Ever been startled so badly your heart jumped into your throat?
Imagine that feeling multiplied by a thousand, delivered by a ship’s foghorn blasting a few meters from you.
Yeah, that happened to one unlucky crew member on a particular voyage.
What started as a routine paint job on the “monkey island” (that deck above the ship’s bridge) quickly spiraled into a near-fistfight, fueled by a rogue foghorn, and a simmering feud.
Started as a Normal Voyage
The day began innocently enough. The ship, en route from Europe to the States, hummed with the usual activity.
Our unfortunate painter diligently applied fresh coats to the monkey island.
The radar was on standby, which is standard procedure when someone’s working up there.
A “Do not use” sign was also placed on the fog horn’s push button to prevent it from being used.
Standard safety protocols were in place, or so everyone thought.
All clear, right? Wrong.
The Sudden Blast
Around 2 PM, all hell broke loose.
With no warning, the ship’s aft fog went off.
And when I say went off, I mean it BLASTED.
If you’ve never been close to a ship’s foghorn when it sounds, let me tell you – it’s not just loud, it’s physically painful in your chest!
The sound pressure would rearrange your organs and give you a heart attack. Your ears would explode!
I can only imagine the agony of the crew on the monkey island working directly beneath the horn!
Almost Went Into a Fistfight
Let’s just say our painter was… displeased. He didn’t exactly skip down from the monkey island; he stormed!
He barged into the bridge, ready to unleash a torrent of salty language on whoever was responsible.
Turns out, it was an “impromptu training session” gone horribly wrong.
Two well-meaning but clueless crew members were fiddling with the foghorn’s electro-pneumatic system. It was a mess.
But behind the accident lay an ongoing beef. Mr. Foghorn and the painter did not like each other to begin with.
A fistfight nearly erupted.
Fortunately, the situation calmed down.Our painter retreated to the smoking room to cool off.
He vowed to report the incident to port authorities or the Coast Guard once they arrived in port, which was still five days away.
An Attempt at Peace – and a Betrayal!
The guilty party, sensing the impending doom of a U.S. Coast Guard investigation (and imagining his career circling the drain), suddenly transformed into the nicest guy on the ship.
Apologies flowed like cheap rum. Gifts appeared. Our injured painter was treated like royalty.
It was so transparent it was almost comical.
And it worked! For a while, anyway. During our three-day port stay, the painter decided to let it slide.
No report filed.
The Betrayal
But it was actually a big mistake!
Because as soon as the ship set sail for Africa, the charade ended. Mr. Foghorn reverted to his old, jerky self.
The painter had been played, and now he was stuck at sea with a guy he despised.
What Actually Happened
So, what really caused this maritime mishap?
- Missing Warning: While the foghorn button had a “Do Not Use” sign, the manual trigger on the ceiling didn’t. Classic oversight.
- Communication Breakdown: The Officer on Watch (OOW) might have told the bridge crew about the painter, but it’s possible he forgot. “Oops!”
- Pre-existing Tension: These guys already disliked each other. The foghorn incident was just gasoline on a pre-existing fire.
- Inarticulate Rage: Our painter, in his fury, couldn’t quite express the full extent of his pain and anger. A valuable lesson in communication.
Lessons Learned
What can we learn from this foghorn fiasco?
- Double-Check EVERYTHING: If you’re working near a safety-critical system, verify that all activation points are disabled.
- Don’t Be Fooled by Temporary Kindness: A sincere apology is one thing, but don’t let someone’s sudden niceness prevent you from reporting serious safety violations.
- Prioritize Your Health: Get that ear exam, even if it means the company has to deal with expensive fees and visa hassles.
- Report it!: If your company won’t address the issue, don’t hesitate to contact the Coast Guard or port authorities.
- Learn to Articulate Yourself: Express your concerns clearly and effectively.
So, there you have it.
It’s a reminder that maritime safety is no joke, and that even seemingly minor incidents can have serious consequences.
Remember to report incidents affecting your health to the company or the port authorities if they refuse to take action.
May the winds be in your favor, and may your foghorns remain silent… unless absolutely necessary!
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