Seafaring Chronicles: Of Pipes, Cameras, and Maritime Charms

In the autumn of 1989, I found myself embarking on a maritime adventure with Maersk Line. The vessel was the tanker Dorthe Maersk, sailing the waters from the Persian Gulf to the Far East and back. Little did I know that this journey would introduce me to the unforgettable and humorously peculiar, Senior Chief Engineer Preben V. Laursen, and the charming couple, Captain Joergen L. Olesen and Mrs. Ruth R. Olesen.

As I stepped aboard at Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, it became apparent that humour would be a constant companion with the crew. All officers were Danish, except for myself as 3rd Officer, and the Chief Steward, my friend Li Yuk Ching, a Chinese maestro hailing from Hong Kong, responsible for magic of the most delicious Danish feasts. The cuisine from Denmark being prepared by a Chinese chef and relished by an Indian, truly reflected an international culinary happening upon the seas.

The ratings were all from the Philippines, very hardworking individuals, adding a diverse blend to our seafaring family.

As we routinely gathered around the dining table, surrounded by Danish nationals engaged in lively conversations, I found myself in a linguistic muddle. Their discussions were entirely in Danish, leaving me wrestling with the challenge of comprehending the conversations.

Amidst this phonological symphony, Preben would speak with a couple of impromptu, situational words at the end of each conversation, which would send the entire dining table into fits of laughter. I, unfortunately, remained on the outskirts of the laughter, unable to comprehend the humour. It was a peculiar situation. I resisted the urge to laugh, given my lack of understanding of the joke, yet the infectious laughter of those around me made it a challenging deed for me not to laugh.

With remarkable self-control, I suppressed my laughter, questioning the propriety of laughing at a joke I didn’t understand. However, my internal struggle didn’t go unnoticed. Sensing my predicament, the Captain’s wife Mrs Ruth Joergen took it upon herself to bridge the linguistic gap. She graciously started translating the jokes into English, allowing me to finally join in the laughter. Although the impact of the joke was somewhat blunted by the translation and time delay, the shared moments of joy around the dining table became a testament to the friendship that transcends language barriers at sea.

A familiar scene on board was the sight of Captain Joergen, often spotted with his smoking pipe, displaying a sense of calm authority. Meanwhile, his Mrs, Ruth, equipped with her recently acquired video camera, became a constant presence, capturing moments with enthusiasm and turning every corner of the ship into a canvas for her lens. Together, they added their unique touches to the maritime journey, creating a blend of classic seafaring charm and modern documentation.

During their leisure hours in the evening, Captain Joergen found comfort in the rhythmic art of knitting, while Mrs. Ruth, with dedication, would engage in typing long, heartfelt letters to her relatives and friends on her trusty typewriter. Their individual pursuits painted a charming portrait of relaxation on board.

During one conversation with Ruth, she shared a remarkable and personal story from World War II. At the tender age of 8, during the German invasion of Denmark (1940), Ruth found herself bedridden with illness. On that fateful day, as a German soldier opened their door, she was overwhelmed with sickness and promptly vomited. In a surprising turn of events, the soldier, alarmed by her sickness, quickly shut the door and moved on. This unexpected twist of fate became the inadvertent saviour of her home and family. Ruth, now a living connection to that era, carried this extraordinary story of resilience and timing, a testament to the unpredictable ways in which individuals navigate the turbulent scenes of history.

THE STAR

The star of the vessel, however, was undeniably Preben. A man of remarkable wit and an impressive track record, married five times, no less. One of his marital stories, in particular, stood out.

During his second marriage, his wife signed off with the 2nd Officer and simply never returned home. Now, on board the Dorthe Maersk, he was sailing happily with his fifth wife.

It was during these voyages that Preben became a frequent visitor to my quarters, always on a mission to acquire cigarettes for his wife, Glytta. A seemingly routine task, yet his unique charm added an amusing twist. He would arrive, both he and his wife in their 60s, with a request, “Please give this young lady a carton of cigarettes”, all in the spirit of good-natured humour.

Preben’s love affair wasn’t limited to marital adventures, it extended to his culinary exploits too. A connoisseur of chocolates, he embarked on elaborate research, advising on the perfect mix and match of various cocoa delights which were available in the slop chest. For him, eating combinations of chocolates was a serious art form, discussed with the passionate feelings of a seasoned chocolate lover. He would carry those chocolates in a small sack and graciously offer the combinations for tasting.

His culinary adventures didn’t end there. Every meal was an event. Breakfast, precisely at 0730, saw him meticulously pouring two glasses of milk followed by orange juice. Then came the masterpiece: a huge sandwich with freshly baked Danish bread, layers of cheese, butter, salami, ham, bacon, plus eggs to order; all washed down with two or three cups of black filter coffee. Tea breaks, lunch, dinner, and supper followed, each a gastronomic spectacle.

When questioned about his voracious appetite, Preben, with a twinkle in his eye, would proclaim, “Food is part of my wages. Why should I settle for less?” He humorously added that he was actually doing the food a favour by devouring it, claiming, “I hate food. That’s why I destroy it, by eating it”.

And so, amid the salty sea breeze and the rhythmic hum of the ship’s engines, Preben Laursen sailed through life, leaving behind a trail of laughter and a legacy of culinary adventures. A man who was not only a proponent of engineering excellence on the seas but also a complex dance of flavours of the plate.

Such is the colourful and amusing tale of Preben Laursen, the Senior Chief Engineer who taught us that life at sea is not just about navigating the waters but also about savouring every flavour it offers.

Tragically, Preben’s journey was cut short by a heart arrest during his subsequent voyage.

As we bid farewell to a man who brought joy and humour to the decks of the Dorthe Maersk, we remember him not just for his culinary adventures or his knack for storytelling but for the lively spirit he filled into every nautical mile travelled. Preben’s passing leaves a void, but his legacy of laughter and friendship will forever linger in the memories of those who had the privilege of sharing the seas with him.

May Preben Laursen rest in peace, sailing on calmer seas, and may his laughter echo in the vast expanse of the ocean that he so passionately embraced. Fair winds and smooth seas, dear Preben.

Marex Media
In a twist of fate, the vibrant and humorously peculiar Preben Laursen, sailed into the next unknown adventure, leaving behind the laughter and tales of his colourful seafaring life