I was out catching lobster a few miles off of Boston's Logan airport. It was a surreal day. We had no AM/FM radio, and only found out about everything via one or two comments someone made. An hour or so after we knoew something bad had happened, the USCG flew overhead, and told everyone to return to port ASAP via VHF.
Was doing some research contract work on a chartered dragger. Work was running transects and taking water samples from sunset to sunrise. I had finished my night's work just after sunup and being my first time living on a boat, and living nocturnally I rushed to get into the Rack ASAP as I was sleeping like shit.
My eyes probably officially shut around 0800 9-11-01.
We were laying to about 10 miles off the coast of Vinalhaven, so the Captain who was taking shifts with the mate was watching the morning news on TV.
He kicked my rack when he heard the news and woke me up.
One thing I think I had different than most people I knew was when I needed a break from it all I just walked out onto the back deck and listened to the sea.
It was a calm clear day that day and it seemed like the rest of the world could care less what was going on.
I am Paul B, and I spend most of my life at sea. Ships, Science, the life of a mariner, biology and (mostly) true stories of life among the best and the worst people in the world, the United States Merchant Marines. You'll find it here, maybe. You'll definitely find rants, raves and discussion on life aboard a merchant ship. Come back and see the Brazilian girls, too, who show up fairly regularly.
3 comments:
I'm a few days late, but I was curious if like me, you were offshore on 9-11-01, and how that was for you.
I was out catching lobster a few miles off of Boston's Logan airport. It was a surreal day. We had no AM/FM radio, and only found out about everything via one or two comments someone made. An hour or so after we knoew something bad had happened, the USCG flew overhead, and told everyone to return to port ASAP via VHF.
Was doing some research contract work on a chartered dragger. Work was running transects and taking water samples from sunset to sunrise. I had finished my night's work just after sunup and being my first time living on a boat, and living nocturnally I rushed to get into the Rack ASAP as I was sleeping like shit.
My eyes probably officially shut around 0800 9-11-01.
We were laying to about 10 miles off the coast of Vinalhaven, so the Captain who was taking shifts with the mate was watching the morning news on TV.
He kicked my rack when he heard the news and woke me up.
One thing I think I had different than most people I knew was when I needed a break from it all I just walked out onto the back deck and listened to the sea.
It was a calm clear day that day and it seemed like the rest of the world could care less what was going on.
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