Expand mobile version menu
  Skip to main content

Interviews

Insider Info

The Bering Sea is one of the most feared and fearsome regions of the Pacific Ocean.

Strong centers of low atmospheric pressure generate frequent and severe winter storms. Winds whip up 40-foot-high waves that will coat entire ships in ice as they fight their way through the constant fog and powerful tides. Ice fields cover a sizeable area deep into April.

One assumes that ships and sailors would want to stay away from this corner of the ocean.

This is not the case, however, since it is also one of most productive and profitable marine ecosystems. It abounds with marine life. It is the source of more than half of the United States' commercial fish catch with an annual value of $1 billion. Several commercial shipping lines also run through it.

This, then, explains the long list of ships and sailors who met their end in the Bering Sea.

But since commercial shipping outfits cannot afford to stay away, high-sea incidents are common. This puts an immense amount of pressure on local coast guard ships and their crews. And they have to perform under the most intense and inhospitable conditions.

Linda Sturgis served as a navigator for two years on board a United States Coast Guard cutter. She recalls a mission in which her ship had to fight its way through 30-foot seas in the middle of February in response to a distress call from a science vessel that had been adrift for several days.

"It was just nasty, just nasty," she recalls.

The science vessel was researching plankton when bad weather knocked out its entire engine system. The vessel started to drift. All the radios were down except for a small hand-held unit. The crew eventually made contact with a nearby fishing boat. It then contacted its base, which then relayed the message to the coast guard.

The cutter sprung into action at around midnight and raced towards the science vessels at its top speed of 28 knots. Ten hours later, it reached the distressed vessels. And the timing could not have been better. The science vessel was dangerously close to the shoreline, and the elements pushed the vessel even closer to it.

So the next step was to tow it away from immediate danger. Rough seas, however, made this part of the operation difficult. The crew needed half an hour to secure a towing line.

But in the end, the cutter rescued all 25 scientists, researchers and crewmembers off the other ship. The ordeal left them exhausted. Some were suffering from borderline hypothermia. But they all knew that this incident could have had a much worse ending. "They were really happy to see us," says Sturgis.

Her maritime career began in her hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. Near famous Chesapeake Bay, Norfolk and its people have developed a close bond with the sea, and Sturgis simply continued a family tradition when she decided to go to sea. And just like her grandfather, father and brother, she joined the coast guard.

"You give so much back to the public," she says. "We don't get a lot of publicity, but we give back as much as we can because our mission is safety."

But life on sea exacts a price. For one, your living space is significantly smaller than on land. Indeed, crewmembers may have to share bunks. And you are stuck with the same people in a place you may not be able to leave for many months.

"You pretty much eat with your boss, work with your boss, and if you have any downtime, you play cards with your boss," says Sturgis.

So you better be able to get along with everybody, says Barrie Hudson, a former marine navigator. And that may not be easy, since the tight confines of a vessel tend to magnify any personal and psychological problems crew members may experience.

"You can have disturbances and that sort of stuff," says Hudson. "You may be fighting with people and not like them. That's very common."

On the other hand, life on board can also be rather boring. Hudson says there is always plenty to do if you are on duty -- standing watch as they say -- but he admits it can be difficult to fill free time.

"Some people can be bored stiff," says Hudson. It can also get pretty lonely. "A container ship also has 14 people on board, and you may go days without seeing some of these people."

Hudson certainly speaks from experience. He was a navigator for several years. During this time, he and his profession experienced a technological revolution. Navigators now rely on satellites and sophisticated software instead of the stars to keep a steady course.

"Computerization has changed a lot of things," says Hudson. "Navigation programs now simplify things."

But technology has not necessarily eliminated the need for seasoned navigators. You have to realize technology can fail, says Hudson. "The bridge has to be manned properly," he says. "Somebody has to keep a lookout."

The Exxon Valdez disaster underscored that point. Fatigue, alcohol and poor training were responsible for the worst oil spill in U.S. history when it ran aground near Prince William Sound in Alaska. More than 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled out. It severely damaged one of most the beautiful and pristine natural environments.

On a positive note, the accident led to the development of stricter and higher safety standards. But nobody should have any grand illusions about going to sea. It is not romantic and it can be dangerous.

Just ask Sturgis about the Bering Sea.

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

Support


Powered by XAP

OCAP believes that financial literacy and understanding the financial aid process are critical aspects of college planning and student success. OCAP staff who work with students, parents, educators and community partners in the areas of personal finance education, state and federal financial aid, and student loan management do not provide financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice. This website and all information provided is for general educational purposes only, and is not intended to be construed as financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice.