A Target to Hit

March 5, 2012 – A Target to Hit

An employment contract at sea is like running an ultra marathon. It requires serious effort for a long period of time and the challenge is as much physical as it is mental. Now imagine what that endurance race would be like if you didn’t have a clear indication of how long the journey actually was. Or even worse, if someone kept moving the finish line!

So, your Sign Off date is a number that everyone commits to heart. When you start a contract you are provided an estimated sign off date, and somewhere within the first half of your contract that date is normally adjusted to a reasonable guess at when you will be leaving. There are always special circumstances that can result in an extension, but that date is generally the clear finish line toward which you are running.

My problem is that my original sign off date had nothing to do with reality. My position works under an approximate four month contract, and yet from the very first date that I came on board, my employee file listed me as staying until July, a six-month duration. This alarmed me. Yet, every time I attempted to discuss this I was told that this was only an estimated date and not to worry about it. But the number of times I heard that someone had not questioned a sign off date until the last month of their contract and when they did were told that it was their responsibility to ask that question earlier led me to know that I needed to take stronger action than simply to trust a number entered into a database in Miami. So, I stayed persistent in my quest for the truth on my contract length, bringing it up with Laura every couple of weeks. Finally as I inched closer to the completion of my second month she agreed that an inquiry needed to be made. A good motivation for this was that she believed she was to sign off in March but still hadn’t heard anything final.

Two questions were sent to our shore-side HR Manager in Laura’s email, and we waited expectantly for a reply. One day later, no response had been received. Two days passed. On the third day we received a response indicating that it was being worked on and we would have an update the next day. When I arrived at work the next morning Laura forwarded me the reply from Miami. Although two questions had been asked, only one of us had received an answer. Laura still was awaiting hers, but I had mine. May 24^th! I was scheduled to leave the ship on that day in Naples, Italy. The anxiety that had been building each day over this subject was finally released. Yes, the date could still adjust a bit here or there, but we had a real target now and it wasn’t July!

I now knew where the finish line was. Instead of running a race just for the sake of running there was now a goal at the end of the journey. As the one who conducts the sign off meetings for all crew, I had seen the joy as the day approached illuminate their very beings. I realized that I would enjoy that same joy-filled experience in the not too distant future. Yes, it is the day after our 25^th wedding anniversary . . . but close enough.

And the Sign Off meeting that I conduct that day will be my favorite ever!

And the adventure continues . . .