December 19, 1991 - I did the Ditch

The Ditch

The various canals around the world are known as “The Ditch.” The one I am talking about is the Suez. This one really is a ditch since it was dug at sea level. When USS Scott left on its Med Cruise, Med 1-92, initially we were to operate in the western Med. But that changed. On December 18, 1991, we arrived in Port Said.

I’m not sure when we began our trip south, but I was standing oil king watch. Since there were two of us qualified, we were on 12 on 12 off rotation. I had the midnight to noon watch. I did go outside as we traveled through Port Said heading south. It was a rather chilly early morning too. Odd to think that area of the world is cold. But it was cold outside at 2 or 3 AM.

I must have been outside when we first started heading south since we were in the middle of a city. As we passed a mosque, I heard the Muslim call to prayer for the first time.  That was a strange feeling to be honest. It’s hard to explain why I felt that way. I guess it is one of those things you had heard about or even heard on a newscast but just never expected to hear in person. The minarets around the building were a dead giveaway.  

After the sun came up, I went outside and primed the JP5 piping in the refueling stations. Does anyone remember that yellow primer we used?

It was pretty interesting to be out there painting while we were passing through the desert. To the west was Africa and to the East was Asia. Nearly the entire trip heading south, there was nothing but desert on the canal’s east bank. Both banks did have a large berm on them. The western side also had a road on top of the berm. For as long as I was outside, Egyptian military trucks drove on the berm, following the ships down the canal.  

There were three or four Egyptians on board to act as pilots. Several of them were in the crew rec room selling trinkets they brought on board. They also were allowed to use the enlisted mess facilities. They ate like crazy.

The convoy must stop on the Great Bitters Lake to allow the North Bound convoy to pass on the southbound trip. Several of the crew took the time to fish. Some even caught something. I know this was after I was officially off watch at noontime. I stayed up a few more hours watching the trip but finally hit my rack to get some sleep. By the time I woke up, we were in the Red Sea and heading toward the Gulf of Aqaba.

It was an interesting event to be part of. It is one of those places you might read about or even watch a documentary about and never imagine you will ever get to be there. Growing up, I read a good deal about Eqypt and never did imagine one day I would get to be there. I know some sailors were less than enthusiastic about being there. But, it was part of the job. December 19, 1991, was the day I did the ditch.

 

(Photo info. That is Scott making the transit in August 1990 reporting fr duty during Desert Shield. I was Great Lakes at the time. The picture was taken while Scott was passing a portion of the canal near Ismailia Egypt.)