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- Feb 22, 2024, 7:13pm
- ☁️ 86 °F
- Altitude: Sea level
- Timor Sea 10°44’21” S 131°3’41” E
Evening 62: Meet Captian Warwick
February 22, Timor Sea ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F
I am sure everyone onboard has those days/nights that; “He goes his way, and She goes her way.” Donna and I spent the day together at Whitsunday Island and somewhere along the line we did our own thing for dinner - She did catch up with me later at the World Cafe before the Magic/Comedy Show
Nevertheless, I was on my own dinner. I sat down next to another gentleman who looked like he was in the same situation. I introduced myself asking “If he was on his own for dinner as I was.” Replied “Hello, I am Warwick, I am piloting the ship.” I paused for a moment and thought to myself “Why are you in the World Cafe you should be on the bridge making sure we don’t hit anything.”
Warwick, is a Coastal Pilot not to be confused with the Port Pilots who guide us to the docks. Warwick plans the route well in advance of the journey along the Australian coast and stays with the ship the whole way through. Getting on as we left Sydney and off the ship after Thursday Island.
There is a photo of Warwick and a video of him getting back on the tug boat. He said, honestly getting on and off the ship is really the most dangerous part of his job. When all the pre-work is done well in advance of the voyage along the Coastal Reef it’s pretty straight forward. Warwick gave very high praise to our Captain, his crew, and Viking.
Warwick, has been married 12 years, his second go-around, and between him and his wife they have eight children, and 12 grandchildren. When we were docked in Melbourne he said they live about 1.4 miles as the crow flies from where the ship was docked. I told him I am from East Windsor, Connecticut - he chuckled saying “I live on Windsor Terrance” - small tidbits make brief encounters memorable.
When the Neptune was anchored at Phillip Island, Warwick was on a small hike with his wife and pointed the Neptune out to her and said, “That’s the were I will be working in a couple of days taking that ship up along the reef.”
Prior to his current 14 years as a Coastal Pilot Warwick did over 35 years in the Australian Navy, was Captain of three large warships, and even commander of a small fleet before his retirement from the Navy.
We talked for well over an hour - as we parted ways - he gave me a sincere thank-you to me for starting up a conversation with him. Talking with Warwick was a great lesson to me to learn about the going-ons of a Coastal Pilot.Read more
Traveler Great video
Traveler Very cool! I’ve been on cruises and have seen when they leave the ship to get on the little boat and am always amazed with the process and delicacy with which they accomplish it.