Q7. What is your message and advice to those making their way in what is a tough and exacting profession?


I would point blank tell prospects to stay away from this profession if they are allergic to “hard work and commitment”. This profession is not for gold-diggers or for the type who believe in the “get rich quick” mind-set. In this profession, “recognition and gratification” comes on a “long term” basis and there are no short-cuts.


The journey of a marine surveyor is tough, thankless (many times), filled with perennial time constraints, challenging and tedious.


There are many sacrifices that need to be made on domestic matters in terms of time management. Therefore, finding an understanding life partner is the key to success. As reiterated earlier, I have been very lucky on this angle.


Q8. What funny instances whilst on survey can you remember that you are prepared to share with readers?


In my entire 20 years career of surveying, the below incidence is extremely bizarre, unnerving and unforgettable. In hindsight (since there has been no collateral damage), I can smile over it and have no qualms in sharing same.


This memory re-cap dates back to an incidence that happened in the month of December 2005, at Khorfakkan outer anchorage, at about 0245 hrs. On that fateful night, the sea was very rough, weather was chilly and sea water temperature was “sort of very uncomfortable for a swim”.


I was to disembark from a gas tanker. The vessel was in a light ballast condition (very high freeboard).


Prior my disembarking, the vessel had already picked up anchor and was underway. Since the sea was very rough, the Master planned


that he would call the service boat to make an approach on the leeward side, to minimize the wave effect, so that I could jump off the combination ladder onto the service boat (although last minute heroics were essential, for safe landing).


I was advised to put all my stuff in my haver-sack (including my camera, documents, passport submission proof, wallet, car keys and mobile phone). This bag was lowered to the boat, with a heaving line, which was safely collected by the boatman, who was standing at the boat’s helm.


After untying the heaving line of my bag, the boatman signalled that I could commence my descent on the never ending pilot ladder (...as viewed from deck, the service boat looked like a toy, bobbing on water...).


Whilst I was midway on the ladder, a massive wave threw the boat away from the ship’s side. In the process, the lowest tip of the pilot ladder got entangled with the bow fender of the boat in such a way that the pilot ladder was pulled away from the shipside (with me hanging on it, like a spider). Before we could comprehend anything, the entangled rope got detatched from the fender and the ladder started swinging like a yoyo (with me on it). I managed to keep my composure and as soon as the swinging reduced climbed back onto the ship, since the boat had moved away in the darkness and I could not stay dangling, in that abyss.


Whilst all this was happening, the boatman lost his balance and fell into the sea, between the boat and the ship. Whilst falling into the water, the boatman forgot to let go of my bag... which went down into the deep blue sea (WITH ALL ITS CONTENTS).


All emergency drills were activated to retrieve the boatman from the sea, who was hoisted onto the ship (on a life buoy). After me and the boatman had stabilized, we dis- embarked the vessel (via the same pilot ladder).


Everything was under control except for the fact that I had lost all my possessions, including permission to leave the Port premises or cell phone or wallet or survey findings etc. What followed was a nightmare, in putting all matters in place (in spite of full cooperation from all parties).


In hindsight, I cherish the memories of that night (albeit in a lighter vein), with the conviction that “Murphy’s Law never fails”. Whilst we prepare for the best, we should always be prepared to face the worst.


Q9. Your son, Rohan, has followed you into the marine world – how does that make you feel and how proud of him were you when he was given a special certificate by IIMS in Dubai at the end of last year to recognize his studies?


Rohan’s advent into the maritime world has been the silver lining in my professional life. Every parent wants their next generation to step into the same line of work, as an acknowledgement of a good career choice (by the parent). So it was, in my case.


Having completed his mechanical engineering (followed by internship at Goltens and Clarksons and Quest Marine LLC), he obtained more marine related qualifications like a Skipper’s license, qualified diver’s certification. His penchant to opt to become a Marine Broker is well respected and his success is an edification of his choice.


His crowning glory, thus far, has been completing the ‘Diploma in Marine Surveying, under the IIMS portal. I must confess that he worked really hard to complete all the modules on his own steam. Of course, he reached out to many external sources for assistance, including my colleagues in Quest Marine. But then, that was the desired format and mere references to reading materials and obtaining web-based information WAS NOT the promulgated norm.


The Report • December 2020 • Issue 94 | 113


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