For years working aboard deep sea going supertankers, especially when in my role as the Chief Mate, there were certain times where there were periods of no or little sleep and high stress.
For those who may not be aware a supertanker typically carries over 2 million barrels of crude oil.
A single US Barrel of oil is equivalent to 42 gallons. So if you buy a gallon of milk in the store, it’s two million of those without the plastic container!
As the Chief Mate, I was in charge of the loading and discharge of the cargo. Safety is always a primary concern while the pressures of the business are to carry out the job with speed. In addition, while at sea transiting between ports, watch standing duties are a responsibility as one of the three mates aboard the ship.
A typical journey begins transiting to a port to load the supertanker.
This may be a port with a dock or at sea where the loading takes place well offshore from a sea buoy. The loading process takes anywhere from 18 to 36 hours depending upon the capabilities of the loading facility. Once the loading is completed the next leg of the journey is transiting to the port of discharge.
The port of discharge may be at a dock, alongside various smaller ships or into an offshore sea buoy. It may take place in a combination of these as well. The discharge process may take 36 hours or more depending upon the method and combination of receiving the oil is conducted. In essence, this sample voyage is then repeated over again.
During the loading and discharging activities the Chief Mate is actively present and in charge.
This translates into little or no sleep and a high level of stress.
At the conclusion of a safe and timely execution of these events the hot shower, the bed and a good meal each feel like the best of each I have ever had!
The next morning, on the bridge of the ship with a hot cup of coffee watching the sunrise over the horizon, I feel as if it’s the first one I’ve ever experienced – once again.
So my question for you is when did you last give something you’ve worked on everything you had for a period of time and worked only on it?
Then at the conclusion, kicked back and enjoyed the fruits of your efforts?
Even for a brief moment like for a sunrise?
Mitch Tublin is an entrepreneur and founder of Wenkroy International LLC, a boutique consulting company with a main focus of adding value to people. Through speaking, training and coaching clarity is achieved and distractions are reduced. People now focus on what matters most. My passion is to take people to the next level in their life and in their career and business.
