N°.93351

Was looking for my passport to see if it's still valid when I came across this nostalgic blast from the past. Amazing to be reminded that I was considered "Competent" to negotiate a safe course for 20,000 tons of hardware on the high seas.

Brings back the abject panic when rounding the South coast of Sri Lanka in the early morning at 20 knots - suddenly, dead ahead in the blinding glitter of the sea you see a thousand wee wooden fishing boats with outriggers who have the right of way... Only thing to do is give a furious blast of the steam whistle - plough straight on & pray you hit nobody.

The English Channel was pretty hairy too :o(