The Big White Golf Ball

I remember well the first ship that I joined that				becomes clear when computers are involved.
had a Satellite Phone on it. I joined as Chief				There is the Captain with a nice little sat phone
Engineer on this tiny little Research Vessel on a				and software through which he can do his
tiny little river in Papua New Guinea and I never				departure checks, send daily reports, order
saw the ship when I arrived at the wharf, all I				stores, check his private email and on more
could see was this massive white Golf Ball				advanced systems check the latest stock prices.
perched high on the top deck. Looked as if it was				But he has an ongoing problem as every time he
pushing what little there was of the ship down				presses "send" nothing happens, or he has lost his
into the water. I remained in awe of that UFO for				latest daily report to some unknown "chip with
the first half of the trip and for the remainder I				legs" inside the white box that hums.
wished that I could afford the six-pounds per				Oh deary me! Scratching of the head ensues and
minute that it cost to use!				attempts at throwing the computer or phone
Yeah, satellites and all that went with them				over the side are resisted. It is then that an
sneaked up on all ship's staff without notice or				Engineer happens to be passing by and that he
prior warning. Once upon a time we could leave				notices that the Captain is suffering from high
port and not be heard from, left to our own				blood pressure. Then a couple of mouse clicks
devices until the next port but now we are being				later the whole problem is solved, the missing file
constantly monitored and required to send daily				relocated or the email winging its way upwards or
reports through to the company. No longer is it				across the blue ocean. Yes, I have found that the
"have a safe trip and see you when you get				majority of Engineers have an easier grasp or
there", now it is "we'll be watching you". Ah, long				ability to understand computers and the software
gone have those days when we where a team all				involved than have the Navigators. Not sure why
alone on the high seas!				and I am not going to get into this subject but
Engineers never really became involved with the				believe me it is fact!
Sat phones for many years. One day sunbathing				Satellite phones also changed the way of
on the Monkey Island and the next a UFO had				communication with the outside world. Before all
landed on your favorite spot. And the funny thing				communication from and to the ship went via the
was that nobody ever really talked about it at all.				Captain. Every piece of writing could be censored
If it had been a new generator or a new ballast				or displayed at the Masters discretion but
pump then everybody would have been				nowadays Chief Engineers, Mates and even
discussing it for months before and after. "At last				Second Engineers are sending their own stores
we are getting a new one", the Chief would say				orders and emails to Head Office. Engineers talk
and the Captain would respond with "no more				directly to Superintendents about their mechanical
blackouts then eh"? Faxes and telexes would fly				problems, mates read incoming emails when alone
around and all would be posted for all to see,				on watch and all can be done without others being
even the cook would become enthused due to				able to oversee or hear what is being said. The
the excitement surrounding him. "A new ballast				satellite phone has brought to the ship a sense of
pump eh?" the cook would say at dinner, "yep,				industry ashore, the ability to communicate and
300m3/hour" the third would reply enthusiastically.				talk easily when and where you want without
The cook would then typically respond with "good,				having to wait for a week or two or without
great, no more blackouts then, eh?" having totally				having to use an intermediary to pass the
crossed his wires. But the satellite remained a				messages along.
silent misnomer that was unheard of one day and				Nowadays a ship without some form of email/sat
then the next installed and running. I am never				communication is improbable and all at sea are
sure why this was as the whole idea and set-up				fully familiar with the system and expect to be
far exceeds that of new machinery or anything				able to use it when and where they want. All part
else but there we have it. I would hazard a guess				of being at sea in the Modern day Merchant Navy
for the secrecy and lack of conversation				one could say! Emails and mobile phones have
regarding this advent - that of fear of such				become a part of life everywhere so why should
tremendous change. So new and so large an				seafarers be any different? Now with such
alteration in the way of life at sea, but this is only				systems being commonplace calls are cheaper
a guess.				and affordable. Emails can be written whenever
And the Captains? Well, they all changed. Most				the computer is free and sent at minimal cost,
became serious recluses (more so than before)				this cost often being carried by the company as
and watched these phones day in day out,				pennies rather than pounds are involved.
warding off Engineers and others alike from				Imagine the future, instant diagnosis of engine
getting close. Padlocks and intricate codes were				problems, expert advice at hand for the
used to prevent usage other than by themselves,				engineers. The Engineers have a serious problem
and those that could installed the phone in their				and have broken down in the middle of the
cabins. It was a stressful time and lasted nearly				Atlantic Ocean. They are scratching their heads as
ten years. Ten years of complete disintegration				to what has gone wrong and the only people that
of any normalcy between Engineers and Captains				can help them are 2000miles away in an Office
and ten years of Engineers having to beg, borrow				unaware as to the drifting vessels plight. Today
or steal to even get close to the Black Handset. I				we can call these experts up and describe the
suppose it was such an advanced and sudden				problem and thus gain invaluable insight into what
change that it took a while to get used to and				may be wrong or what they can possibly do to
become accepted as an everyday piece of				rectify the problem. The future gives them this: A
equipment - just another one that may break				mobile phone to take down to the work site, a
down or require maintenance.				video camera to send instant pictures of area and
Of course over time everything got cheaper, the				problems to Head Office, a recording of full
white golf balls became smaller and have all but				conversation to replay later (for insurance and
disappeared. Handsets reduced in size from large				blame), instant download of possible solution or
and awkward monstrosities to those resembling				temporary repair of the problem and immediate
typical household phones (except for the padlock				advice from the expert ashore who can see
that the Captains could never actually dispense				exactly what is going on.
with) and Engineers suddenly became necessary				Yep, that is the future that we will look towards,
in the operation of the associated software. Why				a few years down the line we have gone from
do I say that? Well, let me digress for a moment.				haphazard and unstable radio communication to
When Engineers and Deck Officers step ashore in				instant and clear access anywhere anytime!
an unknown and distant port it rapidly becomes				What will the next fifteen years bring? Whatever
apparent that the Engineers are far more able to				it may be just make sure that you have an
navigate their way back to the vessel. The same				Engineer at hand.

Left At East Gate

The Big White Golf Ball