MARLOW NEWSLETTER - Marlow Navigation Training Center

without his doubts about the whole scenario.
He might have been ignorant of
maritime affairs but certainly not short of
intelligence since he has graduated from
a first class high school with honours. He
quickly then appreciated the situation and
decided that the whole affair smelt a rat.
He therefore exited the bridge from the
wing, climbed down the outside staircases
to the main deck and into a pitch dark
night, re-entered the accommodation and
hastily went up the inside staircase to his
deck and eventually to his cabin. He set
aside the semaphore flags, stripped again
and went to bed.
The cadet was awakened by the ship’s typhoon
accompanied by loud voices
around the bridge area (which was on the
same deck as his cabin). Glancing at his
watch he registered that it was 4:00 am.
Since he was instructed by the Bosun not
to get involved in anything onboard unless
he is expressly asked by his superiors
or summoned by an Emergency signal, he
curled his young body in his warm blankets
and fell back to a deep sleep.
At around 4:45 am his door was opened
widely and the cadet jumped up to face a
frightened stare of the 2nd Officer.
It goes without saying what happened
after the cadet decided to use his better
intelligence and abandon the “signaling
task”. The 2nd Officer, being positive that
the cadet was at the forecastle, after some
time, sent the seaman on watch to call him
back. The seaman rushed back in panic
reporting that the cadet was nowhere to
be found at the forecastle. The 2nd Offi-
33
Dec 2008 3rd Issue
cer in panic summoned the 3rd Officer
back on the bridge and after they have together
assessed the situation, they have
concluded that the cadet must have possibly
fallen overboard. They then decided
to call the Chief Officer for advice, who
decided to call the Master on the bridge
(who was not aware of the set up
arranged for the cadet).
The Master of course did what he had to
do after being convinced that he had a
man overboard two hours behind. He
went on the VHF calling Gibraltar signaling
station and turned back the ship at opposite
course with all search lights on and
the crew summoned for a search and rescue
operation. It was at this point when
the 2nd Officer decided to sneak out of
the bridge and look into the cadet’s cabin,
hoping that no miracle will happen. But
as it was, the miracle happened and the
cadet was there staring at him in astonishment.
The results were not pleasant for the
“learned” deck officers and the bosun.
The Master took the cadet’s training
under his personal supervision from that
point onwards, in order to protect him
from the angry “conspirators”. As a matter
of fact, he was “secretly” proud of the
young lad and he saw a great potential in
him in having a bright seafaring career. He
was right.
Lesson to be learned: Never underestimate
other people’s intelligence.
Article Provided by -
Capt. Joseph Josephides -
MN CYPRUS