Out of Arklow

Ido not remember when Ifirst sailed out of Arklow butI do remember when I almost drowned in the dock atthe age of three.I was brought up in a fishing community and in our streetof fourteen houses every one of them had at least oneperson in the family earning a living from the sea.I first shipped out of Arklow as a boy aged thirteen onlocal fishing boats. Later on I joined the Merchant Navyand over the years I worked my way up from ordinaryseaman to master.I served on eighty different boats and ships and wasmaster of thirty-seven of them. These included fi shingvessels coasters tramps cattle boats passenger shipsheavy-lift vessels nuclear fuel carriers tankers VLCCsOBOs container ships dredgers survey ships yachtsand patrol boats.This is my story.