Remembering SS El Faro, 10 Years Later

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the sinking of the SS El Faro, on October 1st, 2015. I was sailing as a Third Assistant Engineer for the Military Sealift Command; asides from environmentally- conscious petroleum tankers plying protected trade routes, government vessels (crewed by contractors or civil servants) were the most well-kept ships. Other vessels of the US merchant marine had to compete. When labor costs couldn’t be cut, on account of union contracts or the unwillingness of mariners to accept less than a sole breadwinner’s wage, it was maintenance and capital investment that had to be cut. Many of my fellow classmates had to compete in union halls for their first jobs. As our graduation ceremony was at the start summer, union-hall job seekers were encouraged to hit the halls when more-experienced mariners stayed at home with their kids on summer break. Having risen to the top of the pecking order at the Academy, they were reminded that their new position would be at the bottom of a new totem pole, although financial compensation could be decent in this career. You didn’t turn down a job offer, even on the most decrepit ship, as one could find themselves unemployed for a spell. When the SS El Faro sunk, it was a reminder that rustbucket ships were dangerous. I have to be careful with that term, as the longtime engineers onboard that vessel were proud of keeping the ship sailing with the limited material resources given to them by the company. Today, the picture has changed. There is a shortage of mariners, rather than a shortage of jobs. Inspections and the change configuration process is more rigorous. No captain can make fateful decisions in a vacuum, certainly not in the Starlink satellite internet era. Merchant marine officers were required to go through a three-week course of continuing education, in how to use technology, and in leadership and teamwork. At that precipice in 2017, many chose to take their retirement, instead of going back to the classroom. It was the end of an era in merchant shipping; those departing mariners had entered the industry at a time when women and college degrees were rare onboard ships, and when alcohol and smoking were fixtures at sea. They were world travelers at a time where that privilege was reserved for the rich. In other news, I am disappointed that our government has gone into reduced operating status. While the effects on civil servants will be cushioned for two weeks, on account of recently-added backpay protection, there is a risk of harm when the paycheck does not arrive on time. The impact is being felt immediately by those outside of government employment, as licensing bureaus such as the US Coast Guard are not processing applications. This means people are missing out on promotion and new career opportunities, as they must wait for government to reopen in order to obtain their new credentials. On the flip side, I believe there needs to be little debate to extend healthcare subsidies. In many states, the medley of health insurance programs allow for near-universal coverage. This is a stark contrast from the single-payer dreams of Democratic Socialists, or the creeping socialism, found in the UK or Canadian health systems, that President Eisenhower warned us about.