climbing the jacob's ladder

Local knowledge and having the feel of the ship: the essence of Piloting. Captain Ricardo Caballero Panama Canal Pilot When I was a deck officer back in the early nineties I worked on a ship that used to load grain at different ports along the Mississippi river. The name of the ship was Golden Hope, a 600 feet long dry bulk carrier with a 95 feet in beam. An average size vessel for those days' standards. We would pick up pilot at the sea buoy and proceed up river via the South West Pass. Since I was the only ship's officer who could speak and understand some English the Captain would keep me in the bridge every time we called at a U.S port. I would act as an interpreter between the Captain, who was Greek and  the American Pilots, which also meant that I had to keep hot coffee available for both of them. That did not bother me at all.  It was a very low price for having the luxury of watching the pilots do their thing. Besides, being in the bridge saved me from the task of hand...

Piloting: the melody of safety. (or the new songs of the Chagres River) Captain Ricardo Caballero ------------------------------------------ My son and a few other kids, who have been playing the piano for some years, were honored to attend a  Master class by famous French pianist  Pascal Gallet. The classes were taught at the grand piano on the stage of  Panama's National Theater, where Mr. Gallet would give a concert the following night.   Sitting at the far end of the stage, a few meters away from the instrument, I could see the little young heads, tilted down as if they were  giving a last minute glance at  the music sheet with the melody they were about to play. One could sense the mix of excitment and anxiety with which the kids were filling the air. Even though this was not a contest, their performance was going to be "judged" by someone who was not their regular teacher. That must be scary, I th...

Seafarers  Captain Ricardo Caballero The Shipping industry has become extremely competitive. Hiring crew from "third" world countries can save shipowners some significant bucks. The Filipino, one of the most common nationality found aboard,  constitutes a large cut in expenses for many companies. Their salaries are normally well below from that of their "first world" counterpart, a situation which is considered fair bdcause it is "cheaper" to live in the Phillipines than, let's say, in France. But, for shipping the savings are not only in the third world crew remunerations but in the fact that these crews spend longer periods of time aboard than, again, their "first world" counterpart. Granted, third world crew benefit from this labor relation since it enables them to have good earnings if compared to their companions working ashore back home. It is also understandable that the Captain and officers, bearing more responsibility, ...

Fatigue, a common element of today's seafarer's life. Captain Ricardo Caballero, Panama Canal Pilot I have to quote a Norwegian Chief Officer who I worked with over 30 years ago when I was just coming out of the package.  Being a "rookie" I was eager to score some points by going the "extra mile" in performing my duties, which weren't specific since I was only a cadet. He said to me "just because it seems as it can be done this time, it does not mean that it should be done all the time ". He said this while  I was inside a  double bottom tank of one of the lower cargo holds. It was well passed midnight. I had worked all day but I wasn't really tired and I had suggested him that I could finish the task before sunrise.  No, he said. It was my first ship, I was being prey by the excitment caused by novelty. It did not take me too long after I began sailing as a Deck Officer to understand what he had told me. I was on small ...

Listen to the "old man", he knows his ship. Guiding ships through the perils of a harbor or any other waterway can only be achieved successfully after gaining enough experience. It takes time to master every aspect of the geographical area in which you become a pilot.  As train to become Pilot you learn about the location of the buoys, the depths of the channels, the effect of the currents and tides, the available resources: you become an expert in ship handling and are the most apt source when it comes to "local knowledge". You also understand plenty about maneuvering different type of ships. Just by looking at the draft, size, and particulars of the ship you are capable to foretell its behaviour. In this regard you are also an expert. But is this all that you need to bring the ship safely to its destination? What is the role of the ship's Captains? Is he a figure not to be taken into account when we pilots take important decisions? I am wi...