Unless you work in the maritime industry, or have a close
family member who does, it is usually a pretty safe bet to say that most people
don’t have a clue about the working maritime world.
Anytime that I mention that I work on a tugboat the instant
reply from 99% of the people is, “Oh, so you push the big ships around.”
No. No, I don’t.
Full disclosure: Sometimes I just nod my head and agree with
them. In some cases it really is a lot easier.
 |
| The perception |
In truth, the tugboat I work on is matched up with an ocean-going
oil barge. We are currently under contract to one of the big oil companies to
transport the crude oil that they are getting from the new ‘fracking’
technology in the western part of Texas and the upper Mid-West.
It’s a lot more like long haul trucking, but on the ocean.
 |
| The reality. Not my boat. But same type. |
Years ago, when the TV show Deadliest Catch first came
out, that was the go-to comparison when I mentioned I worked on tugs. Not by
me, but that is what the average person thought we did.
Fishing for crab =Boats = Moving oil barges = Boats = All
the same thing.
But now the points of comparison have shifted slightly.
My wife recently was talking to one of her friends at the
gym. A mutual friend of my wife’s friend was introduced to my wife (does that
make sense?). For some reason, the subject of me and boats entered the
conversation.
Before my wife could explain what I actually did for work,
her friend interjected with, “You know the film, Captain Phillips? It’s like
that.”
 |
| Now available on DVD and Blu-ray |
Which, I guess is a little bit closer to the truth that the
whole ‘crab fishing thing in Alaska’ deal.
Closer, but still not quite.
 |
| Remember this the next time you are dining on crab legs at Red Lobster |
In reality, the actual Captain Richard Phillips happens to be a fellow
alumnus of mine from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. As is the Chief Mate from the real Maersk Alabama, Shane Murphy. He was at the Academy at the same time as my wife. I had Shane's father, Captain Joseph Murphy (The Murph Dog), both as an instructor and as the training ship Captain, when I was at school. To say the maritime world is a small close knit community would be an understatement.
 |
| Also on sale now. An original t-shirt design from yours truly. |
Interestingly enough, this about the fourth time in recent
memory that what I do has been explained to other people as being Captain
Phillips-esque.
So I guess the comparison could be worse.
Although I don’t really think I look a whole lot like Tom
Hanks.
 |
| I usually don't wear a suit |
***If you aren't familiar with the story, or the movie, it is a pretty interesting real life tale of modern day piracy. Which, contrary to popular belief, is still very alive and well.
