I come from a remote Himalayan village with no naval tradition. There are sons and fathers and grandpas with lifetime experience in the army (they can’t stop talking of it…) and this is a haze that blankets almost every conversation in almost every house, hotel and bar. It's a ghost in the room when a young man talks to his family about what to do with his life. It's the army!
Military school left deep
imprints in most of us; even today I miserably fail in ladies company, seeking
favors, giving bribes, sycophancy and other traits that thrive in the civil
society. Especially the entitled lot, who had their parents serving ‘other
ranks’ in the army and wanted their sons to get a commission didn't thought
much except army of course. Anyways there was neither much that could be
thought of and army for most seemed a viable option, unlike today.
Apart from the zest for living and taking the challenges head on ..friends for life is what I earned at the school and hold it dear!
Computer followed by the internet has not just brought about a change but a revolution in our minds and our lives. This was still a distant thing in happening. For now, we were youthful and happy among our lot living our parents dream… many did crash as we left the school minus that commission. Parents can be so nasty most of the lot got to realize or it might not have been them but just the expectations that can either drive or else dump you to slumber, self pity and depression. We learn life only by living it, the key is to bounce back!
Almost my entire class enrolled in college, me too only to realize its futility. We left school in 1992. The Babri masjid had been demolished and UP was in a state of chaos. The Rohilkhand College took admission but didn't commence classes.
One night I took a train out of the city and the college only to get recruited. Navy just happened to be the first scheduled for recruitment. For just one vacancy in the Zonal recruitment center about 700 ran the one thousand two hundred meters race.
My plan was to appear for
in-house commission worthy exams as soon I completed my one-year basic
training's and be at the officers academy in the second year, before any of my
classmate would probably make it.
We propose and the god dispose!
Navy has a British system to kill
its talent. In any batch the best get fast up the ladder of promotions. That’s
fine! but the senior most (as per years in a rank) gets to be the in charge …
so usually it is the dumbest one who is the senior most in any rank and gets to
lead. Goats are leading while lions follow….or that is the system!
In my circumstance, I got lucky
though. I got to be the head of my division of 150 crews. Was the best speaker
for my whole batch of more than a thousand rough hands and finally landed in
technical trade. I was offered a choice to go into Naval aviation but I let it
pass for it would limit my chances of any going many places and adventure. It
didn't look a mistake then and not was it now.
I myself began my work life in "The Navy" right after Senior-School & I've seen the "ups" and the "downs" of the occupation. I had no clue what to expect when I started and was too prideful to ask. So, I dove in head first. The only consolation was that I remained in the fray till the last day.
Somehow, I got struck with my
choice of the blue-collar side of this business... Unlike army in Navy boots
are worn usually for punishments. The usual reprisal for insubordination was
being in boots. I was so much in boots that even when I was not at defaulter I
still remained in boots. Gradually I matured to the thought – “If you get your
arm in dogs’ mouth, better be gentle”. I took heart from the thought that with
my early job I could assist a little way, my siblings to get better in life.
In hindsight... it was an adventure while perusing civil education- sailing, roaming, travelling & trekking!
I speak of it as if it were a ghost when, in all actuality, it really is. I took an early retirement (15 years the best part of a man’s life). Next, I found myself having the glorious time of my life at the oil patch.
With my experience in naval Hydrography, India opening up to multinational companies, Reliance expanding the scope of offshore explorations in Krishna Godavari basins.
I realize I never had a job. It
was much more - ‘a way of life’.
It was only later that I moved on to the Middle East… found my greener pastures in the deserts of Gulf, its scorching seas and since had opportunity to be in far off countries like Cyprus, Gibraltar, Gran Canaria, Chile, Brazil and Argentina exploring the southernmost end of the world and off course the lovely laidback pubs in the UK.
Hydrography is a tremendous field of work, the whole world is the arena and the oceans are your playground.
I started out at the bottom of the pecking order and went strength to strength with a good fortune to team up with some of the best industrious global survey companies and earnest survey teams.
It's an enthusiastic journey.. training globally including comprehensive Reson Multibem training at Gravesend, UK; participating in survey projects spread globally across various oil fields and wind farms in the Indian ocean region, the Arabian sea, Caspian sea, Red sea. Mediterranean sea, North and South Atlantic ocean and UK Sector North sea.
Work has been ever exciting with new technologies, sensors and equipment like Multibeam Echo sounder, Synthetic Aperture sonar, ROTV (remote operated Towed Vehicle) Hugins AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) and USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) advent in deep water Hydrographic surveys. Its awesome!
I also come to realize it doesn’t matter
where you have been once it’s over. All that really matters is where you return
to…
During my stay
in Mumbai Georgians from Chanakya Marine academy would come over for a chat.
For the youngsters who might be interested in Merchant Navy or the oil and gas
industry… here are some pointers…
Making the Choice...
So if you've decided
that you will get in the merchants navy. You've told yourself that it's for you
and you want to get that offshore money. Well, that's your decision and I will
not judge.
But I hope you've
prepared yourself for hard work and a lot of long hours. What have you decided?
Rough necking with its back breaking, tiresome work? Almost 80% of the old navy
guys invariantly earn spondylitis. I suppose it’s the low hatches, confined
spaces and cramped bunks.
