ONCE UPON A TIME IN A SAILOR'S LIFE

Reference: My FB Post dated: 4 October 2020

Travel to me is my livelihood....

Never mind how long precisely with having little or no money at all in my purse, I would be able to see the watery part of the world....

The profession of sailors has been known since time unknown..

My ancestor was once a great seafarer....

The secret behind being successful in the sea is nothing but to keep things as simple as possible....

No matter what, a calm sea never made a skillful sailor.. the art of the sailor is to leave nothing to chance...A skilled sailor did not acquire his skills by sailing only in the seas which are calm...If the sea is always clear and calm then the sailor will not know how to handle a storm when it hits. With every new challenge the sailor encounters, more knowledge and skills are gained…....

We must remember that in order to learn and achieve goals, we must face obstacles.

It is not that it is the ship that ensures a successful voyage. It is always the attribute of the skillful sailor who sails the ship.

As a sailor you will not be defined by how many seas you had sailed and how many ports you had been to.. but you would be defined by how many storms you has overcome.... there are things which we learn when there is a storm....

We cannot control the wind, but we can control the sail....

Remember...the sea has no place for cowards..

Honore de Balzac says, "A woman knows the face of the man she loves as a SAILOR knows the open Sea."

"To reach a port, we must sail-sail, not tie at anchor...Sail, not drift...."

(Franklin D. Roosevelt)

"The strongest stoms make the best sailors"

"A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor"

(Franklin D.Roosevelt)

"The wind and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigator"

(Edmond Gibbon)

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

16/1/2025: 11.03 p.m

SHIP IS MY HOME, SEA IS MY PLAYGROUND AND WAR IS MY GAME

I joined the Navy when I was 19 years old, apart from wanted to serve my country, I truly wanted to make a difference. I joined the Navy with dreams of seeing exotic places around the world...

Sailor's life is completely an adventurous one, it just like any other job.....Sailor is the one who knows the feelings and emotions of the sea....A rough day at sea is still better than any day in the office..

When I first drafted to the ship in 1981, My petty officer used to say to me that "As a Sailor, Ship is your home, Sea is your playground and war is your game." I always keep that in my mind until I retired in 1996.....

After 16 years serving onboard 9 RMN ships, I had learned that Sea is my country, Ship is my Home, waves are my enemies, war in not my game as I never get involved in the war and duty is My life....

AHOY ! SAILOR

We are sailors, we're rugged, able men of the sea

Braving the oceans to the highest degree

GOOD NIGHT... and sweet dreams.....

THE SHIP I HAD SERVED FROM 1981 - 1992

KD GANAS

1ST SQUADRON FAST ATTACK (MISSILE)

BASE: WOODLANDS, SINGAPORE

3.2.1981 - 27.7.1981

KD RAJA JAROM

32ND SEALIFT SQUADRON

BASE: WOODLANDS, SINGAPORE

18.7.1981 - 28.6.1982

RIVERINE BOAT (LCP, RCP & LCM)

BASE: KD SRI REJANG, SIBU, SARAWAK

28.3.1983 - 24.11.1984

KD PENDEKAR

2ND SQUADRON FAST ATTACT CRAFT (MISSILE)

BASE: MALAYSIAN SHIPYARD ENGINEERING, PASIR GUDANG,JOHOR

25.11.1984 - 5 JANUARY 1985

KD MUTIARA

36TH HYDROGRAPHIC SQUADRON

BASE: LUMUT, PERAK

26.8.1985 - 1 MAY 1986

KD GANYANG

1ST SQUADRON FAST ATTACK CRAFT (MISSILE)

BASE: LUMUT, PERAK

8.9.1986 - 29.3.1987

KD PANAH

14TH SQUADRON PATROL CRAFT

BASE: TG. GELANG, KUANTAN, PAHANG

30.3.1987 - 11.10.1987

KD SRI NEGRI SEMBILAN

12TH SQUADRON PATROL CRAFT

BASE: LUMUT, PERAK

12.10.1987 - 28.3.1988

KD LEKIR

22ND CORVETTE SQUADRON

BASE: LUMUT, PERAK

7.8.1989 - 4.12.1991

RETIRED FROM THE NAVY

15 JANUARY 1996

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

16/1/2025: 10.23 p.m

NAVY : CROSSING THE EQUATOR

The Equator is significant because it divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern hemisphere. It is important for navigation. This line sits zero degrees latitute, making it the reference point when travelers, map-makers, or anyone elso needs to determine the latitudinal location of an object on Earth. 

