Discipline

Eric Tsang
10 Jun 2005

Let me share an interesting story with you. But before I tell the story, let me brief you a little background information.

In an ocean going merchant vessel, the boss is of course the captain, who is the king. The second powerful person is the chief engineer; the third is the chief officer. And there is cadet officer who is the apprentice of the chief officer. The cadet is the lowest rank officer. He does everything from chipping, painting, keeping watch in the bridge to cleaning the toilet.

Once upon a time, there was a merchant vessel approaching the harbor. There were the captain, the pilot, duty officer, helmsman on the wheel and the cadet in the bridge. For some special reason, the captain, as per the request of the pilot, needed the chief engineer on the bridge. The chief engineer was not on duty then and therefore not in the engine room. The captain ordered the cadet to find the chief engineer and asked him to report to the bridge.

The cadet asked, "Where is the chief, sir?"

The duty officer, who indeed was the third officer, was terror and shaking. But the cadet was just standing there waiting for the answer and did not aware the next thing might have happened was 'man overboard'.

The captain said, "I DON'T KNOW, GO AND FIND HIM! NOW!"

Later that day, the chief officer grasped the cadet and sighed, he said: "never talk to the captain like that, because I'll be f***ed."

The next day, the third officer said to the cadet that 'never, never ask stupid question like a baby like that, especially to the captain. But you're lucky, the captain needs you on the bridge when berthing and departing.'

The whole team of the crewmembers, the sailors, onboard were Mainland Chinese and unable to understand English. The captain was Briton and always kept the cadet on the bridge for steering when berthing and departing.

The helmsman needs to take orders from the captain and/or the pilot. For instance, when the captain says "one-eight-zero", that means he commands the ship's heading to become 180 degree. Or when he says "port five", that means he commands the ship to turn five degree to the left.

The helmsman should acknowledge the commands by repeating "one-eight-zero", etc. as well as report to the captain when the heading has become "one-eight-zero" by saying "one-eight-zero, sir".

However, due to pride and mainly improper training, or simply because no one dared to correct the cadet, he never reported after the commands were accomplished. And he was not always that lucky.

There was a time, the pilot commanded for a certain heading, the cadet turned the wheel right away and managed to accomplish the order, and did not report. After a while, without hearing from the cadet who was on the wheel, the pilot shouted to the captain "what the f*** is the heading NOW?"

The cadet was shocked and panic, as he finally realized he had created a huge trouble.

That eighteen-years-old cadet was I.