Crude Carrier Read Online Free Page A

Mack told Raiford, the standard way crews of convenience were hired, and was necessary because each ship had differing requirements and offered differing amenities. It also saved time in labor negotiations since a sailor could not sign the Articles until he was aboard ship—and usually under way and out of sight of land. The term “shanghai” wasn’t used, Mack said, but the result could be the same.
    â€œIt all depends on how much freedom the owners give the shipmaster to deal with his personnel, and how willing the master is to give benefits to his crew.”
    â€œWhat about the master of the Aurora Victorious ?”
    â€œBoggs? I haven’t heard much about him. The directory lists his master’s ticket as awarded by the Pacific and Orient line in 1990. He’s generally qualified for any type and all sizes of vessels, with additional qualifications to command vessels that haul hazardous cargo.”
    â€œThat’s good?”
    â€œOh, yeah. P&O’s a well-established fleet. Old-time. They don’t give anyone command unless they think he’s thoroughly qualified.”
    â€œBut Boggs left them.”
    â€œIt may not have been his choice. In the nineties, a lot of companies reduced their fleets and cut back on their long-term charters. My guess is Boggs, being junior, lost his ship in that reduction.” He explained, “A big tanker’s going to cost around thirty thousand dollars a day just sitting there, so you don’t want them idle. Many oil companies own about sixty percent of what sea transport they might need at full capacity. When oil demand drops below that sixty percent, companies sell off part of their fleets—usually the older vessels—and lay off crews. When it picks up, they hire from independent fleets until they decide whether to build and crew their own new vessels. In really hard times like the last few years, even the independent fleets like P&O cut back on vessels.” Mack added, “If that’s what happened, Boggs was probably damned happy to find any ship, even one owned by Hercules Maritime.”
    â€œDid Rossi sign a contract with his recruiter, too?”
    â€œProbably. And from what you tell me, the crimp probably set him up with his mate’s ticket, as well. For an additional wad of cash, of course.”
    â€œAny way I can find out who Rossi’s crimp was?”
    â€œWithout his recruiting contract, it’ll be hard. Every port in the world has crimps.” Mack frowned. “Any idea where he boarded the Aurora ?”
    â€œHis parents thought it was the Gulf of Mexico.”
    â€œThat might be something—VLCCs can’t call at many ports. I’ll see what I can find out.”
    â€œI’d like you to send copies of everything Herberling had on Hercules Maritime to my daughter, Julie Campbell. She’s covering the office for me while I’m gone: the Golden Dawn files, the Aurora Victorious —whatever. And the name of Herberling’s contact at Marine Carriers.”
    Making a note in a small black book, Mack said, “I’ll FedEx it today.”
    He then gave Raiford a list of the officers on the Aurora Victorious , as well as the ship’s schedule, its primary means of communication—e-mail, fax, and Inmarsat—and the Ocean Region Codes and Ship ID number, promising to include the same information in the packet to Julie. “If you need to use the ship’s radio, here’s the frequency for Marine Carriers Worldwide. They monitor twenty-four/seven, but call only if necessary.”
    â€œCell phones don’t work?”
    â€œDepends on where you are. Close to shore, they may. Offshore, probably not.” After a pause, Mack added, “If you get in trouble, it could take as much as forty-eight hours to fly someone out to you.” He leaned back on the hard black plastic of the lobby seat and studied Raiford’s face. “Don’t