Professional Documents
Culture Documents
3/off : No, he’s on shore getting a yellow fever vaccination. He said he’d return by 16:00.
How do you want to change it?
Foreman : According to the Chief Mate’s plan, we are supposed to load 2,000 tons at Hatch No. 2 and then 2,000 tons at
Hatch No. 6 and then 1,000 tons at Hatch No.2 again. I would prefer to load the 3,000 tons at Hatch No.2 all
at the same time. It would help us finish earlier.
3/off : Well, it won’t affect the trim of the ship, but I still don’t think we can load that much at once. Wait a minute; I’ll
do some calculations.
Foreman : It’s OK on most ships, so I think it’ll be OK. What do your calculations say?
3/off : Well, it seems to be a problem for our ship. If we discharge the whole ballast of the forepeak tank we could do
it, but then the trim would be too large, and the aft draft might be a problem.
Foreman : Well, it doesn’t seem possible then. I must follow your plan.
3/off : Yes, please do.
Foreman : By the way, is the draft checked using this schedule?
3/off : Yes, I thank so.
Foreman : OK. Let’s stick with this plan.
3/off : When can we have the exact reading?
Foreman : I think I’ll have a figure for you when you finish the draft check calculations.
yellow fever : a serious disease transmitted by mosquitoes
vaccination : an injection to give immunity against an infectious disease; i.e., a polio vaccination
hatch : an opening in the deck roof or floor, a hatch of a cargo hold in this case
trim : making the ship more balanced by shifting the ship’s cargo
discharge : to eliminate, to deliver, to let go
forepeak : ship’s foreword ballast tank
aft : the rear of a ship
stick with : stick to, to follow, to do something in keeping with…
draft check calculation(s): numerical operations for finding out a proper draft level
Foreman : Third Mate, seawater is leaking from the topside tank in Hold No. 2. Will you come and take a look?
3/off : Again? This always happens. OK, I’m coming. (After checking the leak) It doesn’t seem to be leaking very much. I’ll
discharge the ballast here, and it should stop soon. I’ll tell the Chief Officer about this.
Foreman : We are going to pick up a bulldozer from Hatch No. 6. Please check the hold.
3/off : OK. I’ll check it after I speak to the Chief Officer.
(Third Officer goes to Hold No. 6)
3/off : Assistant Officer, I’m going to check Hold No. 6.
A/off : Be careful, Third Mate. Take your time and be careful not to slip and fall from the ladder. Some of our young seamen are so
eager that they use the vertical ladder. You shouldn’t use it because it’s too dangerous.
3/off : Don’t worry. I’ll use the aft spiral ladder to go down inside.
(Third Officer comes back from the Hold)
Foreman : Is anything wrong?
3/off : Yes. The bottom part of the spiral ladder is broken.
Foreman : It must have happened at another port. I don’t think it happened here.
3/off : I think that it happened here and not too long ago because the scratches look new. Will you come down and see?
Foreman : Damn! I told everyone to be careful. OK, let’s go and take a look at the damage.
Hold : storage space
Bulldozer : a heavy machine for clearing land
vertical ladder : an upright climbing device
spiral ladder : a climbing device shaped like a spiral
scratches : damage caused by scratching or scraping
Damn! : swear word said to show anger or disappointment
3/off : Foreman, can you come and take a look at Hatch No. 3?
Foreman : Of course. What’s the matter?
3/off : The man who is loading the cargo has been loading the starboard side too much. The other hatches are
evenly loaded, but No.2 Hatch is being over loaded on the starboard side. Could you please tell the cargo-
loader operator to be careful? The Chief Mate instructed us to make sure that the ship doesn’t list.
Foreman : I wonder what happened. He was doing fine until now. whenever I take my eyes off things, something
always goes wrong. I’ll go and talk to him now.
3/off : Thank you.
Foreman : (Through the transceiver) Hey, Jim! What are you doing? You’re loading the starboard side too much!
Driver : What? I’m loading the starboard side too much? I don’t think so.
Foreman : What’s wrong with you? Did you forget to wake up this morning? Pay attention to what you are doing and
even out the load!
Driver : OK, I’ll load on the port side. By the way, I’m thirsty. Can you tell the Third Mate to bring me a can of coke.
Please?
Foreman : OK. But pay attention to what you’re doing. Third Mate, could you please get the loader a can of coke?
3/off : Again? I just gave him one a little while ago. All right, I’ll get him one. Just make sure that he does a good
job. Otherwise, I’ll have the Chief Officer file a complaint.
cargo-loader operator: a person who loads or unloads a ship’s cargo (goods)
using a mechanical loader
instruct(ed) : to show how to do thins
list : to incline, to tilt
take my eyes off…: not to watch or pay attention to…
complaint : a formal statement of dissatisfaction
Worker : Hey, Third Mate, how’s it going? Did you go ashore last night and have some fun?
3/off : No, I was so busy last night that I didn’t have time to go ashore.
Worker : That’s too bad. There are a lot of good places to go around here. Don’t you know that it’s bad for your health to
work too much? Ha, ha, ha!
3/off : Yeah, right. Can you tighten the lashing bars in Bay No. 3? They’re loose.
Worker : Those containers aren’t ours. Their destination is Los Angeles, so it’s not my job.
3/off : I know that they’re bound for Los Angeles, but they were loosened by mistake yesterday. So they have to be
tightened again.
Worker : That’s not my problem. I’ve been working all night in the rain and I’m tired. Ask the foreman to do it.
3/off : I asked him, and he told me to have one of you workers do it.
Worker : Then ask my fellow worker over there.
3/off : I asked him and he told me to ask you. So when you finish this one, follow me.
Worker : All right, all right. I’m coming.
3/off : Here, since you’re so tough, tighten this one up.
Worker : Damn! Who did this?
3/off : (Mumbling) I don’t know, but they always come loose, so they have to be tightened anyway.
go ashore : to land, to disembark from a ship
lashing bars : bars used for tying (or lashing) things down
destination : a place where something or somebody is going
bound for : destined to go to …, headed for …
by mistake : something done wrong unknowingly, an error has been made
mumbling : speaking in a low, hardly audible voice (usu. talking to oneself)
Agent : Quartermaster, lower the gangway, please.
Ramose : Just a moment, please. We haven’t finished making fast. I’m just waiting for the Captain’s permission.
Agent : I see. Then please lower it when you’re ready.
Ramos : OK. He gave me the go. I’m lowering it now.
Agent : Quartermaster, watch out for the bitt down here. Lower it slowly, so it doesn’t hit the bitt.
Ramos : OK. Tell me when to stop.
Agent : Stop. Actually, now it’s just a little too low. Can you pull it up a little?
Ramos : OK. I’ll raise it. How’s that.
Agent : That’s perfect. Thank you.
(The agent comes on board)
Agent : How is everything going?
Ramos : Pretty good. We’ve going to lower the gangway onto the wharf after we’ve berthed.
Agent : OK.
2/off : Ramos, we’ve anchored now. everyone’s coming, so lower the gangway onto the pier.
Ramos : Yes, sir.
2/off : We’ll have to watch the tide. It’s high tide now, but tomorrow morning, when it is low tide, we’ll be a lot
lower. So, we have to raise the gangway as soon as the tide ebbs, or it’ll be too late.
Ramos : I know. I read the tide information that the Third Mate prepared for us.
Gangway : a walk way used to board or disembark a ship
making fast : tying something down to stabilize it or make it firm
permission : being allowed to do something
gave me the go: gave me the permission; it is OK to do …