Seafarers life is chock full of myth and tradition, what happen at sea even affects our language. There are many naval traditions dated back hundreds and even thousand of years...Crossing the Equator is one of the naval tradition dates back at least 400 years in western Seafaring... It is a significant events for seafarers, symbolising a rite of passage.

Why would sailors avoid the Equator?

In both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the sailors noticed that there was an area near the Equator where there was little or no wind. Without the wind to move their sail-powered boats, they would sometimes be stuck for days or weeks. They started calling these areas the doldrums,  a low pressure area from 5 degrees North to 5 degrees South of the Equator. Winds are famously calm here, with prevailing breeze disappearing altogether at times, making it extremely difficult to navigate through. It's a place for trade winds to meet other trade winds.

Sailor who had crossed the Equator will be awarded a certificate and they are accepted and be called Shellback.. it is a way for sailors to be tested for their seaworthiness...

While the term given to those sailor who have not crossed the equator before was Pollywogs.

With the pollywog to shellback transition complete, a certificate was often awarded to the new shellback as a rite of passage.

When the ceremonies were first conducted, they were physically challenging and could even be painful or embarrassing to the Sailors. This is a usually light-hearted event that allows the ship's crew to take sometime out from their hectic schedules and have fun with the rest of the crewmates.

Today, the event is voluntary and is conducted more for entertainment purposes and morale boosting than anything else.

I'm not sure whether this tradition is still practiced in the Royal Malaysian Navy... as there are some who do not agree with the practice of this tradition that may conflict with religion...

Wallahualam

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

16/1/2025: 9.56 p.m

JOIN THE NAVY TO SEE THE WORLD

A Popular phase used by the Navy recruiters, and also often reference in TV shows and movies. Being at sea for a month, far away from family and friends. You will definitely see the world, but remember, 72% of the world is covered by waters.

But is it true if you join the navy you have the opportunity to see the world.....

For some its true... you have the opportunity to visit places you might never had the chance to do without joining the Navy.... while visiting foreign ports, you get to experience different cultures, cuisines and local attractions.

Its also depend on where you are assigned, is you are assigned on a ship at sea, you will visit a number of countries in a short period of time.....

And also some spend their entire career in the Navy and never went to sea on a single navy ship. I have many friends in the Navy who were based on the shore the entire time... and even some was on the ships that never sailed that far... maybe within Asia and not the world so to speak....some do "see the world" but only the sea of Singapore, Australia, Indonesia etc....

For me, when I joined the Navy in the early 80s....the recruiting slogan was "It's not just a job...it's an adventure"....that is what I really LOVE most... an ADVENTURE..... Not that seeing the ocean is a bad thing... it is one of my favorite things actually... through 16 years career in the navy, stationed onboard 9 ships, I did and saw many things that most people never dream of.

Only one thing you need to remember, that 72% of the world is covered by water. You'll see a LOT more of that than anything else!

"AHOY SAILOR...."

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

16/1/2025: 5.22 p.m

ROYAL MALAYSIAN NAVY - NAVAL COMMUNICATOR

A Navy members who establish and manage communications systems for the Navy. They ensure that the Navy has reliable communcations for mission success. The Systems unclude HF, UHF, VHF transceiver, HF data modems etc.. Radiotelephony, radiotelegraphy, flag semaphore, flag hoist, and signal lamp or blinkers are used for sending signals.

Like human communications on land, the Naval communicators was initially oral, often through relays in small boats.

