She may just be the one I end up with

She may just be the one I end up with?



So hes been going around telling people that he got a scholarship to do Marine Engineering, basking in the admiration that usually comes when you get a scholarship from a big corporate company like MISC(for added effect just say Petronas, since it is a subsidiary of it anyway). But what usually follows is people generally assuming that they know what Marine Engineering is, when they really don't.

1) It has nothing to do with animals. This is not Marine Biology, he wont be playing with seals, and dolphins or listening to whale sounds. No.

2) What this is, is in fact, the culmination of all things macho, the antithesis of the metrosexual man, the testosterone oozing combination of Rambo, McGyver and Popeye all rolled onto one. This is a sailor. With brain to match the brawn. The actual term for it is "Mariner". But sailor sounds cooler.

So what does a sailor(mariner) do you ask? OK so maybe you're not asking and you think all they do is push buttons, crank things and make loud obnoxious noises. Well you are wrong.

"Marine Engineers are the members of a ship's crew that operate and maintain the propulsion and other systems onboard the vessel. Marine Engineering staff also deal with the "Hotel" facilities onboard, notably the sewage, lighting, air conditioning and water systems. They deal with bulk fuel transfers, and require training in firefighting and first aid, as well as in dealing with the ship's boats and other nautical tasks- especially with cargo loading/discharging gear and safety systems, though the specific cargo discharge function remains the responsibility of deck officers and deck workers.
Sometimes, they are involved in the design and construction of these complicated systems. New design is mostly included within the naval architecture or ship design. The field is closely related to mechanical engineering, although the modern engineer requires knowledge (and hands on experience) with electrical, electronic, pneumatic, hydraulic, chemistry, control engineering, naval architecture, process engineering, gas turbines and even nuclear technology on certain military vessels.The term marine engineer can also refer to a designer who specializes in the design and building of marine machinery, and occasionally, specialists in naval architecture and shipbuilding."

Yeah.

"Marine Engineers are generally more 'hands on', and often get dirty, sweaty and work in arduous conditions with temperatures in the engine room spaces exceeding 45 - 50 degrees Celsius. Patience and a logical approach needs to be maintained at all times, especially when dealing with heavy machinery in a seaway. Managing the 'rough' engine-room crew is not a job for the faint hearted!"

Hence the references to McGyver and Rambo. And Popeye.

And yes. Working on a ship can turn into something of a routine. You're always in the same place, working with the same people, the sea always looks the same, and things can get, a little, monotonous. Maybe even boring. But then again, theres always the chance of something exciting happening when you're on a ship. You could always fall off. That would be quite interesting. Then theres pirates. You get to spray them armed pirates with fire hoses, water versus bullets. Although this tends to put those with the hose at a slight disadvantage, this only means that those on watchkeeping duty had better be doing their jobs! Of course, sometimes things can get beyond just a little wet.

For example:

The cargo ship Chang Song boarded and taken over by pirates posing as customs officials in the South China Sea in 1998. Entire crew of 23 was killed and their bodies thrown overboard. Six bodies were eventually recovered in fishing nets. A crackdown by the Chinese government resulted in the arrest of 38 pirates and the group's leader, a corrupt customs official, and 11 other pirates publicly executed by firing squad.

Collision between container ship Ocean Blessing and hijacked tanker Nagasaki Spirit in the Malacca Strait in 1991. Pirates boarded the Nagasaki Spirit, removed its captain from command, set the ship on autopilot, and left with the ship's master for a ransom, leaving the ship going at full speed with no one at the wheel. The collision and resulting fire took the lives of 51 sailors; between the two ships there were only 3 survivors. The fire on the Nagasaki Spirit lasted for six days; the fire aboard the Ocean Blessing burned for six weeks

There you go. Such adventure on the high seas! Boring? Not when every dull moment has to pass through the anticipation of storms, engine failure, pirate attacks, people falling of ships etc etc. Whats the most exciting thing that a guy with a desk job will ever experience? A paper jam?

The best part is simply this: Work 6 months, and go on paid leave for the other 6 months of the year. Tax free income baby! But its not all about the money. C'mon. Its not. Seriously, have you seen the uniform?

Oh and in case you're wondering who "she" is. Well. This may or may not disappoint you. Depending on whether, you are a fan of his eyes, hair or some other body part. Or if you've wanted to marry him at some point in your life. Or if you fell asleep when you were supposed to wait for his call. You suck lar.


Why she Is Called "SHE"

She is called "she" because there is always a great deal of bustle about her; there is usually a gang of men about, she has a waist and stays; it takes a lot of work to keep her looking good; it is not the initial expense that breaks you, it is the upkeep; she can be all decked out; it takes an experienced man to handle her correctly, and without a man at the helm, she is absolutely uncontrollable. She shows her topsides, hides her bottom and, when coming into port,
always heads for the buoys.

That is why a ship is called "SHE".