THE PARTICIPANT PORTRAIT
KURT ANDERSON AND
THE SHIP'S PORTRAIT
IMAGES OF THE CREW
Camera person
Brian Wilson
Other participating people
Captain Robert Becker,
Todd Robinson, California Maritime Academy
Kurt Anderson,
Brian Wilson, California Maritime Academy
Age
36
Religion
None
Family
Mother- Joan, Father- Owen, Sisters- Karen, Linda, Laurel, Kristine
Profession
Radio Officer, U.S. Merchant Marine
Passion
Reading
How do you live on board?
Each crew member has his/her own stateroom. There are two lounges, two libraries and two messhalls, one of each for the officers and one for the crew with a common galley. I have an eight hour watch spread over twelve hours from 0800-2000.
What do you prefer for breakfast?
I very seldom eat breakfast but prefer an omelet when I do so.
The day's most important meal, what do you prefer?
Day's most important meal is the evening meal
from 1700-1800 as most everyone's day is done or nearly done and we can converse on the day's
events. No preference.
What do you believe in?
Skepticism and that any progress depends upon rationality.
Favorite TV show?
The Simpsons. (It is an animated family situation comedy with characters and plots that resonate with modern family life)
What did you do on your last vacation?
Worked on an addition to my house.
What does the word "Time" mean to you?
It permeates and structures nearly every moment everyday life. The passage of each watch is marked and stricken from the calendar... as day, each week, each month... as we count down to the next port, next trip or next vacation. And yet, on long passages the routine of one day is so like another there is a curious sense of timelessness in which one lives cocooned in the present.
Why are you interested in the World Video 40¡ North Project?
It's not often we receive such an odd request.
Wishes for the World!
That it wasn't beyond the power of wishing or in such need of good wishes.
Personal commentary:
Good luck with your project.
PORTRAIT M.S. SEALAND ENDURANCE
Age:
Built in Korea in 1982
Type:
D9J container ship.
Mission
Transporting containers to/from the West Coast of the U.S. and Japan, Hong Kong and
Taiwan.
Route
Long Beach, California to Oakland, California to Tacoma, Washington to Dutch Harbor, Alaska to Tokyo, Japan to Kobe, Japan to Hong Kong to Naha, Japan and then back to Hong Kong and to Kaohsiung, Taiwan and returning to Long Beach.
Crew
21 persons
Life on board
One half of the crew is permanently assigned to the vessel. During their vacation periods, relief crew members fill in so there is a constant turnover. Each crew member works an eight hour day and frequently more. Meals are 0730-0830, 1130-1230 and 1700-1800. Most common recreation is watching videotaped movies. Port time is much reduced from previous eras and the quick turnaround means many in the crew do not even get ashore during our time in port.
Owner
Sealand Service, Inc.
History/tradition
The vessel has served in the Pacific trades for Sea-Land since her maiden voyage.