I took a shore based job as "Chief Engineer" on a 31 year old supply V/L(1977 built)with "Hind Offshore Pvt Ltd" undergoing a total retrofit and "Mandatory surveys" at "Ferry Wharf(Bhaucha Dhakka)"between June to September 2008 and found it extremely exhausting Psychologically .This was the oldest shipping vessel that i worked on in my shipping career, having changed numerous "NAMES" and "OWNERS", very rare for a "Supply-Anchor tug V/L".Late "S.S.Karanja(B.I.S.N) on which i sailed as a passenger during childhood and later emigrated from Mombasa(Kenya) to Mumbai in 1968 was one of the oldest passenger shipping V/Ls to have plied India,last of the "PASSENGERV/L's "on the India-Africa route. Her keel was laid on 10/3/1948(U.K)  and in 1976  she was  purchased by "S.C.I" who  plied her on the "Madras-Port Blair-Andaman Islands Route" as "Nancowry" until 1988, a "40 Year Career!". Akin to homes, one gets attached to ships sentimentally,since besides working as well as staying on a ship, friendships as well as enimities are developed, akin to "Shore Living".  On majority of sailing V/Ls its a "Routine Maintenace job" with the odd occasional breakdown and sometimes the horror of sailing on "Insurance recovery ships!" like the unforgettable "M.V.Vinta", exploits of which are mentioned in my blogs. Shore based shipping jobs seem to be totally on "Hire/Fire Basis" with recreation being a luxury and sin. Leaving a ship at approximately 2000 hrs daily and again reporting to work at 0800hrs the next morning leaves little time for either "FAMILY" or the "CHOTTA PEG", let alone the luxury of visiting a movie Theatre,Drama,rock concert or canndle-light dinners.Commuting between the ship at port and home is another million rupee problem for most "Ship executives" staying in the suburbs of Mumbai since very few stay within "The Crorepati Residence Triangle" of the city which is close to Mumbai port. At least on a sailing V/L a person is "PSCHOLOGICALLY PROGRAMMED" to stay on board for 2 to 4 months and gets conditioned to the "SEA LIFE" with a decent "PAY PACKET COMPENSATION" with the recent increase in sea-farer wages.Ship hazards like "Sinking","Piracy" and "Sickness" are also a part of "SHORE-LIFE" in a different form but equally lethal. As for me, sailing the "SEVEN SEAS" or even "COASTAL MUMBAI" is a better proposition than being a "SHORE SAILOR!". REMEMBER! THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREEN ON THE OTHER SIDE.

Opinions Please.