My starting to be a sailor

Discussion board focusing on Great Lakes Shipping Question & Answer. From beginner to expert all posts are welcome.
Derby

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Derby »

Thanks sincerely cap for a very interesting and informative saga on your very personal experiences sailing both on the big waters and on the Great Lakes. I looked forward to every post you provided us and am sorry to see this personal story end. A sincere thanks and good health.
Lakercapt
Posts: 554
Joined: July 19, 2010, 4:51 pm

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Lakercapt »

I thought that I would End by showing a couple of photographs of boat I had sailed..

Tourmaline was the first and Comeaudoc the last
Attachments
Comeaudoc.jpg
Tourmaline.jpg
Lakercapt
Posts: 554
Joined: July 19, 2010, 4:51 pm

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Lakercapt »

To make another comment about my old boat. Some many months after the S.P. was all Indian crew I received a telephone call from a person in Miseners office. It was they were experiencing a problem on my old boat and this had never happened when I was there. They explained what was happening and did I know what the cause was and how to alleviate it.
Yes I knew what the cause was and could inform them what to do. My fee was $500.00 and expenses. What, was the reply, can’t you just tell us. My response was I have neither loyalty nor obligations to you now and if you don’t wish to contract me good bye. I later heard she was in dry-docking in Malta for many days getting it fixed!!
Guest

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Guest »

Lakercapt wrote:I was sorting through some old papers the other day and came acrosss this report. It was done during our stop over in Sept Iles to repair the damage on the rope guard. This was the result of he tug in Antwerp lettng go the tow lines and them being wrapped roun the prop when it departed.
It is said that self praise is no honour but I thought it may be of interest. Those days were well remembered.
That's very high praise and no doubt well deserved Captain. I think people generally take pride in a job well done and being recognized for it is icing on the cake. Thanks for sharing the letter. It's another interesting glimpse into the world of shipping.
Lakercapt
Posts: 554
Joined: July 19, 2010, 4:51 pm

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Lakercapt »

I was sorting through some old papers the other day and came acrosss this report. It was done during our stop over in Sept Iles to repair the damage on the rope guard. This was the result of he tug in Antwerp lettng go the tow lines and them being wrapped roun the prop when it departed.
It is said that self praise is no honour but I thought it may be of interest. Those days were well remembered.
Attachments
incident report.jpg
tug trash

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by tug trash »

captain, oh no you're not finished,you've only scratched the surface, take the holidays off if you think you need to,report back here the first monday after the new year and lets keep this party rollin, signed the boatnerd mafia
Guest

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Guest »

Very enjoyable and educational. Thank you.
Pete in Holland MI

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Pete in Holland MI »

The title Ship Captain is in the similar ranks of respect as that of a doctor. You will often be referred to Captain, Capt, etc., just as a doctor will always be referred to as doctor or doc. Not many careers have a title that commands that kind of eternal respect. Me, as a manufacturing engineer, and my wife, as an accountant, have not experienced hanging any titles in front of our names, and probably never will. That's a lot of respect that many of us mere mortals will never get to enjoy.

Thanks for sharing all of your stories. If you noticed the "views" quantity, you crested 58,000 times your column has been read. That should tell you the the interest level of us Boatnerds.

Enjoy retirement !

Pete
hugh3

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by hugh3 »

A very enjoyable read - thank you for your effort and time. Hugh
Alex

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Alex »

Thank you Captain! Seeing the date of your first page, March 17, it does not seem as though this has spanned 9 months. An easy habit formed of frequently checking your postings to read and imagine the next adventure and experience you generously shared. Merry Christmas Captain! May you have calm following seas sir.
Guest

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Guest »

Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thank you for your stories.
Jared
Posts: 798
Joined: December 6, 2014, 4:51 pm

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Jared »

Thank you very much for the stories you've provided this site. These should live on long after we have departed from this world. Thank you Captain for this highly entertaing thread.
Jared
Paul A
Posts: 428
Joined: June 28, 2010, 12:30 pm

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Paul A »

Thank you Captain Ross for sharing your eloquently written memoirs. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all that you shared. I was as interested in your ocean sailing conveyances as your Great Lakes stories.
I hope this will be preserved in its entirety for future reading.
With utmost respect
Paul Anderson
Guest

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Guest »

Sorry the stories are coming to an end Capt really enjoyed them, I think I may have met you once you were I think fitting out the Windoc in TBay at the old shed 6 we were kids taking a picture and you were getting out of a cab and came over and introduced yourself as the Captain and said you had just got there but hoped to be leaving the next day.
Lakercapt
Posts: 554
Joined: July 19, 2010, 4:51 pm

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Lakercapt »

