The feel of the ship – Have you felt it..??
I am not a seafarer, but I have had the privilege of being onboard different types of ships when I was handling them operationally many years ago..
There is something about some of the ships that I have worked on that has given me a sense of comfort and made me feel at home like I belonged there..
I said “some” ships because some ships didn’t give me that feeling and gave me a sense of uneasiness and I have felt like wanting to get out of there ASAP..
Mind you, I am talking about the “ship” and not about the people onboard the ship..
Well, it turns out that not just me or the ship’s crew that have a connection with the ship, but also Marine Pilots have or get this “feel of the ship” which they are navigating in and out of ports and it is quite important for them to get the feel of the ship..
I found this out when I got talking to Capt.Roberto Caballero Vega a Panama Canal Pilot of over 25 years who very kindly allowed me to reproduce his article about “The feel of the ship: The essence of Piloting” below..