Discontent on the Dis-Advantage

So the ship is on its way to the Philippines. We visited all 3 ports in
Japan and at last picked up all our military cargo. But things are not
going so well aboard the M/V Advantage. Since I have come aboard I have
been inundated with stories from the crew about things the officers have
been doing which is at best perceived as dishonest by the crew and at worst
the Captain refusing to comply with our union contract.

Up until yesterday I was just a sounding board for many of the crew.
Yesterday I became as angry as the rest of them.

Some quick background here: A few days ago we docked at a military base,
prior to docking the Captain submitted crew information to NCIS so that the
crew may get cleared to go ashore. Most of the crew was cleared, but there
were about 3 people that for one reason on another were not cleared. In
addition to those 3 the Captain did not submit my information or the other
new AB's information to NCIS. He told me that there was not enough time
from the date I was hired back onto the ship to get my information
submitted. (Later he will change this story) This did not bother me to much
at the time.

Our union contract states that persons restricted to ship shall be paid
every hour they are on board and not on the clock. So as I watched most of
the crew come and go as they pleased, enjoying the sights, tastes and sounds
of Japan, I stayed on board and ate the ships food, and drank the still
tainted water from my last trip and I was secure in the fact that at very
least I will be compensated for this by the Restricted to Ship clause in our
contract.

Now fast forward about one week. The time sheets were turned in, and I am
on the bridge wing standing look out duties, my watch partner is the Chief
Mate. Out comes the Captain and says he wants to ask me a question about
why I felt I deserved to be paid as Restricted to Ship… My reply was that
"I was restricted to the ship"

Captain: who restricted you to the ship?

Me: I don't know, but I was not allowed down the gangway.

Captain: I didn't restrict you to the ship so you cannot get this pay.

Me: It does not matter who restricted me, I was unable to leave during my
time off.

Now the Captain asked me to defend the union contract and explain why the
company should pay me when the military is to blame for my restriction. I
told him that he had time to submit my information and that was no excuse.
He came back suggesting what if I missed my flight and I wasn't even aboard
the ship? (I think to myself, so fucking what? So you fill out a piece of
paper that was not any good, what logic is this man trying to convey to me?)
So now he is telling me that he could have submitted my information to NCIS
but since I was not on board at the time he didn't. This was a new story to
me. Now he has two differing stories as to why my name and information was
not submitted to NCIS…At this point I realize he lied to me about the
premise of this whole conversation and he lied at least once about the
reason my info was not submitted. He is now counseling me on how fairness
to the company is so important and how contracts with the government cannot
be negotiated. In my head I am dumbfounded; I cannot believe this
conversation is actually taking place. All he had to do was redline the
entries on my time sheet and I could contest it later with the union. I
tried to edge my way out the door, I was done with this conversation, but he
kept talking, and every now and then the Mate would utter agreement with the
captain. Now I felt like a team of the two most powerful men on the ship
were against me.

I stated that I would take it up with the union then and walked out the door
back to my watch standing duties. It was then that I believed whole
heartedly what the Bosun had been telling me. The Captain or the Mate has
been deleting all the email communications to the union hall. Several
emails have been placed in the computer system by the bosun asking for
clarification on contractual issues. We can pull up a history of every
email sent, except those addressed to the union.

In the end this all started over $120 worth of time, that I really was not
all that passionate about. Honestly, I most likely would never have fought
to get this paid to me. But now, with out provocation I have a Captain
willing to lie to my face, to hide communications, and to steal openly. I
will fight to get this money, and from now on I will not volunteer to work
overtime since I have no reason to believe that I will not be screwed out of
earned money.

The new rumor is that ship yard is moved back again and there may be more
back loads. No one but the Captain and the Mate knows for sure, as usual
they are to busy sewing discontent to be honest with their shipmates.

This is not typical; I have never seen anything like this on a ship before.
I still cannot wrap my head around it. Less than two weeks into this voyage
and I am ready to come home. Fucking unbelievable!

