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A typical shift

Watches are usually six hours on and six off, around the clock, so the word day stops meaning much. On watch you handle mooring lines, stand lookout, help with docking and undocking, rig and secure cargo, and steer when told to. Off watch there is endless maintenance: chipping rust, painting, greasing winches, washing down decks. On a tug you are on deck in wind and spray making up tows. On a ferry it is a tight loop of docking, loading, crossing and unloading, over and over.