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Головна » “How We Hit a Rock and Blamed a Submarine”: A Maritime Tale from a Ship Captain

“How We Hit a Rock and Blamed a Submarine”: A Maritime Tale from a Ship Captain

Pavlo
September 18, 2025

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In his latest video, ship captain Vitaliy Tyshchenko shares real-life maritime stories. This time, he takes us back to 2008, when he worked as an ordinary seaman on a small 88-meter bulk carrier. The crew was tiny — only six people — cabins were cramped, shifts were constant, but the pay was decent: over $1,300 per month plus bonuses for any extra work.

The work was hard but rewarding. On this ship, the crew entered the Turkish port of Ereğli and then sailed onward to Amsterdam. It was between these ports that an incident occurred, turning an ordinary voyage into a legendary story.

A Celebration that Ended in a Crash
In the Aegean Sea, the captain and chief engineer shared birthdays. A proper party broke out on deck: barbecue, beer, vodka — a full celebration. But instead of taking the watch, the captain went to sleep. The ship continued forward, uncontrolled.

The result was predictable: the vessel missed a crucial turn and collided… with a rock. The impact was so strong that objects flew around the cabins, and the crew decided it was time to put on life jackets. Fortunately, the ship did not sink, but the bow tank was breached, and the vessel suffered serious damage.

How the Truth Was “Buried”
Of course, no one could tell the company that the crew had been drinking — it would have ruined careers. So the captain devised another plan. What exactly happened? Watch the video to find out!

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Stella Maris Ukraine is the Ukrainian branch of a global Catholic maritime charity, supporting seafarers and their families worldwide for over 100 years. We provide free psychological, educational, financial, and legal assistance.

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Support for sailors from the Stella Maris Sea Apostolate

We invite all people of the sea to take advantage of our free offers. The first is grant training in financial literacy. The second is psychological assistance.

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