Driving E-Type

Duty Officer is in charge of ensuring that all cargo is secured. It means physical check of lashing by climbing ladders to lashing bridges.

Longer ship equals more bays. More bays to climb.

I knew that when I accepted offer to go on E-Type. I wanted proof that people among us are operating very sophisticated machines.

Bridge disappointed me. I expected new equipment. But everything was the same since 20^th century. It is huge inside and I could jog from starboard to port. 56 meters is a long distance.

On every vessel, from every bridge regardless of ship's length, view was almost the same. It is because. The longer hull, the higher navigating bridge.

Same happens on E-Type.

Except. When You look astern, You observe that there is also big part behind Your back.

Vessel of more than 50 meters long should exhibit two navigating lights. One on the forward must. But there is no fixed position for the second light. So it is placed on the Accommodation mast. Which is middle of E-Boat.

One of the methods to give another vessel to pass safe in front of Your bow during crossing situation is to aim at other vessel's stern and slowly come back on desired course. It is aft navigational light being a targeted point during the dark night when the ship cannot be seen. It is very common that Duty Officer has to switch on illumination to indicate and advise other give a way vessel that they are aiming the middle.

It is a shock for a guy to suddenly see huge thing in front of his bow.