Jesse

PS Still to date the Bosun has been unable to get a fax or email to or from
Union Representitives. I am sending a copy of this to union reps as well.

Iwakuni, Japan

Yesterday the ship was still at anchor. I was informed that since I joined
the boat late, my paperwork was not submitted in time for clearance on the
Marine Corps Base. This base in Iwakuni is where the ship would be docked.
This means I would be restricted to the ship once docked.

While anchored we have launches that will take us to shore, by-passing the
base. Yesterday we had only one launch in the evening. I was grateful to
Travis who agreed to take 2 hours of my watch so I could go ashore. This
was easy for him, since he was already working. All he had to do was hold
my radio.

I took the 6 pm launch with about ½ the crew, 10 men. Some headed to the
base, others started out quickly to the bars. I went first with one group
to a bar, which was the only place I knew I could exchange my Dollars for
Yen.

I really did not feel like drinking all night, so after a couple beers I
struck out on my own in hopes of finding some soup. I was in search of Miso
(forgive my spelling; I have no idea how to spell Japanese words). There
are many bars and restaurants here that are Japanese only, no foreigners
allowed. This made it difficult to find soup. Also, most all the
businesses seem to put weird squiggly lines all over their signs…

After walking for about an hour, ducking my head into several establishments
and either finding I was not welcome or no soup is served I chanced upon a
place that had English writing out side that said, "Americans Welcome". Of
course I went in.

I was the only customer, and service was excellent, but no soup. So I
ordered fried Goyza and a beer. The music was 50's surfer instrumentals.
The food was good and I used plenty of hot mustard which comes in a plastic
screw top squeeze tube.

After eating I tried to find some of the crew. I peeked into a window of a
bar, saw it was empty and started down the street, but before I made it two
steps out comes a good looking Pilipino gal. "Why you look in then go
away?!" "Come in have a drink, we won't hurt you!" So of course I went in.
Once again, I find I am the only customer, the drinks were reasonably priced
and I found my self being entertained by a couple girls. (Caveat Emptor-
Honey, they wanted me (mostly my cash), but I said, NO!!! My sweetheart
would not approve! And they understood) Anyway, after tiring of their
conversation and terrible karaoke I left, promising if I find any of my
crew, that I would tell them they should come to their bar.

After a few blocks I peeked into another bar, again run by Pilipino girls
and there was the entire shore party. We all drank fairly heavy and the
manager or owner of the bar was a Japanese woman that went by the name Sky,
who insisted I match her shot for shot of tequila. Well, this was not my
plan, but the bosun was paying so I took up the challenge. I am not sure,
but I think I won.

Once I was sufficiently drunk, but not stupid drunk I needed to use the
toilet. This took a while since I have not used this type of squatting
toilet before. Luckily my aim was good, but I realized a little late that I
probably should have been facing the opposite way since the toilet paper
roll was directly behind me. Very hard to maintain a squatting position and
reach for something behind you after several beers and tequila shots.

As it turned out we all made it back to the launch boat just in time. I had
to help the bosun a little. He kept trying to put his backpack on backwards
and upside down. But we all made it back to the ship with no problems.
Three hours later I had to be up for watch, 5 hours later we lifted anchor
and docked the ship at the Marine Base.

Tomorrow we will load the cargo here, and then sail out to the next Japanese
port. That will have happened most likely by the time this is posted.

Missing Stephanie

It appears that email is a non-priority on this ship. I have an out going
email sitting in the computer that has languished there for almost 24 hours.
I am guessing the captain only uploads and downloads email once a day. I am
a little disappointed about this, I want to hear badly from Stephanie, she
should have by now had surgery on her knee and I want to know how she faired
and how she is feeling. I miss her already.

I am beginning to wonder how I can continue this kind of work. I thought
being away from home would be hard on Stephanie, but truth be told, it may
very well be tougher on me. I don't like being this far away from her at
all. At home when we are not together at very least I can speak to her on
the phone.

