the high seas. It could also be said that they must conform, adapt and fit in with the new culture as a simple means of survival, to keep past history might not go down to well with the other managers who are all trying to keep the lower classes in order.

There are many movers who have tried to keep a sense of proportion, attempted to keep the channels open so that they do not fall under the umbrella of "there goes another one". These movers are notable by there largess in the bar, they being the ones who entertain seafarers in a rather raucous and overbearing way. Of course they buy many drinks (usually more than their fair share) so the 'rough types' tend not to complain too much but generally there is not much to talk about apart from old times and colorful characters. Upon departing the pub or maybe during a space when the 'mover' visits the toilet comments will abound to the theme of: 'what a boring old fart he has become' or 'he used to be all right when he was at sea'.

The largest gripe at sea when things get tough is, "they just don't know what they are doing", naturally in direct reference to the managers back in the office! Practically speaking it is quite unbelievable that these managers, who are obviously well educated or have a mass of experience or both, do not know their behinds from their elbows! They must have something! From a seafarers point of view though this asset is often hard to find, if not impossible!

Seafarers are by no means short on intelligence (in fact many managers are ex-seafarers if you jumped into this article half way) and they appreciate fully that many other factors and variables tend to influence a manager decision or response apart from those that only revolve around a crews welfare. Boring things like financial constraints, market forces or long term strategies are as clear as water! Cost efficiency, budgets and the accountant who has never seen a ship in his life are all written in large print! In fact that is all old hat and is no longer a viable excuse for any ship to run short of food, for a crew member to be three weeks late in getting home or for equipment to break down due to a lack of spares.

Some newly created landlubbers, who have wormed their way behind desks, try differing approaches to appease the rising tidal waves of anger that sometimes come charging their way from the ships that they are responsible for. They use the direct approach of "sorry, I made a mistake" or "I have been so busy that it got lost in the pile". Oh come on! Try telling that to the crew who have no drinking water because the stuff they loaded in Tuticorin is undrinkable, try telling that to the poor sod of an engineer who has no safety boots because his feet are too large! This approach by certain managers does not work and only goes to enrage those who have to hear it.

Apart from the few that try to keep the channels open most "movers" tend to just make a clean break of it by wiping the slate clean of the past and starting anew. This is probably the best way, not only for their own state of mind but for their family and life back home. The largest mistake they make though is to spend the preceding months before the move telling all their colleagues and friends at sea that "it won't happen to me'. Such a build up that so obviously was never intended.

In reality it is impossible to keep both channels open. There maybe a few characters out there that have been able to combine a desk job with a past sea-career, who have managed to retain some aspects of what actually goes down on a ship and who can still communicate with seafarers on a level. I for one don't know any.

It is though with sadness that I am contemplating a move ashore. For my family and career the next rung of the ladder lies behind a desk and although I don't want to leave the sea it is time to do so.

And I tell you right here and now that "it won't happen to me"!