by DavidFrank » October 26, 2010, 2:59 pm
The captains on the ocean tankers and container ships where I worked thought highly of the Lakes captains and mates. Lakes captains and mates do so much more ship handling than do the ocean officers. On salt water the captains of the bigger cargo ships are more like business managers. In restricted waterways, like rivers, the ocean boats have a pilot take over the navigating. For docking often the pilot gives the orders. Also, tugs are used for docking more often for ocean ships. Compare that to Laker captains and mates. They do the piloting in the rivers. The captains dock the boats without tugs. The Lakes captains are much better ship handlers. I recall the 1000' Oglebay Norton picking me up at a dock. It came up the St Claire River, crossed over, eased up to the dock, and held in place while I climbed up the ladder. I was impressed.
One group not mentioned are the captains of supply boats in the Gulf of Mexico. They do an amazing job. Backing up to a platform and holding there is a difficult feat.
The captains on the ocean tankers and container ships where I worked thought highly of the Lakes captains and mates. Lakes captains and mates do so much more ship handling than do the ocean officers. On salt water the captains of the bigger cargo ships are more like business managers. In restricted waterways, like rivers, the ocean boats have a pilot take over the navigating. For docking often the pilot gives the orders. Also, tugs are used for docking more often for ocean ships. Compare that to Laker captains and mates. They do the piloting in the rivers. The captains dock the boats without tugs. The Lakes captains are much better ship handlers. I recall the 1000' Oglebay Norton picking me up at a dock. It came up the St Claire River, crossed over, eased up to the dock, and held in place while I climbed up the ladder. I was impressed.
One group not mentioned are the captains of supply boats in the Gulf of Mexico. They do an amazing job. Backing up to a platform and holding there is a difficult feat.