All of that with
extremely long hours and usually 24 hour on calls status or do you want to
other things in life? Some people are overly cautious of perils at sea. Let me
assure you it’s much safer to be at sea than driving on the Indian roads any
day. Well, choose wisely. It is lucrative but, as with everything, there are
harsh drawbacks that most entry level don't consider.
Decide what fits you
best. Being a Georgian it must not be any relevant but better be warned again. Harden
your emotions and sensitivity because there truly is no room for the weak
minded. If you were a hot head or were sensitive to taunts and teasing in high
school then the offshore way of living is not for you.
Your initial months
will be tough. Offshore guys often forget how tough it was when they were
"worms" (short-service-employee) and mostly always subject new
recruits to harsh hazing and pranks. My first day sailing a ship, I was Dead
Sea sick but by the next sailing I was better and sea worthy. For an
unfortunate few, it never gets over. I've seen men locked in port-a-potties for
hours and I've witnessed men being worked so hard as new employees that they
pass out from heat or exhaustion. I dare not speak of the other events I've
witnessed. The point is, you will be hazed and your metal will be tested so get
tough.
In my field of Hydrographic survey.. expectations out of the survey tech. can be high. Being onboard a survey vessel offshore with limited resources, innovation and diversity are expected. A thorough understanding of survey spread is a must.
One is expected to deal with a variety of problems including mechanical, electronic, electrical and hydraulic. In addition, an experienced survey engineer is expected to interface and operate a host of underwater sensors, troubleshoot hydrographic electronic equipment along with computer and software issues, plan and implement maintenance schedules, operate electrical and hydraulic winches during deployment and operation of underwater sensors, besides close call incidents keep me on my toes during the survey operations.
Advice
is a most unwanted solicitation simply because an intelligent won’t need it
while a fool won’t take it. Yet I'll take my chances with you..
Work...
There's a watch
system of doing 12 hour rotations but, most likely, you may have to work it
"old school" style. You will never have "rain out days".
You will work in the harshest of environments and meanest weather. Get used to
exhaustion and fatigue because you will feel them both quite often. You'll get
tired from the cold and you'll be soaked in sweat too. Then you'll be out in
the freezing rain or burning sun. You will get to work all over the globe. So
expect all diversity. You'll look around at about 3AM and you'll see everyone else
in your doghouse passed out but somehow you are expected to stay awake. Then,
you'll ask for relief, only to be made fun of and called every name in the
book. You'll have to chew on your pride and take the insults so you can go get
some much needed rest. Or, you let your ego win...your choice.
Time Off...
This will be
relatively short. Some places you can get a hitch. 4 week on 2 week off, 6
weeks on 4 week off, 8 weeks on 4 week off, 2-on 2-off, etc... Some places keep
it old school. 24/7 on call and the only guaranteed time off is when you ask
for it a month in advance. I've worked them all. Good part is in most offers –
its door to door - You'll travel time is included in your work days… but not
with all companies. You’ll be catching
up on sleep that you were deprived of during your hitch. You'll be too
exhausted to go places with your family until about the third or fourth day.
Then most likely you'll just want to lay around and watch TV. You'll have money
in the bank but you won't have the energy to get up and spend it (which isn't
necessarily a bad thing). Then when you're feeling rested and relaxed, you'll
get a text or a call telling you where your next assignment is and you'll take
off to do it all over again.
Travel...
Make no mistake: if
you want a career in this business you will HAVE to travel. When you go on your
hitch, you're agreeing to go anywhere and everywhere you’re told. At a moment’s
notice you can go from a job in deep south to a job in far west. I am speaking
from experience. When you ask the question "When are we going home?"
you'll get a simple response to the nature of; "When your hitch is
over". I myself enjoyed this part because I do not like being in one place
for very long. But familiarize yourself with a constant changing schedule
because you'll hardly ever have a dedicated work assignment.
Money...
The wisest advice I
have ever heard from the old timers is this: "Spend like a beggar even if
you are the king". This business is shaky. This industry shifts with all
things. When oil prices drop, so does your pay rate. When the market takes a
dive, so does your earnings. Not to mention …its at its low right now.
Change your mindset
from wanting to buy all the things you desire to wanting to invest in your future
or your own retirement. Think about it, do you really need a 49 lacs car or
a 12 lacs or 7 lacs one? I'd rather look at 37 lacs in the bank than 49 lacs worth of crap collecting dust in my porch.
In Summary...
What is adventure to most people is just
another boring day in a seafarers’ life.
I apologize if my
post seems foreboding. I don't mean to discourage anyone. I am simply offering
an account of my own experiences in order to present a non-biased outlook on
what who steps into this business is facing. Things have changed a lot since I
first started. Things aren't as cowboy any more. Operations are becoming safer
and safer and I am very thankful for that. But this is still a business where
hard work and tough living isn't only encouraged, it's required.
But on the upside,
this is the only industry I know of where a man can rise to management type
positions without a college degree. I didn’t have one either, later though I
earned a few. If you can keep your wits, stay focused on your work, build up
your skills and get along with people, you can go far.
(to be continued…for time being
do post your comments, feelings or just shout back)
Consequently you may visit me at delightfulreadings.blogspot.com andDPSKSurveytech.blogspot.com
