Silas E Parks and the Pirate Attack

I have at last managed to write another SILAS E PARKS adventure - the beginning of which can be found below.

Silas E Parks and the Pirate Attack

Pirates have been grabbing headlines recently. They seem to be grabbing ships from all nooks and crannies of the oceans and it makes me wonder what all the fuss is about. I mean, when I was attacked and boarded by pirates we would have fought them and chased them off like the rogues that they were had we been able to get to them. We would have stood up and faced them man-to-man, guns and all, and showed them that we weren’t sitting down on the job.

No Siree, not me and certainly not my crew!

It was in 1993 when this particular nasty incident occurred. I was the Captain on this rather large oil tanker and having loaded up in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia we were heading down the Malacca Straits towards Singapore for bunkers and much needed stores. After that it was straight on down the hill to Australia and hopefully for me a flight home for a well earned leave!

My old companion Joe Larkin, the Chief Engineer was with me, a man who I could trust to keep the engine ticking over through hellfire and an ice-age if that was required of him, although during this incident he failed miserably for the first time in his otherwise unblemished career. Anyway, I don’t want to dig a grave for the man! I took the blame squarely on my shoulders as a Captain should even though it was not my fault at all, leaving Joe to continue his career unblemished and free of a black mark on his record.

Not sure why he stopped that engine in the middle of what is known to be rabid pirate country, peculiar really as I never told him to do so and certainly he should have known better for a man of his seasoning!

We were heading down the Malacca straights at about fourteen knots, as fast as we could go and with no intention of slowing down until Singapore clearly showed on the radar and daylight led us through to the safe anchorage. That was how we stood when our good ship entered the Malacca Straits and feeling secure in the onboard security measures the crew relaxed whilst we worked our way downward, plotting the courses as procedure dictates and navigating the ship in what was otherwise just another day at sea!

Drinking is banned in Ras Tanura – even for those of alternate faith and nationality – inhumane treatment I agree but when in Saudi, must do as the Saudi’s do or end up in jail!

For the rest of the story please visit Here