It looks for now that I will not see much of Japan on this voyage. The
launch schedule is incompatible with my work schedule, so I will not make it
to shore until we dock. When we do dock the cargo we are loading is pretty
easy and may get loaded fairly quickly, so I am unsure if I will have much
time to go ashore even then. This is probably a good thing though. I have
been on vacation for a long time, and I should probably avoid spending my
money right away. But I do hope to go have some of that great spicy noodle
soup I had the last time I was here. I wish I could remember what they
called it, but I will find it.

The crew is pretty good; so far the entire deck crew seems to be congenial
and decent workers. Once we are underway again, rumor has it that Sunday's
is poker night. I can't wait to get their money :-)

Well it is 5:40 am on Monday here right now. It should be about 1:30 pm on
Monday back at home. I will go add this entry to the email system right
away. I think the captain does the email thing right before breakfast.

I hope everyone at home is doing well. I have no way of knowing if these
entries I am sending are getting posted to the blog, or if facebook is
pulling them. Let me know if any of you readers are getting these. Oh and

sorry if you are reading them LOL… I know it can't be easy ;)

Jesse

The Advantage

The launch sped away from the dock behind the ally, and raced over the black
water of the bay towards the ship. After a few minutes the lights of the
anchored ship came into view. We came around the stern and up the starboard
side of the Advantage to the accommodation ladder. A figure came into view
and lowered the ladder, winches screeching and metal creaking until the
ladder was lowered about a foot above the deck of the launch. That is when I
realized the ladder was being run by OS Jason.

Jason signed on to the ship the same day I originally did, back on August
7th 2008. He has been onboard over 7 months now and looking at 8. Jason came
down the ladder, greeted me and hauled my suitcase up for me. It was a very
steep climb so with his help all I had to carry was my back pack and
computer. Clearly the ship was empty and awaiting cargo.

I was greeted warmly by most of the crew right away and I was very happy to
see Andy Jones my Bosun from my old OS days aboard the Wilson. Even the crew
I did not know seemed to be happy I was there. I guess I have an okay
reputation with in the company. But more likely everyone was just happy to
have replacement AB's on the ship. It turns out one of the AB's was sent
home ill having contracted what most likely was a sexual disease from one or
more partners while in Thailand. Another AB was fired when he apparently
threatened the remaining AB with violence. The ship had been working with
only one Able Seaman for some time now.

The current crew should have been home in March, but the company had managed
to delay the required shipyard date more than once. Each time the crew had
informed family and friends they were headed home, the company found another
backload to keep them on board. A few other crew members had left, finding
reasons to be discharged which may or may not be honest.

I was delighted to learn I was to get my old room back, which is the largest
and Andy insured I would get the 4 to 8 shift. I have never worked that
shift but it is the most desired aboard any ship for AB's. This allows me to
work overtime immediately after my morning shift and get a little rest
before the next shift. I get to eat my breakfast and dinner on the clock and
sleeping is much easier. Many call it the money shift because it is so much
easier to work the OT with out losing lots of sleep. Hurray Bosun Andy!!!!

After a couple hours visiting I was able to settle in to my cabin and get a
little rest. By now I have been awake and traveling for over 26 hours. My
first shift was to begin in less than 4 hours. So I tried to get a little
sleep, I awoke for my first shift which was just anchor watch, a very easy
duty and then after breakfast began my first day of OT.

By 8 O'clock pm on Saturday I was finally able to get about 7 hours of well
needed sleep.

Travel

Stephanie and I were awakened at 4:30 am to the sound of my alarm clock.
Knowing this was our last morning together for a while we held each other
till the last minute. I quickly showered and dressed, threw my luggage in
Stephanie's truck and eating the last of the bananas we headed off to the
airport.