As with all litigation it was a few months before we had or day in court and in between times the company had advertised in a national newspaper for masters. It was their cloudy crystal ball that had given them erroneous data and the illness of one captain which necessitated this turn of events. On the day we went p court he plane from Toronto was delayed and the legal counsel and I arrived just over an hour late. Now it really was an uphill battle. To say the judge was impartial would be bending the truth somewhat but how much was only evident when I read the transcript of the case. I was on the witness stand right away and was questioned by the defense council and he really tried hard to make me out as a foolish money grubbing imbecile. He failed as I answered his questions in a cool and concise manner and at no time lost and went the way he wanted. Prior to the lunch break the judge informed us that he had other commitments and would only have a brief time allowed for us to conclude. In the afternoon it was my council’s turn to question the defense witness, Captain K. (I just recently read the transcript so it is now refreshed in my memory). One of his answers was so far from the truth I must have made a noise as the judge turned to me and informed me that another outburst (his words) and I would be removed from the courtroom. (An impartial judge???). About three P.M. he informed us time was up and closing arguments were to be submitted in writing! Thus went our day in court and the result was (surprise surprise against me and costs) It was not my intention to end my career in this fashion but that was the end of my sailing on the great lakes. It did achieve one thing and that the terms which captains were employed afterwards were amended to ensure this would not lead to litigation.
I did sail again as an ice adviser and after one particularly bad experience did not do it again. I was hired to assist an Algerian vessel from Quebec City to Botwood in Newfoundland. I flew down to Quebec and boarded the vessel in -25C temperatures. She was just about to complete loading. I went up to the captain’s cabin to introduce myself and found several people conferring. The captain had just quit and they were now trying to figure out what to do. I was asked to take the ship on as master. I used to carry my qualifications with me and these were examined by a Transport Canada official and were OK. I agreed for a certain sum and only to Botwood ad no further. All was agreed and we sailed. On the way to Escoumains the first mate approached me and told me there were several crew members sick and needed medical attention. The language was English as it mostly was Arabic or French. I had to call the agents and arrange for the crew members to go ashore in the pilots’ boat for attention. In between times I now understood why the other captain had quit. The boat was not really fitted out for these sub Arctic conditions and all the internal plumbing fixtures had frozen during the stay in Quebec. The heating system was steam coils and they were leaking causing excessive moisture inside the accommodation and wheelhouse. The wheelhouse windows would be coated with ice and had to be cleared using de-icer. Not a very efficient method. The steam used in heating had to be turned off to be used to heat the oil in the D.B tanks and to temperature inside became frigid. The navigational equipment was not very good and I really had a great deal of sympathy for the crew having to be subject to these conditions. After a while the crew came back and I was told they were suffering from frostbite! We resumed on passage and I found out there were no charts for the Newfoundland coast not any in to Botwood. We managed and I insisted we pick up a local pilot at St.Johns to assist us to our destination. With his help and a Canadian Coast Guard ice breaker we neared the loading berth. I had kept the local agent updated with our ETA etc. and asked him if he had the money for my services. Did not know anything about it I was informed. I was not going to dock the vessel until I had the money in my hand. An impasse resulted and I stopped about one mile from the dock and saw the stevedores standing by ready to load. After a while I heard from the agent he had the money and the new captain was there. I instructed him to send the money out in the small work boat which had been used to clear the ice from the dock face. Cash in hand I docked the vessel and bit farewell to the crew. I had been treated with a great deal of respect and emphasised with them and the conditions they were required to endure. After this experience I no longer wanted to do it again as the stress was not worth it. I was offered to be an ice adviser on an Indian vessel in the Antarctica but regretfully declined. This as I knew I would be away for several months and when down there no hope of just leaving and going home. Many don’t know of the conditions down in this part of the world as they could change for the worse at very short notice. There are few places to anchor as icebergs had scoured the sea bottom down to bedrock so anchors would be useless.
Thus I have concluded my stories of how I became a sailor. It was not my intention at the onset to be so verbose but hope you have enjoyed my tales and opinions.
I would appreciate any comments good or bad.
In closing I wish to thank all the people who helped make my career a memorable one and as I have been often asked “would you do it again?”
NO
William M. Ross master mariner
A tribute to my father on his 80th birthday…

On February 6th, 2016 my father turns 80 years old. Words can not properly express how much I appreciate and admire him as a person, but one thing is certain – I definitely owe him the courtesy of trying. So here goes….

I didn’t grow up with the typical father-son relationship that many people are accustomed to. You see, my father was a Captain of a ship which meant that from the time I was born until my second year of my undergrad my father would typically be away for three months at a time, and then come home for two months. During the time he was away we often had no chance to speak or visit with him as talking via satellite phone was prohibitively expensive at that time.

