It Didn't Happen On My Watch

Two books of maritime memoirs, both written by a former chief engineer aboard cargo and passenger ships. George Murphy had a somewhat different perspective of the American merchant marine, as viewed from the engine room.

It Didn't Happen On My Watch
by George E. Murphy
Publisher: Professional Press (1995)

Scuttlebutt
by George E. Murphy
Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Company (2003)

Graduating from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1943, Murphy went to sea as a third assistant engineer aboard a Liberty ship sailing in convoy to Europe. He described his wartime service, first on cargo runs to Murmansk, then to the D-Day Normandy beaches with supplies and soldiers. After the war he was assigned to the then new Victory (VC-2) class "high pressure" vessels with their modern steam turbine power plants.

Murphy's career progressed as he was promoted to the newer Mariner class vessels, eventually earning a chief engineer's license. Rather than remain in the engine room, he was eventually became a New York based port engineer, traveling to supervise engine and hull repairs in dockyards world wide.

Recounting his 43 year long career with United States Lines, he shares his humorous anecdotes and sea stories of shipmates, captains, coast guard inspectors, passengers and ports of call. His thoughts about the 1986 demise of the once great United States Lines is interesting reading, paralleling the decline of the US merchant service.

Both of these books can be ordered on Amazon. My copy of It Didn't Happen On My Watch was signed by the author and inscribed "keep your bilges dry".