Portland International Airport was a very busy place that morning. I got in
line for the Alaska counter, but was behind an entire high school marching
band. I was a little worried I'd arrived too late. By the time I got to the
security check point I was even more worried. The line was very long.
Fortunately as I waited, the TSA opened all the screening lanes and the line
began to move. I arrived at my gate just in time and boarded the plane. I
was headed to San Francisco to make a connecting flight to Narita in Tokyo.

Once in San Fran, I had nearly a three hour layover. I found some breakfast
and tried to get on the internet to kill some time. I paid about $6.00 to
use the airports internet connection thru T-mobile, but of course as luck
would have it, my computer overheated and all I was able to do was update my
facebook status. By the time my comp cooled enough, I just didn't feel like
setting it up again; my laptop is a power hungry monster so running it on
batteries is really never an option.

Eventually it was time to board my United Airlines flight to Tokyo. As luck
would have it, the flight was nearly full, so getting that extra leg room
was not going to happen. On this flight everyone had a little monitor in
front of them inset to the seatbacks. My luck was not so good. I got the
only seat that had a broken television. There was about 5 movies passengers
could choose from, I didn't get any choice at all, just a black screen in
front of me for around 11 hours. The stewardess offered me a free drink for
the inconvenience, but I thought free drinks for the whole flight would have
been nicer. I managed to read 'Searching for the Sound' by Phil Lesh, cover
to cover on that flight. I had been trying to get that book read ever since
Phil autographed it for me. Well at last it is read and I enjoyed it very
much. Any one who loves the Grateful Dead should read it.

My ass was never so happy as to arrive in Tokyo, that was a long time
sitting and my butt was happy as a clam to stand and walk around for a
while. As I headed to customs I was met by a woman holding a sign with my
name on it. She was an agent there to assist me through customs and get me
on the next flight to Hiroshima. I waited with her, while she found the
other AB that was also arriving on the same flight. Travis was the other AB,
I recognized him as a passenger on my flight, but of course I had no way of
knowing he was the other person heading to the ship with me. The Japanese
woman that met us expedited our way though customs and helped us obtain our
tickets for our next flight.

She was very helpful especially considering how good my Japanese is.

After a couple more hours, Travis and I were on an ANA flight to Hiroshima.
We did not know if the ship was even in Japan yet; as far as we knew we
could be heading to a hotel to wait for the ship. We landed in Hiroshima
about an hour and forty five minutes later and we were met by another agent.
This man loaded our bags in his car and drove us for what seemed like an
hour. By now the time was difficult to keep track of. Both Travis and I had
been awake and traveling for over 24 hours. I was in the front seat doing
the whiplash thing with my head. I would doze, and then snap my head up over
and over again. Eventually we arrive at a dock and the driver takes our bags
out and directs us towards a small ally way. We head down and there waiting
for us is a small boat ready to take us to the Advantage.

Contacting me

If you want to send an email to me, send it to: admin.advantage@sealiftinc.amosconnect.com

My name must be in the subject line or your message may get lost or delivered to the wrong person. I will not arrive at the ship for another 2 days, so please wait until Saturday or Sunday before emailing me.

I do enjoy hearing from home. Please send no attachments, this email is sent via satellite to reach the ship and the company is charged by the bit. I will have to pay, and could loose my right to use email if I receive attachments.

I look forward to hearing from you and I hope to be home in less than 6 weeks. I will try to keep this blog posted via email. Sorry, I won't be able to add pictures until I return or unless I find Internet access on shore.

Jesse

Got a Job

Well at long last I will be headed to work again real soon. On Thursday I will catch a flight to Japan to meet up with the M/V Advantage. My flight is scheduled to take me from Portland to San Fransisco to Tokyo to Hiroshima.

From what I understand we will hit one or two Japanese ports after I arrive on the ship, then we will head to Subic Bay in the Philippines then of to Singapore. I think we will hit one port in Singapore then head to the ship yard in that country. Once the ship goes into ship yard I will fly back home.

This will be my shortest voyage yet, only 4-6 weeks. This is good however since I purchased concert tickets to a show that is on May 16th. I just may get to use those tickets after all :-)