It is important to note for context that a Captain of a ship is not your typical leadership role. When you are out at sea, the unexpected is a core part of your job – the leadership is much more of a dictatorship than traditional management. It meant managing an engineering team, a group of senior officers, and all of the ship’s support team in an environment where uncertainty was often the only certainty you had. On across the world voyages, this responsibility meant my father never had the liberty of allowing any form of doubt for his abilities as losing the respect or belief in his leadership or decisions could literally cost dozens of lives and tens of millions of dollars’ worth of equipment and cargo.

As a child who grew up during war times in Britain who left to go to sea to complete his officer training at age 16… to say my father was a regimented and strict man would be a significant understatement. Unfortunately, it turns out the same ideology that makes you successful as a Captain at sea doesn’t translate all that smoothly to the parenting/leadership of an ultra competitive, high testosterone teenage male (some guy named Calum) who was without question a greater management challenge than your typical teen. Oil and vinegar were significantly more mixable than my father and I from the period I was twelve through until a much later date (which is subject to debate ).

I don’t recall my father throwing a football or baseball with me, we rarely went to sports games, and I remember feeling very cheated about this at various times in my childhood and teenage years. As an adult – what I have come to realize now is that without question I won the proverbial ‘dad -jackpot’ when I consider what he taught me when he brought me up. Here are a few of the key lessons that I am forever grateful for:

1) Quality work is the only kind of work that is acceptable. Other kids may have had chores and an allowance – but I often had full bed and chore quality inspections. Cabin inspections weren’t only for officers of the ship…they were equally important for a Captain’s son at home. It was not uncommon for dust on a bedside table or an unmade bed to disqualify me from my weekly allowance (until done right). Before the age of twelve I learned to take pride in the quality of my work and learned to expect the same of others. I had incidentally also realized I could do my sisters chores and make more per week. 

2) Punctuality is not a target - its a form of respect. In a ship more than three football fields long where timelines of work were critical – failed deadlines or being late for shifts was not tolerated. Being late at sea meant loss of privileges. Being late for when my father was home meant the same. To this day I still feel irresponsible and disrespectful when I am late for anything or anyone.

3) Giving up and quitting are concepts I can sparsely understand. In the house I grew up in there was no such thing as try. Agreeing to do something meant you have given your word and words were not to be broken. I learned early that with effort and tenacity almost no goal was unattainable.

4) If you want others to follow you must lead by example. The way my dad maintained his own cabin, his polished shoes, pristine polished brass, and his respect and commitment for his direct reports made me appreciate the importance of practicing what you preach. Less than a year ago one of crew, David Trow, sent me a Facebook message unsolicited: “Hi Calum, I sailed under your father William Ross, a great captain. It was 1970 … a great captain and a very happy ship under his leadership”
Lakercapt
Posts: 554
Joined: July 19, 2010, 4:51 pm

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Lakercapt »

One late fall when sailing the Comeaudoc we were to load in Sept Iles. The weather when we were supposed to load was extremely poor with gale force winds. If we did not come in to load I was informed we would lose our turn and a large bulk carrier would go in. This very large carrier would take at least two days to load. He of necessity would use at least two tugs and pilot so weather was not really a big concern. In spite of my feeling about not getting a payment for doing it I decided to hell with it I will at least try. I did not use the normal approach but going in I dropped the port anchor and let the cable out to one shot on the gypsy. That was my brake and if it was too bad the way off the dock. I did go alongside using the anchor and engines managed to put her alongside in a perfect manoeuvre. Even with the waves and gale force winds we touched the dock with hardly a bump. As one mate used to say “like kissing your sister”. I was very happy it turned out well as had it been a disaster dogs would not have licked my blood. I went ashore to phone home and the two pilots who had been on the dock observing, told me it was a magnificent piece of ship handling. This made me feel good.
Later that season when we were down bound in the Welland Canal I was relieved and went home on vacation. It was about ten days before Christmas so I was pleased about this timing. My happiness was not for long as two days later I received a phone call from the shore captain, Captain K. To inform me that I would not be employed next season as they did not foresee bringing out all the boats. I was to be terminated and a severance package would be in the mail. This was quite unexpected but with the track record of this company not surprising. When the compensation details were couriered to me I did not anticipate the amount offered. I knew they were tight fisted but the offerings were an insult so I decided to consult a lawyer. He agreed with me this was inadequate and not to sign anything. Back and fore we went and it was soon apparent there would be no resolution so I reluctantly instigate a lawsuit against the company. I knew when this happened I would no longer work on the Great Lakes. Any company I applied to would consult my previous employer for a reference and I doubted M.N.P. would supply one. Whatever you may think all the “Lakes” companies have an incestuous relationship and exchange information except about business. We filed suit in our region but they strongly appealed this and got the change of venue to Thunder Bay. When I heard this I told my legal adviser that we would lose. There is no way any judge in T.B. would award against a prominent local family. I was correct but later.
Lakercapt
Posts: 554
Joined: July 19, 2010, 4:51 pm

