Dances with waves: a lookout perspective

Filipino mariners are regarded in the international maritime industry as world class. It is believed that for every international commercial vessel, there is at least one Filipino serving as crew. In fact, many Filipinos are either captains or chief engineers of various types of vessels owned by international shipping companies.

A lot of Filipino Americans are also serving in the US Navy. Many of them are crew members of US Navy ships deployed throughout the world. They are hardworking and very efficient in their respective duties aboardship.

The Philippine Navy sailors are equally world class. Though they operate local Navy vessels, the training and discipline they acquire are patterned and has no difference with that of their US counterparts. Their sacrifices cannot be underrated because they work away from their families under various circumstances and sailing on different sea conditions.

Being a sailor is not just required by the naval profession but also a personal commitment of serving the country through maritime surveillance and coastal patrols to ensure that our territorial boundaries are protected from illegal activities and intrusion. They also work beyond their normal call of duty with utmost dedication.

Serving as pioneer crew of BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF16) is a unique experience. It is also a breath-taking adventure having struggled the rough seas of the Caribbean, crossed the Panama Canal and pushed forward by the waters of Costa Rica and Mexico along the Pacific Ocean.

Many stories have been or would be told about BRP Alcaraz’s commanding officer, executive  officer, engineer, gunnery personnel and other crew but never an experience of a port (left) and starboard (right) lookouts. The ship’s lookouts are personnel responsible to watch for dangers such as shallow water, crossing ships, floating containers and other circumstances that may cause trouble to the ship.

While sailing from San Diego to Hawaii, Seaman 2^nd Class Gilbert Belao acts as a lookout. While it is seldom appreciated, Belao contributes to the safety of the ship. He is exposed to the sun at daytime and to cold winds and sometimes rain at night time.

The daytime duty is easier. Even on his naked eye, he can see objects dead ahead of the ship. The agony is during night time, darkness overfilled his senses. He must never fail. The curiosity on blue waters excites him. The sound of the waves as it splashes to the keel of the ship. The sight of the stars on a clear night sky also seems enjoyable but the focus must be on any object that the ship may encounter.

But the environment condition is not always favorable. He recalls a zero-visibility situation. His anxiousness is exacerbated by the heavy rain fall, extreme waves and chilling winds. He pushed himself to see anything on the binocular, and double check it with his own eyes. He tightly holds his binocular while the ship’s bow moves up and down. He literally dances with waves.

After a few hours of struggle, he is ready to relay to the next duty lookout the prevailing situation, especially if there is a ship, land formation or shallow water along the route of the ship.

           SN2 Belao can now take a rest to regain energy for his next tour of duty. He looks forward for another quest on the sea condition. Another dance move on deck --- a move that synchronizes with the dance of the waves.