Sanketh Koka

Its been long since i have left the seas...below is something i wrote when i just got off one. goes out for thousands of people saying in the middle of nowhere, for their guts, their will power, their honesty, their hardwork and their life. Kudos to each one of them.

 

C/o- Chief officer, 2/o-Second officer....3/E third engineer...E/O- electrical officer

 

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28th July 2003 I reported at the company office and it was 2nd September when I was told “you are going on Campeche”. The whole night of 2nd September was spent collecting information about the vessel. Called friends and some seniors to find out “who” from the college had sailed on this vessel earlier. When I finally did here was what I was told. “You will find a cool crew on board, the vessel is 15yrs old, and sea water leakages await you”.

 

8th September 2003. 0900 Hrs, I was standing right in front of her. She was really huge, was actually losing her weight. Having no idea what was going to come next I just hoped for the best. The third officer (3/o) showed me my cabin. In 5 mins I was down there in the engine room in my boiler suit. We were taking in bunker (Fuel for the vessel).

 

Scene-I

 

The Chief engineer (C/e) said, “From today onwards the Second engineer 2/e is your mummy and daddy on board”

 

Scene-II

 

The 2/e says, “Emergency exits to the star board side on every floor. Go take a round!” And hence A JOURNEY STARTED…..

 

It happened two days later, was coming out of the bilges after tracing a pipe line, something every trainee engineer will keep doing. I felt this light spray of water on my face. I looked up to find this crack on one of the pipelines. Had no idea what that line was meant for. I simply panicked because the first thing that came to my mind was that the pipeline was going to burst. (OK folks this is the one and only time that you can call me dumb) I ran the fastest in my life to reach the top floor, panting I told the 2/E “Sir, there is this line where from there is lots of water spraying”. Was damn astonished to see how cool he was, “Is it falling on any motor?” he asked. I replied in the negative. The fitter was then asked to look into the matter. I later realized that the line was the fire line that had been charged with water for deck washing. But what I concluded was NEVER PANIC. It doesn’t help!!

 

Days passed by; initially I was a mere spectator at work. I was to have the knowledge of what and where the tools were mostly kept, so that I can get them to the work place if required. Believe me I hated it when I had to climb three floors to get a tool. That actually enthused me to learn the work as fast as I could because if I did I knew I would hence be seldom asked to get the tools or rather I personally would make sure that all the required tools were taken along. The C/E once said “the trainee engineer is the spinal cord of the engine department”. I had to make myself friendly to the engine room. Fundamentally put all five senses that one has to use. And if possible the 6th one too…your intuition, this was something that my C/E and 2/E always reminded me off.

 

The crew that I sailed with was excellent in all sense, pick any one from any of the departments and he was a great individual. The greatest influences on me were the 4/E and the captain, basically because I was lucky enough to talk to them a lot. I naturally opened up in front of them. Told them about my past, they were well aware of my present and neither did I know about my future. Each time I had talk with them I would learn something new as to work on board.  I can confidently bet that it shall be long before I sail with officers of such kind. Talking to the captain felt damn good, actually when you are far away from home you obviously do become independent but then it’s just the ripe age when one is learning to live like that. So having him talk to me sometimes made me feel like at home. There were times when I was in one my worst lows and I would happen to talk to me. It did relieve me. It wasn’t that the other officers never talked to me. But that was at a lesser frequency. But every thing that each one of them said made a difference. The topic varied, right from parents to girlfriends, right from marine techie stuff to the latest gizmos in the market, right from infatuations to marriage, right from politics in India to politics on board!! The list is endless.

 

Each one of the officers taught me something. The captain when frequently talking to me would study my body language. He taught me to be observant; he shared with me his experiences on shipping. How it treats individuals out there in the open seas and in the market. I was the kiddo onboard. The C/E was someone with loads of experience. During tea breaks I was to sit 4 mtrs away from where the rest would sit. I was not instructed to but I kept a watch on certain crucial parameters on the control panel. It was during this time that my body was at this place but my ears would be trying their best to hear what the topic of discussion amongst them was. I was no spy at work, but it so happened that at times the topic of discussion would be something technical. Nevertheless that I heard half of what they spoke but when the C/E spoke of something I always wanted to listen, you never know, when, where and why would it come handy. The 2/E was very patient he had a very nice of explaining how the work had to be done. He would at times hold me back after work and give me this “food for thought”. They were basically questions that I had to find answers of.  He then would also talk about how I should prepare for my exams and how life treats people in this profession, or how my mental framework should be like. He at times would find me at the alleyway and then call me into his cabin. There I would have a can of coke and lots of peanuts. Talk about some or the other thing. This helped me break the monotony of evry evening.

