I keep a log detailing our journey, and I also record data about the cargo we transport. When we arrive in port, I oversee the loading and unloading of our cargo. But this job can be demanding. Depending on the season or location, I may be out of doors in cold, stormy weather or sweltering heat and humidity. The hours are long, too.
Crews often work several weeks straight, six to twelve hours a shift.
I miss my family when I'm on the job. And, at times, the work can be dangerous if safety procedures aren't followed. In English, I had to read Life on the Mississippi, Mark Twain's account of his adventures on a riverboat. What an exciting life, I thought. When I graduated from high school, I enrolled in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, earned a bachelor's degree, and got licensed by the U. S. Coast Guard to captain a boat.