MrchntMariner86

MrchntMariner86 t1_iwiwhgb wrote

Reply to comment by Matigas_na_Saging in TIL that the civilian sailors of the U.S. Merchant Marine had a higher casualty rate during World War II than any branch of the armed forces. by p38-lightning

Most American ships have crew internet at no extra charge, but I do know a defunct comoany that started to charge their crew (before the company went belly up)

Also, US fleet is dry, thanks to the Exxon Valdez and its relevant legislation, OPA 90.

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MrchntMariner86 t1_iwiw979 wrote

Reply to comment by Terpnato in TIL that the civilian sailors of the U.S. Merchant Marine had a higher casualty rate during World War II than any branch of the armed forces. by p38-lightning

"Work and jerk (off)" jk

Pretty much 98% of US fleet has Internet/Wi-Fi. I honestly haven't met a company without Wi-Fi, although a lot of Inland boats or Offshore supply boats are usually in cell range anyway.

Deepsea ships, though, we have some exercise equipment, small book libraries as well as digital media libraries.

But for the most part, provide your own entertainment. For years before the switch, Id bring my GBA/DS and my laptop. Nowadays, PLENTY of guys have their own HardDrives to share movies with if the ship doesn't already have a central server to copy off of. Yarrrr.

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MrchntMariner86 t1_iwf5029 wrote

Reply to comment by Terpnato in TIL that the civilian sailors of the U.S. Merchant Marine had a higher casualty rate during World War II than any branch of the armed forces. by p38-lightning

We still got supplies ("stores") in that time--port vendors usually have a test done (when available) to deliver supplies, but for the most part, you just use your stores crane to lift supplies aboard and just send the paperwork back and further via a bucket on a string--no need to go up and down the gangway and get close.

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MrchntMariner86 t1_iwf4od5 wrote

Reply to comment by Hawsepiper83 in TIL that the civilian sailors of the U.S. Merchant Marine had a higher casualty rate during World War II than any branch of the armed forces. by p38-lightning

206 days. I have done a longer one--210--on a non-union boat and boy, that last month is a Hell of a story; rather, a story of a Hell.

But yeah, sailors were desperate on both sides of the coastline. A ship I was on JUST WEEKS BEFORE US lockdowns started happening I later learned had 2 crew (Capt and an Engineer) out of 23 (or so) infected. One died.

It was intense to learn that.

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MrchntMariner86 t1_iwencxt wrote

Reply to TIL that the civilian sailors of the U.S. Merchant Marine had a higher casualty rate during World War II than any branch of the armed forces. by p38-lightning

Remember, Merchant Mariners still exist today, helping to keep the global economy PHYSICALLY moving. We go out for months at a time, long-hour days, occasional back-breaking work, and MOUNTAINS of now-corporate paperwork. Mariners were among some of the lesser-known victims of the fears of the recent pandemics, thousands and thousands of sailors, trapped aboard their vessels, WELL PAST relief dates because no foreign ports were allowing crew changes.

I was stuck on a ship from Nov 2020 to May 2021.

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