Effective communication is crucial to success in any field. The Maritime English is the lingua franca at sea so to speak, and is vitally important for a multitude of reasons, such as safety of the ship crews, the efficiency of daily tasks and the integrity of the ship.

A Naval Communicators assigned at Navy ships while sailing, will be standing watches in the Communication Room (COMCEN) sending and receiving incoming & outgoing messages, and also employed on the bridge of the ship with communications by radio, signal flags, semaphore or flashing lights (morse code).

A Naval communicator are relied upon for all matters of ceremony.

From the time of Flag Semaphores used as the primary means of communication for ship, Naval communication has gone through a long and winding evolution through the years.

The use of Signal Flag (Semaphore), dates back to ancient times. The Semaphore uses a series of flags to spell out a particular message, with every flag representing a specific letter.

Same as the use of Morse Code, allowed ship-to-shore communication via radio during the early 19th century. The Morse code is the method where text characters are encoded as standardized sequences of two signal durations, dahs and dits.

The International Morse code encodes 26 basic letters in Latin from A to Z, the Arabic numerals, a small set of procedural signals and punctuation or prosigns, and a single accented Latin letter, É. But the fact that there is a need to individually transmit each letter soon made the technology obsolete as it only added to the expenses for vessel communication.

While assigned to the Naval Base or when ship alongside harbour, a Communicator will be busy with sending and receiving messages which will involve typing and computer skills.... as a Naval Communicator you must be proficient in typing and using computers.

A teleprinter (teletypewriter, teletype or TTY) is an electromechanical device that can be used to send and receive typed messages through various communications channels, in both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint configurations.

A Telexz is a telecommunications system that allows text-based messages to be sent and received by teleprinter over telephone lines

The word "telex" is a contraction of "teleprinting" and "exchange". Telex includes a switched routing network, originally based on pulse-telephone dialing, which in the United States was provided by Western Union.

Reference:

1. Wikipedia - Teleprinter

2. Wikipedia - Telex

Radio wireless communication is the transfer of information (telecommunication) between two or more points without the use of an electrical conductor, optical fiber or other continuous guided medium for the transfer, it use radio waves.

The successful carrying out of modern naval warfare is, in the main, entirely dependent upon the art of radio communication.

For me, what is the best of being a Naval Communicator, It's fun because you always learn something, its fun to work with modern equipment and trouble shoot... eventhough thoday communication at sea relies more on satellites than flags signalling, the fundamental role of the naval communicator remain crucial to the ship's operational effectiveness.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

16/1/2025: 4.53 p.m

FASTING & CELEBRATING EID IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN

BY HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR

10 MAY 2024

Every year we are happy to celebrate Aidilfitri with our beloved family, but we should not forget those who cannot feel that joy because of the duties entrusted to them....

I have experienced this while serving with Royal Malaysian Navy ships... experiencing What it's like to fast and celebrate Eid in the middle of the vast ocean, traversing the Rejang River in Sibu Sarawak during Ops Jala Aman 1, and conducting EEZ patrol in the vast South China Sea... Throughout my 16 years of service with the Royal Malaysian Navy... as far as I can remember, I only had the opportunity to celebrate Hari Raya with my family only 4 times during the services... that was when I was serving with the Naval base... during my service onboard the ship... not even once was I able to celebrate Eid with my family at home... that is a memory that I will never forget for the rest of my life... but for the sake of duty to our country, We persevere to face all the challenges.

This photo of me and ODCR Roseli Zin, my colleague of the intake 139/80  was taken on board the RMN ship KD Ganas from 1st Squadron Fast Attack Craft (Missile) in the Singapore Strait in July 1981. This was our first ship as OJT (On Job Sea Training) For 6 months.

I can still recall when I first experienced fasting in the middle of the ocean during Ramadan. The ship is currently engaged in missile firing exercises in the South China Sea. The target ship is a former RMN Ship ex-KD Ledang that has been decommissioned.

