Hubby and Wifey's Blog

July 13, 2008, Zone description +3, Location Tupper Canada at I anchorage. Our captain scheduled a short meeting in crew mess hall last 11 July 2008. He wanted us to know that the ship is out of stocked of rice on board. He told us the new schedule of berthing in Nustar (Tupper Canada) berth 1 will be 15 July 2008. It's not permanent and it can be moved to 22 July 2008.

Our captain pleases us that we must wait till July 15, 2008 to be berthed. When we berthed he will send some crew to buy some rice. The 4 Indonesian will be the first one who will go ashore to buy rice and other crew can go ashore after they finish their watch. The captain told us that he couldn't buy rice while we are at anchor because the service boat is very expensive. Then he just whispered (I don't care about this matter) then asked if we agree or not. All of us were in silence but in our minds, we disagree to the captain's plan. Then the Engr. Officer just spoke and said (o ano? Payag ba kayo na walang kanin till july15? Oh anu payag? Ha? Baka naman magreklamo kayo nyan? Oh ano payag ba?) Then the Engr. officer told the captain "ok captain we agree on what you've said to us". All of us didn't whisper or speak any words, how come the engr. Officer told the captain we all agree? The Engr. Officer was watching a movie when the captain called for a short meeting. He didn't want to be disturbed for a long time so he just adjourned the meeting like a hell.

Then the captain called the purser and asked to give us one case of beer and one bottle of whiskey (vsop). If you could observe the situation, the captain gave us some beer to buy our trust. It's a wrong way to get the trust of the officer and crew on board. We don't have rice already then he will give us beer. What will happen tomorrow if the crew will work hard but there is no rice to eat. The Crew finish their work at 8pm in the evening. Because of the whole day till night working outside they rest as quickly as possible because of tiredness. The captain went down to the crew day room and he didn't see any crew drinking his beer. The captain was so angry, he called the purser and told him to put back the beer in the slop chest.

The captain doesn't understand the situation of the crew. He gives a lot of work and overtime is a must while the rice is out of stock in the ship. When the ship was out of paper he didn't hesitate to buy paper for the ship. The cost of the paper was 100 US dollars while the service was 130 US Dollars. We just bow our heads and think that the paper is more important than the stomach of his crew. Days passed by and we are still in I anchorage waiting for berth. The Filipino and Indonesian crew are starving for rice. We eat bread but it's not enough. They know that Asians are eating rice and that is our staple food.

We just imagine if the captain is eating some rice for sure he will never hesitate to buy rice for the ship even the service boat is very expensive because he will surely be starved.