As the news of my appointment circulates among family,
friends, and my university community, I receive attention, congratulation, good
wishes, and one question: Aren’t you excited? No, actually, not that I’m aware.
I’ve never been a particularly excitable boy.
And after eight years of remote possibility and over two more of stated
intention and increasing likelihood, going to Poland seems the most natural
thing in the world. Next step. Not quite as predictable or periodic as the sun
coming up, but certainly logical and consequent, maybe casually destined.
This week I’m reading the terms of my contract for carriage
aboard cargo vessels, and the reading is much to be preferred to the small
print of airline tickets and the user agreements of electronic devices and
social networks. It reads of a previous century, maybe two. The passenger is
“asked to kindly take note of the following important information” as to “the
peculiarities of passage aboard a cargo vessel.” As mentioned in my previous
blog entry, the passenger, hereinafter, “the passenger,” must be able-bodied
and visibly so with a certificate from a doctor verifying fitness. In “cases of
doubt” as to fitness even with a certificate, the passenger may be subject to
“a medical examination by the Association of Seafarers.” Who would not want to
be examined by the Association of Seafarers and pronounced fit for duty? Who
would not want to be enrolled in their company, the men who go down to the sea
in ships? Fitness, the contract advises us, is “a matter of principle.” Ancient
idea.
Among other ancient ideas, we find obedience and good order:
“all passengers shall be subject to the authority and rules of the captain and
the officers of the vessel.” Consumers, customers are not a law unto themselves
here, and in fact, on a cargo vessel, are pretty much afterthoughts; “the
transportation of cargo essentially takes precedence over the interests of passengers.”
We seem almost to be paying for the privilege of being considered potential flotsam and
jetsam. Rather tonic, refreshing. In the event of any of the following, the carrier may discontinue the
passage and disembark the passenger at the nearest port of the carrier’s
convenience:
Force majeure, marine, port and river
risks or risks related to other navigable waters, actions taken by public or
government agencies, epidemics, collisions, shipwrecks, fire, errors in the
navigation or control of this or any other vessel, confiscation or seizure of
the vessel as part of a legal procedure, sudden or unexpected shortage of fuel,
war, hostile actions, civil war, terrorism, piracy, riots, strike or industrial
action or any other causes and circumstances outside the control and
responsibility of the carrier.
(Talk about covering your aft.)
So, Josh, are you excited yet? Maybe
a little.