After this for 16 years of serving with the Royal Malaysian Navy, I have gone through many experiences of fasting and celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri in the vast ocean.

While onboard KD Raja Jarom, from the 32nd Sealift Squadron of the RMN Ship, I had the chance to fast and celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri in the territorial waters of Sabah and Sarawak, during Ops Terumbu at Terumbu Layang-Layang or Swallow Reef in 1981/82. Swallow Reef is located in Sabah Waters.

On the morning of Hari Raya, a Royal Malaysian Airforce helicopter delivered Hari Raya parcels and cookies from the Family Welfare Organisation or BAKAT LAUT.

And have also had the experience of carry out patrol duties in the Rejang River in Sibu, Sarawak during Ramadan with the Royal Malaysian Navy Riverine Boat during Ops Jalan Aman 1 in 1983 / 84, launched by the RASCOM (Rajang Area Security Command) to crack down on the activities of PARAKU members (North Kalimantan People's Party) in Sarawak. During a time, we had sahur with only dry biscuits and pineapple jam...

I was attached to KD Sri Rejang Riverine Craft from 1983 - 1984 located at Sibu, Sarawak. 

I can still recall the morning of Hari Raya Aidilfitri in 1984, wearing a Baju Melayu to celebrate Hari Raya at the Dining Hall, then changing into a military uniform in the afternoon, and continuing to do patrol duties in Sungai Rejang.

Serving onboard KD Mutiara (1985-86) from the 36th Hydrographic Squadron based in Lumut, Perak, is also challenging because this is another RMN ship that rarely moored at the Lumut Base Jetty, a vessel that is always in the vast ocean. Fasting and celebrating Hari Raya once again in the territorial waters of Sabah to map the bed of the ocean floor in the Swallow Reef, also to gather and process hydrographic and oceanographic data, such as sea depth, wave height, and barometric pressure. With KD Mutiara, we also have the experience of crossing the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean on cruises to India and the Republic of Maldives in October 1985.

Ever had the experince of chasing a Siamese fishing trawler trespassing in Malaysian waters illegally during the month of Ramadan with KD Panah, Royal Malaysian Navy Patrol Craft from the 14th Squadron Patrol Craft based in Tanjung Gelang Naval Base at Kuantan, Pahang. This was in 1986-1987. Once again, celebrating Hari Raya at Sea. 

And also the task of patrolling Pulau Bidong in Terengganu, which accommodated Vietnamese refugees in 1987, with KD Sri Negri Sembilan, the 12th Squadron Patrol Craft based in Lumut, Perak.

With KD Ganyang, the 1st Squadron Fast Attack Craft (Missile) patrolling the territorial waters of Sabah in 1987, as well as the Federal Territory of Labuan and Swallow Reef.

Serving onboard KD Lekir, 22nd Corvette Squadron based at Lumut, Perak. A ship that rarely stayed moored for a long time at the jetty. I don't remember where I celebrated Hari Raya while onboard this ship.... I just remember we celebrated Eid at sea while serving on this ship.

This ship is often involved in patrol duties at sea and participates in many exercises at sea with naval ships from foreign countries.

During the time I served onboard this ship (1989 - 1992), the ship had participated in two International Royal Fleet Reviews, first in Penang in 1990 and then in Auckland, New Zealand in 1991.

Part of my experience while serving with the Royal Malaysian Navy for 16 years (1980-1996) was having experienced fasting at sea, celebrating Aidilfitri and Aidiladha in the middle of the ocean and river in Sarawak.

To the members of the security forces and other agencies who had to be on duty during Hari Raya... I wish you a very happy Eid Al-Fitr... indeed, the noble duty you undertake on this happy day has its reward from Allah swt. ..... In Sha Allah....

What I have written on this blog is among the most challenging tasks during my service onboard RMN Ships... among which was having to serve at sea during the fasting month of Ramadan and also during Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

11 May 2024 > 2 Zulkaedah 1445H: 12.01 p.m