While serving on the "Atlantic Universal" few incidents that I remember.

The ship loaded cargo for a port in South Atlantic Ocean, and sailed out of Le-Havre. We experienced very bad weather and it was in the month of November that year.  As it was found not safe to navigate on the planned route, the Captain decided to come towards the Island of Azores and cross the Atlantic. A day on the new route and we found that the weather improved. The Captain seemed more relaxed and came up to me and said “Come John, let us sing the national Anthem.” 

Then I said to him “Sir, you sing yours and I will sing mine!”

He did not like that but there seemed nothing much he could do about it.

With that, I had to face more rough weather onboard the ship while all the others were enjoying the good weather in mid Atlantic Ocean.

The Ship called at the port of Maputo

There was a bulk carrier berthed in front of our ship, and it was discharging wheat. There were many security men preventing and chasing the people collecting spilled and scattered wheat on the pier. It was a great task for them to get rid of so many people.

It was a very sad sight.

I was talking to the cargo Supervisor designated to our ship. “Mister, why are those people fighting to collect the scattered wheat along with the dust? To my understanding, this is aid cargo and is to be distributed free of charge.”

The cargo Supervisor grinned in obvious annoyance and said cynically - “Who is getting those free?” “Yes.  It must have been meant to be so, but none of us get a grain of that free or for that matter for a fair price.” He continued, “for your information, Mister Mate, all or most of that stuff go to other African countries by land.” “Can’t you see part of the cargo is being loaded to railway wagons?” He raised his voice and said, “all that is sold to other neighboring countries by our government.” “This country is starving. No education, no medical facilities, no houses, people are on the road.” The salary that I am earning  for one month is not enough to feed my wife and four children for two weeks. What happens after that?”

He continued,“My eldest daughter is only 17 years. She left home and, I understand that she spends nights in nightclubs. ”

“I went with my wife looking for her. I am sure she went into hiding and never came to meet us.” “She was very good in her studies, I planned to send her to South Africa but before that she deserted us.” “Now I have given up and I am not interested any more!”

Looking for greener pastures.

After passing the First Mates’ Exam, I wanted to change the company. And, I started to look for jobs with foreign companies. Unfortunately, at that time jobs at sea were very hard to find.

It was around this time I saw an advertisement on a weekend Newspaper calling applications for Second Officers and Third Engineers with a superior certificate of competency. I did not waste time on this and, I applied. I was called for an interview in Colombo. The person who interviewed me was a Captain, and he was a British National.  The interview went through, and I got the job.

Three weeks later, myself and a Third Engineer, flew from Colombo to Bremerhaven to join the vessel "Atlantic Universal”. The wages were good, and I started to collect money to go for the Master’s Exam.

My father had been to Australia on Scholarship, and had very good things to say about the country.  Therefore, for the Master’s exam, my first choice was Australia.

After an initial, unpleasant and unsettled situation on board “Atlantic Universal” ;the change of command lead to a peaceful and happy life on board. I got along very well with the new Captain. It was plain and pleasant sailing. Thank God for that!

I gained a lot of experience in my work because the vessel was a reefer ship that carried refrigerated cargoes, and was on worldwide trading. The longest voyage during the time I was on board was from the port of San Antonio, Chile to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It was approximately 10,300 Nautical miles.

                                                    m.v. "ATLANTIC UNIVERSAL"

                                                         transiting the Suez Canal.