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Lakercapt »

To deviate a little from these episodes, one summer we had relatives over from Scotland on vacation. We had done the Cookes tour things before, i.e. Niagara Falls etc and thought of something different. A cruise on the Muskoka lakes. There is a very interesting boat which offers cruises in the summer time called the RMS Segwun. This is the oldest operational mail steam vessel in North America and was built in Scotland and then shipped over in parts and re-assembled. If you wish to know more “Google” it. She was originally a paddle steamer but converted to twin steam reciprocating engines. The cruise round the islands is very interesting and some of the multimillion dollar cottages take your breath away with their opulence. I asked the chief engineer for a visit down the engine room and was fascinated by the two little reciprocating steam engines that purred away like a Swiss watch. The smell and sounds took me back to my first ship with the hot oil blended with the steam. Very nostalgic. I went up to the pilothouse and was looking in when the captain beckoned me to come in. He was steering and said to take over and steer in that direction and off he went. I am certain this trick was done many times to other passengers. It was not unsafe as the mate was over in the corner polishing the brass work and keeping his eye on me. After about fifteen minutes he came back and was surprised to see we were still on course and heading in the right direction. How did you do that was his comment? I responded. Bet you have done that before and scared the person but you picked the wrong guy this time. I then enlightened him to the fact I was a captain on the “Lakes”. Oh that is why you can steer. No I have three wheelsmen that do it for me but I was sixteen when I learnt to steer. We had a good blether afterwards. I can understand why the people built these summer retreats in this area as it is very scenic and peaceful.
Lakercapt
Posts: 554
Joined: July 19, 2010, 4:51 pm

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Lakercapt »

Unlike other “Lake” companies Patterson’s did not have yearly meeting for the masters and Chief engineers to get together with the management and office staff. I think his was a mistake as I think it important to have an exchange of ideas and maybe fix some potential problems. I could also result in ways to make the operation more proficient. One meeting a dietician was brought in to extoll the virtues of proper eating and a balanced diet. Why I wondered as the people she was talking to have very little if anything to do with the food which was sent on board. When the cook presented me with his store list (or should I say wish list) I forwarded it to Thunder Bay. It was reviewed by a person that you would not allow to shop for your groceries. He had the ultimate decision what was sent on board. He really had no training in this sphere as a cook or steward from sailing on ships would have known the necessary items and which was really wishful thinking. As I did the shopping when home, my wife had a full time job with the bank, I was aware of the costs of many items. Was surprised at how many substitutions made which were more expensive or not suitable. It was beyond my control whichever way it went. The one thing I liked was you got chance to meet other persons which you only spoke to on the phone or radio. Surprising how the image you had formed was not at all how the person appeared. An exchange of ideas was never a session subject or a session about concerns of the shipboard personnel. These face to face meeting might have resolved niggling problems but this is only my opinion. I was dismayed at the cavalier fashion the company treated the masters and chief engineer. I was sent to join a boat in the Welland Canal and when I got on board the master Captain C. The most senior master was with his wife. What are you doing here I was asked. Told him I was his relief. He was surprised and went ashore to call the office and was most upset as he had not expected this and had planned to have vacation later. Got off not a happy camper. At another time he was suspended for some reason or another. Hardly the way to treat one who had been forever with the company. I asked once about a wage increase as there had been no salary or pilotage increase for ages but did not get a response. An example of how to obtain the best from the masters. (In a pig’s ear). We used to often load in Pointe Noir or Sept Isles iron ore wharfs. Previously we were required to employ a pilot and tug boats (s) to berth and depart. This was not a difficult manoeuvre and any “Lake” captain could do it with breaking into a sweat. The lake companies got an exemption and were now not required to have the pilot or the tugs. This was a massive savings for the ship owners. I queried the savings and asked if as masters we would get a bonus for doing this. The reply I received gave me that warm fuzzy feeling, quote “you get to keep your job”
Guest

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Guest »

Alan Francis wrote:
Alas the Windoc incident saw their demise.
CSL and NMP were in negotiations prior to the Windoc incident.
Interesting. it was reported at that time that the Windoc incident was "the last straw for Paterson" that caused them to exit the business.
Alan Francis

Re: My starting to be a sailor

Unread post by Alan Francis »

Alas the Windoc incident saw their demise.
CSL and NMP were in negotiations prior to the Windoc incident.
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