From my Facebook feed ... advertising cruises
It's never too late to book a trip ...
Oh yes it is after the ship has sailed ...
Now imagining you being put aboard on the pilot boat as the ship swings by, mind.
Mark
A Merchant ship, by law, has to have a minimum of Officers on board to sail. In earlier days, if the Radio Officer wasn't on board, it couldn't sail. Used to take the pilot to the anchorage & await "Sparks" via a pilot boat.
It happened on several occasions I've heard.
Whilst I was a trainee "Sparks" we anchored off Plymouth when my chief/boss (the main Radio Officer) was still shoreside.
The Master was on the phone to head office asking if he could have dispensation to sail with me only to our next
UK▸ port.
My boss arrived shortly after we started to 'up-anchor'.
