CAPTAIN. Look over there, what's the matter with that ship? They have hoisted the Code Flag. Evidently they are going to signal something to us. (To the signalman). Hoist the answering pendant!
PILOT. Oh, it's rather too far away. I can't see as far as that. Let me take my binoculars. Well, now I see the ship quite clearly. Yes, you are right, they have hoisted the International Code Flag. If I am not mistaken, that's a Norwegian ship, and the ship is evidently aground.
CAPTAIN. How do you know that the ship is aground?
PILOT. There is a small shoal in that vicinity and they must have run aground. Yes, that's it. Do you see three black balls one over the other?
CAPTAIN. Oh, yes, now I see the balls too. You are right. But how on earth could they have run against that shoall So far as I remember the chart, there's but one shoal in that area, and it is well off the usual track.
PILOT. I think we'll soon learn about it. See, they hoisted two other flags below the Code Flag.
CAPTAIN. I can see the flags but I can't distinguish them. I am afraid I must take my binoculars too.
PILOT. To my mind, that's a two-letter signal "AV".
CAPTAIN. Yes, there is no doubt about that any more. I can clearly see the
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flags now. These are the flags "Л" and "V". Let me see the code book. Oh, here you are. This group means: "I am aground. Will you endeavour to tow me off?"
PILOT. So they ask you to help them. What are you going to do about that? CAPTAIN. Well, I think we must help them. Soviet seamen are always
ready to help anyone in trouble. "A friend in need is a friend indeed", as the saying goes. Where's that code book? Oh, here it is. Thank you.
PILOT. What are you going to signal to that ship?
CAPTAIN. We'll hoist now the group "DN" meaning: "I am coming to your assistance".
PILOT. Shall we alter the course right away?
CAPTAIN. Yes, certainly. (To the helmsman). Port 5'! Steer for that ship on our port bow. Better portl Steady so!
3
CAPTAIN. Unfortunately, I cannot understand them. Evidently they are speaking Norwegian. You told me you know the Norwegian language, didn't you? Now, can you act as an interpreter?
PILOT. I'll try to.
CAPTAIN. Take this megaphone. Ask them, what's the matter with their
ship?
PILOT. The captain says that their engine was disabled and they were drifted to that shoal.
CAPTAIN. I see. Ask them, please, what they want us to do.
PILOT. They ask you to tow them off the ground and then to tow them to Rotterdam. They say they are not very deep in the ground and the hull is not damaged.
CAPTAIN. All right, tell them we'll manoeuvre our ship now so as to come as close as possible with our stern to their ship. It will take us about an hour or so before we rig the bridle from our ship's quarter.
PILOT. Well, I've told them as you said. The captain says that meanwhile
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they are preparing the towing hawser at their stern. The captain wonders how you are going to pick the towing line up.
CAPTAIN. Tell him that we'll try to pass a heaving line from our stern. In case the distance won't allow us to do so, they will have to lower the boat to run the hawser to our stern.
PILOT. The Norwegian captain thanks you for your arrangements. He wants to know also in what manner you will signal him while towing off.
CAPTAIN. We'll use single-letter signals in the usual way, that is either by flags or by sounding on the ship's whistle.
PILOT. The captain says it's all right and wants me to tell you that they will give us a tow-line from the port quarter.
CAPTAIN. Well, everything is fixed then, and I begin to manoeuvre. CAPTAIN. Now that the ship is refloated we'll have to make arrangements
for towing her. I'll signal them that I am casting off the tow-line. Can you get into touch with them through your radiotelephone?
PILOT. Yes, certainly, I can, What should I tell them?
CAPTAIN. Tell them we are manoeuvring now to come up to her bow. They will have to pass a towing hawser from their starboard bow. Let them stand by to pick up our heaving line.
PILOT. I've told them everything you said. They are ready to pick up your heaving line.
CAPTAIN (in a while). So we got them in tow at last. Ask them if everything is ready for towing.
PILOT. They say all is ready for towing and the towing hawser is fast. CAPTAIN. That's all right. Now tell them I commence towing and from
now on we shall communicate by flag signals.
5
CAPTAIN. Do you see those little tug-boats steaming over there at full speed ahead? To my mind, these are the two tugs which must take us into the port
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1o our berthing place, aren't they?
PILOT. Yes, sir, you are right. These are the tugs we are waiting for. The tugs are fitted with radiotelephone and I am trying now to get into touch with them. Ah, here they are at last. Hello! Hello! Mr Thomson? Hello! Glad to hear you, Mr Thomson. It's Worthington speaking, I am speaking from aboard the Russian ship Michurin. Yes, that's me. Hold on! How will you take her along? I see. Wait a moment. (Turning to the captain). The tug's captain says, sir, he would like to make some arrangements with you as to towing.
CAPTAIN. Well, I am at his disposal. Ask him, please, in what manner they are going to take the ship along. I mean whether they will tow alongside my vessel or pull with a towing hawser.
PILOT. I think, sir, they will do both. But let me ask the tug's captain, anyhow. Oh, yes, the tug's captain says that one of the tugs will tow with a hawser, whilst the other one will tow alongside your vessel.
CAPTAIN. Right ho! So what arrangements do they want me to make? PILOT. They say that both tugs will come to us from leeward. The first tug
will come along our bow as close as possible. The tug's captain asks you to get the towing hawser ready on the fo’c’sle at the starboard bow.
CAPTAIN. How are they going to pick up the towing hawser?
PILOT. They want you to send them a heaving line as soon as the tug is within reach. Then they will haul the hawser in.
CAPTAIN. Good. Tell them I'll have the hawser and a heaving line ready on our starboard bow. What about the other tug?
PILOT. The second tug will come from leeward too. She will come on our starboard quarter. She will make fast along-side with her own hawsers, but they want a heaving line to be passed on to them when they come within reach.
CLPTAIN. All right. Tell them I'll arrange everything as they want. Ask them how they want me to signal. I propose to signal with the ship's whistle. Will it suit them?
PILOT. Yes, sir. They say it will suit them all right.
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CAPTAIN.. Very well then. Do they want me to do anything else?
PILOT. Well, they say all the rest will be settled in the course of towing. There's one thing more which they would like to advise you.
CAPTAIN. What's that?
PILOT. There's a pretty heavy swell now and the wind blows in gusts. So they recommend you to use the best ropes and watch them properly because of possible jerks.
CAPTAIN. Oh, many thanks. We always do that in weather like this.