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Dangerous Squeeze. On this particular voyage, Captain Jansen soon proved the value of his training. Having stopped and anchored Europoort three miles from the tricky entrance to Milford Haven, Jansen waited for the local pilot to help guide the ship over a rock shelf into the harbor. The pilot was due at 11 p.m.—moments before the needed tide would reach its highest. At 10:45, a basketball-size steam valve in the engine room blew apart, knocking out the power required to lift the tanker's 27-ton anchor.
"What about moving tomorrow?" asked Jansen. "Won't do, captain," said the pilot. "Can't get a lunker like this over the shelf with that tide." Unless the ship moved immediately, he added, the 17-ft. tide would dwindle—marooning Europoort for four days. That was bad news for Jansen: delays cut profits in the tanker business (and speed sometimes causes accidents). "Can you give us five minutes?" asked Jansen. "It's your responsibility," said the pilot. "Do you have any tea?"
After 25 tense minutes, the valve was patched and the anchor raised. "It's too late, captain," the pilot murmured. "We're going in," Jansen persisted. "Pray for 17," whispered the pilot. It was 16.8 and going down. "I couldn't change your mind?" asked the pilot softly. "No," said Jansen. "If you knew Susie like I know Susie," hummed the pilot. "What's your reading keel to bottom?"
Six fathoms . . . five . . . four . . . one and a half. Finally, the reading was less than 6 ft., with a 16.3-ft. tide. But then a slight wind sustained the tide so the Europoort could just squeeze over the rocks at three knots. Three hours later she was safely docked. "How did you know it would work?" I asked Jansen. "That's my job," he replied coolly. "Besides, I couldn't sit out there for four days."