Charlie Leahey What is your job on the ship? AB (Able-bodied Seaman) How long have you been doing this? 1 year as AB, 6 years as a mariner. What is your favorite part of what you do? Helm duties/bridge watch. What is the least favorite part of your work? Away from home 3+ months at a time. |
How/why
did you get into this field? Love boats, water, and nature. Most rewarding
field I have worked in with all types of boating to chose from to tailor
to my interests and skills.
What are your career goals? Captain - Washington State Ferries What is the biggest misconception about what you do: That we are unskilled, uneducated drunks with a criminal record. Professional mariners are rarely given credit for their unique collection of training and experience. What is the most important skill/trait that you rely on? Patience and understanding - making proper and timely choices to keep myself and others safe requires knowing when to act and why - whether handling cargo or avoiding a storm. What is your most memorable experience from your career? Playing my fiddle a sunset off Oregon with humpback whales and pacific white-sided dolphins surfacing very close while veing filmed for the Discovery Channel. Or captaining my first yacht from Alaska to Seattle. Both great memories. Tell us something about yourself. I live on an island in Puget Sound. I play fiddle and especially love Cajun and Zydeca music. I love cooking, bicycling, sailing and camping. I hope one day to have a wife and kids. |