Why ship’s officers should get the samerespect as airline crews

Hendrik van Hemmen - Friday 30 May 2008AS A marine consultant I have the pleasure of slowly dragging myself through the airportsecurity line.This provides me with ample time to observe chipper airline crews with their roll-on bagsand uniforms sail through the crew-only line, and wonder why I, as a paying passenger,am not extended the same privilege.It makes no sense from a business point of view. Why does the service provider enjoygreater privileges than the customer? As a customer, I should blame myself for not protesting more loudly.But as a person who serves the marine industry, the ‘crew only’ line is even more deeplytroubling. Why do aircraft crews enjoy this privilege while similar privileges are notextended to ship’s crews?In worth, stress and skills there is no comparison. Airline officers basically work aneight-hour day, sleep in comfortable hotels and, in essence, have no maintenance,management or operational worries beyond flying the plane from point to point withdetailed instructions provided through outside assistance. If something on the plane doesnot work, they fill in the gripe sheet and leave it to the ground crew to deal with, withoutworrying as to whether they can take the plane out the next day or not.How sharply this contrasts with ship’s crews.After slugging themselves across the ocean standing day and night watches for manydays, they arrive in port and are interrogated, inspected, investigated and treated assuspects by the port they arrive in. They do not get to leave the ship so they can sleep in ahotel room, but instead work long hours until the vessel is ready to leave again. They donot get the benefit of repair and ground crews that ready their ship for the next trip.Instead they stay aboard and do it all themselves. Ship’s crews are not just ship drivers;they are very highly skilled individuals who perform a huge number of different tasks.While there are ranks and task divisions aboard a ship, in fact, with today’s small crews,ship’s officers are jacks of all trades and master of most. What is incredible is that,considering the number of various tasks that officers are engaged in, there are actually people out there who can perform all those tasks.