SUCCESS comes easy to those privileged with support, opportunity and the convenience of technology.
But in shipping, there was a time when seafarers had to grab opportunities by the neck and refuse to let go, a time when vessels had to be operated with intense brawn and brain powers.
Those who had witnessed this phase of seafaring would say that it was a time when “ships were made of wood, and men were made of steel.”
We now call these men the “old salts,” veteran mariners deemed sages within their domain and lived to tell the story.
Romeo Pacamana is among them.
He started sailing in the late ’80s when cargo ships were just getting bigger and global trade was setting off with a roar.
The industry was only beginning to realize that more profit could be made by loading more containers into a ship. The only thing that constrained a ship’s design was the dimensions of the Panama Canal, a heavily used shipping route. Its established width meant that vessels could only increase by length. This maximum ship width later became known as the Panamax Standard. Vessels that are wider and taller were called Post Panamax.
Pacamana witnessed and experience this shipping evolution.
“The vessels were starting to get bigger and our responsibility to keep it and the cargoes safe became heavier. But in the ’80s, vessel safety was not a question of how advanced a ship’s technology was. It all boils down to how we carry out our work. Back then, shipboard safety fully depended on the crew’s proficiency and vigilance,” Pacamana said.
“The backer system in seafarer recruitment was chronic then. But what’s even worse was not knowing whether your ship owner would supply you with personal protective equipment. Most shipping companies were registered before with Flags of Convenience. Companies such as these seldom look after the welfare of their crew, and salaries were way below standards,” he said.
The 63-year-old also recalled months of manual labor, hours of heavy workloads and days that were weighed with exhaustion. The difficulties often worsened with rough seas and towering waves that would knock seafarers around cabins, passageways or workstations.
“These instances made us physically and mentally strong. But what distinguishes us from the younger generation is our emotional stability. Seafaring back in the days when there was still no internet and [mobile] phones meant spending countless months of isolation from society and family. We could not communicate with our loved ones on a regular basis,” Pacamana said.
“It took two to three months before we could hear any news from home,” he said.
“Family is very important, especially for us Filipinos. Taking them away from the equation proves to be the greatest challenge for a seafarer. It really takes emotional stability, sheer determination and courage to carry on with a job at sea during those years.”
Pacamana reflected on how times have changed seafaring and how technology would have made their jobs easier back in the day.
“But come to think of it, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said.
“We knew how to do things the hard way. We ate stress and fatigue for breakfast, and because we knew that accidents were always just around the corner given our working conditions, we were always kept on our toes. We did not cure boredom with gadgets, and most of all, we endured and succeeded in the full length of our career path despite missing our family so badly,” Pacamana said.
“What truly makes an old salt is his ingenuity, inner strength and forbearance,” he added.
“Beyond that, we are all sons of the sea,” he said.
Pacamana is a graduate of the Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI) Class of 1982.
After three decades of sailing the high seas and commanding various types of container and cargo vessels, he retired as a ship captain.
Today, Pacamana shares his expertise and experience by working as a consultant for a manning agency in Makati. He also volunteers with the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.
“To the young generation of seafarers, accept the reality that you will be away from your families. Socialize with your fellow crew instead of locking yourselves away in your cabins. Accepting the nature of our job and connecting with those around us lessens homesickness and boredom. Just take one day at a time and always give it your best shot — that should carry you every contract,” he concluded.
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