 

My 3/E taught me devotion to work. He was excellent at his work. Experience made him a master of speed and perfection in his job. I still remember his words “Everyone is excellent in retrospection of a problem, but out here in the middle of the sea what matter is what you think is the best solution to a current problem and then EXECUTE it!!” The 4/E, he taught me how to live out here. He told me his experiences as a 5/E. He taught me his work. He was my inspiration for sheer will power and determination. His cabin was always open for me. When he would be on his watch and I was hungry I would sneak into his cabin, smuggle a can of chilled coke and hunt of some eatables, listen to some music and then leave. The E/O was very efficient. He took his time in a problem but as always was bang at the target of the problem. Sometimes when I made faults officers on board were equally vocal, like the day when the 2/O used to these words for me “I have observed this resistance to authority in you, do you have some kind of problem?” Initially I had this great feeling of regret hearing this, but then I did look at it the other way round too. Why was such a comment made in first place? There is no smoke without fire. Having figured it out I made sure the comment suited me no more. One of the oilers also once said “You get angry very fast. Try controlling it. You have a long way to go in life.” I never asked him I had improved when I was leaving but hopefully I did.

 

There were two families on board. The C/e’s and C/o’s. I would come across them during Lunch and Dinner. Here the C/o’s daughter would steal the show, hyperactive and damn talkative and full of energy. Having food with her would always have the company of laughter. I do remember what the C/o’s wife once said “It’s rare to see people on board smile always, you are one of them, do continue so”. I did try my best to do that. The C/e’s wife would always have this full hearted gracious smile, wishing her during lunch and dinner had this strange effect on me. It would just make me feel so light! That I realized in days to come was because her reply would always have the characteristic smile along with it. There are off course time when you face the ire of your seniors simply because you are the only one on whom it can be vented out. I would rather put it this way…the anger onboard flows down the chain of command. As time passed by the crew changed but call it my luck the character of the crew remained the same. The seniors guided me well. Each had a different way of letting things known. Should quote what the captain once told me “Work hard, eat hard, sleep hard and take bullshit”. Jokes apart but follow this; it’s the golden rule for initial survival on board.

 

It isn’t that rosy after all, life at sea can get very monotonous, something we are aware of as we take up a course to head out here. We need to have our own innovative means of entertaining ourselves, reading books, listening to music, movieholic being a few. I remember deliberately prolonging my lunch and dinner on the table. There was a reason behind it; it was here that we would have open for all discussions. And I enjoyed every bit of being a part of it. In the middle of no where one shall have his or her own share of lows, its not only the new joiner who feels that way. After all each one of us is humane. Each of them comes out here with a right to miss their family, girlfriends, friends and enemies too. Memories related to them make an obligatory daily visit. A sense of insecurity for people in close relationships does come haunting at times. And man has to learn to cope with it. I was told stories of certain relationships getting lost in the air due to the long time spent at the sea. It gives a feeling that people ashore do not miss the individual as much as he/she does. I hoped that it wasn’t true and even if it was, may it never happen to me. Workload at times tires you out. It can lead one into depression. But then getting out of it leaves you mentally stronger. Appreciation is rare to find and that comes rarely out here. I frankly starved for it. I remember this one time when I tried my hand at welding while the fitter was looking upon me. He said “With no practice seeing the way you weld asserts you are good at it”. I was on the moon. I remember what my dad said once “if you hate something but have to live with it, then change the way you look at it” and so I did. There are two ways of looking at work right “good” and “bad”. Out here in the middle of the sea sitting on 60000 m3 of LPG there is only one way of doing things…GOOD! Everyone’s work reflects on the other. So when a job is done it should be assumed it has been done well. Seems like a too optimistic approach to work, probably it was….

 

This is the fourth plain paper I had scribbled on. I have the window seat on a BA flight. The person next to me has asked the air hostess to get him his 7th can of coke. I smile at her. She does the same and asks “Anything for you”… “water” I say. She leaves. I look through the window. I am in the middle of Atlantic on my way from the land of America to Heathrow. Which shall take me back HOME. I see tiny ants walking on the ocean below. They are vessels on their transatlantic voyage. One of them could be LPG/c Harriette N. I know, the work that must be on. The Fourth engineer would be sleeping, the 2nd engineer would be in the engine room. Off boarding the ship there were a mixed bag of emotions. I was happy I was heading back home. To hug my parents and to kiss my girlfriend, but then I know what each of those waving hands which remained on board said. I know the next time I head to another vessel I shall be very confident. But my emotions shall remain the same.  I get up from my seat. Open the cabinet for my hand back. I open it and I see a bunch of 12 envelopes, each one from each crew member. Each one has loads of memories being sent back home. I put in these four papers below them. The next day I arrive at Hyderabad in India. I hug my parents. And before we could sit down, I pick my bike keys, head straight to the nearest courier office. Off I send the memories. Miss you Lady Sea.