Thursday, 14 November 2013

Joining my first ship m.v. Jag Laxmi,

Title: Joining my first ship m.v. Jag Laxmi, Gen Cargo carrier  
of Great Eastern Shipping Co.Bombay.

Looking back-- 
After passing out of T.S.Dufferin in 1965, about 7 of us  were interviewed and selected by the GESCO Suptd. with ROR & Seamanship questions included at the interview - like an MOT Oral Exam and was then accepted for Apprenticeship. We were instructed to join  our respective ships in  July-Aug 1965. I arrived in Calcutta by train from Madras to join m.v.Jag Laxmi"- a gen-cargo freighter, due at Calcutta, travelling  by ordinary 3rd class Mail Train  to join my first ship as a Cadet---er..  " Apprentice " saab- a much forgotten term today.

On arrival Howrah Station at 5.30 am, I proceeded by a local taxi direct to GESCO office and waited there from 0630hrs till 0930 at the foot of GESCO office. With just about Rs 50 left  in my pocket  this was the only  economical and practical way..and it seemed quite alright  then.
The Per. Manager, Mr Bose at Calcutta, a kind man and a fine gentleman  arrived in the office at sharp 9.30 am.
He observed me with keen interest and possibly saw a very naive, tired & dishevelled youth esp.after 2 nights in a 3rd Class compartment  and asked –
When did you arrive ?–
I said at about 5.45 a.m
Where were you till now?-
I said-waiting on the office steps on Gr. Floor, sitting on my steel trunk.
Have you at least had Tea – I said No Sir. He was visibly surprised and smiled and then offered me Tea and even biscuits was served-He  was indeed more understanding and helpful than I could have dreamed of --a great blessing..
Not only was I provided Tea and biscuits --but also with board & lodging at the Calcutta Mariners Club for 11 days, but added in was Re-assurance and friendliness to a lone youth at 18, which  was something most needed.
Till date... nearly 5 decades later- I have never forgotten his kindness at that first meeting.Bless him
-IThe first meeting with a Principal Employer is a real challenge and an important landmark in anyone’s Career.
I have seen it is more like “Strange encounters of the third kind” these days.

I settled in to the Marine Club for a long wait as the ship was held up at Sandheads . with not arrival -ETB
The Club was a convenient  place and the room and meals were extremely good.I actually spent 11 days waiting in the Marine Club for my ship to dock from Sandheads.We learnt patience  then on Dufferin and it was no issue really
The resident seafaring crowd at Marine Club Calcutta were all senior to me by at least 3 years or more.
Mostly, from ISS and Scindias -who were doing their respective Competency Exams..Most were  ex Dufferin and so much easier to connect.Some doing their 2nd Mates Exam-popularly then was called Meal  Ticket
All were friendly, most helpful with a relaxed, friendly  ambience prevailing.

An interesting part of those times was to see  a 2nd Mate joining his ship with his own Sextant & Binocs on a coal carrier on coast. In many companies then, the navigating officers carried their own sextant and binocs. as a part of the "professional gear" as per Company orders then.
Today we possibly will see a Navigational GPS and Laptop in one's baggage.

I had to go daily to the shipping office-"Marine House" to  get my ID card processed.At that time a company did not issue a guarantee to facilitate getting a  Passport to new entry Cadets - (Unless you were fortunate to have  your own passport). The  ID card was a slow and tedious process and the daily trudge -- to get my travel documentation &ID Card done..  The walk to Marine House was a herculean feat in pouring rain with waterlogged roads .During that time in July Calcutta  had very heavy rains - and flooding,  but no TV & media to report it. Had to once wade through 4 feet of water and walk to Mercantile Marine Office in  soaking wet clothes.  We Indians manage to some how survive & still smile- -

But it was also a good lesson that the Weather (& the Sea)  have the final & last say in Life on earth..  a useful lesson for any Mariner to be!! 

M.v. Jag Laxmi finally docked at Calcutta Jetties and my batchmate and co cadet S.K.Wadhawan (late) and I  boarded one evening by 6 pm and reported on duty, to start  our Apprenticeship. 
We had finally arrived at Destination No 1. 

This period of Apprenticeship (Cadet) was initially CP really..i.e. Chipping & Painting in first year, part Watch-keeping second year and in senior term usually after gaining some experience help the Ch. Officer in many duties inc stores indents, repair lists and of course do routine maintenance.Some  Watch keeping in port and at Sea.
Simple life , hard work and a set routine that seldom changed except perhaps with a Ch Oficer's mood  was all quietly -cheerfully accepted. The princely stipend of Rs 90 /-pm as a first year Cadet was received with great respect and valued as thrift was a way of life. Ships were simple and most had no AC cabins, nor with the omfort of attached facilities--
We managed with Reading or some indoor games as it was all that we had to spend time with-
A Recreation  lounge  was provided witha few indoor games anda library.That was all . 

Food was passe.In 1965,  we saw 3 galleys on a ship with different kinds of food cooked! (refer next blog post)
The officers meals was to some extent still british cusiine partly..but changing rapidly.
Later, in the end of 1966 , I was transferred to m.t.Jag Jwala -a coaster oil tanker.There it was mostly Tank Washing and Gas Freeing work on ballast passage, assist in cargo loading and some times with miscellaneous maintenence  or checking Stores, Indents etc. on loaded passage.

Finally, towards the end of the tenure, it was own study with the  Self Examiner book –nicknamed Selfi” in the last few months of Apprenticeship and then to 2nd Mates Examination- the much awaited  Ticket with financial independence.
As a "prospective" merchant navy officer, the period as a Cadet was a Learning and Adjustment time-.
Life was so simple; few demands and I was content & happy.
On the whole,  a good rounded off experience really and of course subject to a few variations with behaviour patterns of human nature that was also an education in many ways.Today we call it Group Dynamics in HR !!

CONCLUDING
We in our time and youth, some how managed our entire apprenticeship period of 3 years  (less remission for Dufferin time) with out leave for our own economic reasons  and went straight to do the 2nd. Mates Exam -cleared  it .
This mind you, in an era when Mobiles or Email was unheard of.
Letters from home  were just once ot trwice a month in port.
No contact with our homes for months end on.

As we age, our physical & nervous strength & ability gradually reduces-a natural process.
I also often wonder how we did all that so easily..... and yet managed and .. smiled.
WE learnt to accept what ever Life gave us with good cheer and thanksgiving.
The very idea of joining a ship and going all across the globe was a dream then
Capt.TR.

EPILOGUE
REFLECTING--

What really has changed in 50 years -

The  Working norms, terms, short term contract conditions,wages and the upgradation of technology in operations has radically changed the shipping scene. Above all so many ominious protocols with their unfair Legal implications has had its negative impact –

The Sea and the man and even the basic seamanship  is the same really--but many new problems have crept in including serious hazards like Piracy and Criminalisation -in legal battles when accidents or pollution incidents occur-
However to a great extent the Human Factor and psychology remains the same in dealing with challenges-
Yes, Attitudes and expectations have altered a great deal.




Thus, whilst  we see Technology with electronics and new systems help-- we also have many a major set backs  in Sea life and a Merchant Navy Career.  

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