My 48 Years at Sea: From Deck Boy in Denmark to Captain in America

by Georg E. Pedersen

We all have a story to tell. Mine is a sea story that started in 1948 when I turned 14 and no further education was available to me. My father gave me two choices, “STAY HOME FISHING, OR SHIP OUT.” For the next 48 years I sailed the Seven Seas carrying cargo from one country to another. The ships became my home and floating workplace. Going ashore in foreign ports, I was never more than a taxi ride away from home. I learned at an early age to respect different people and their cultures, and I witnessed their struggles first hand. Being a merchant seaman is not for everybody but once it’s in your blood you don’t want to do anything else. I always felt I had one of the best and most exciting jobs, from Deck Boy to Captain, on 62 different ships visiting 173 ports in 73 countries, some many times over. When I began the world was busy rebuilding after WWII a great time to be young, single, and adventurous. It was a time that can never be repeated.

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 11, 2015

Reviews

[Henry Petruskewic]

Well written and full of adventure!!

This rating I gave was because the book was impossible to put down! Couldn't wait for my next opportunity to read more! Love merchant marine stories...

[Anne Witten]

I met Georg several years ago when my son moved into the house next door to him. He is such a distinguished and intelligent man. Reading this book gave me so much insight into his character and life story. I could not put this down. As a navy brat, I related to his adventures at sea. He reminded me of the stories my dad had told me about this time in the navy. Funny, sad, interesting and dangerous: this book has everything. I am looking forward to the audiobook when it comes out this fall. (sidebar: thanks Nina for teaching Sarah to knit!)

[Peter Prime]

I’ve been sailing since 1998, from Tidewater (Angola), Hornbeck (Trinidad), Edison Chouest (Cayenne), Jackson Offshore (Port Forchon), I like the Cpt. Petersen’s triumph.

Great book. Inspiring, full of adventure and excitement. I’m glad he was able see Karl grew to be an intelligent young man.

[Terence Lionel]

Good Book

Overall, I good book but the author not tell us the story of how he became Captain and mentioned it in passing, a chapter about that would have been helpful!!!

[Alan Strunk]

Truth is in the Detail

Excellence in telling of the personal history of a lifelong sailor and the shipping industry. Must read for those who write of ships and sailors.

[Kelly Littlefield]

Good Read

An interesting and good read regarding a changing time in America and the world, well written with personnel details that bring it to life.

[Steven]

The subject matter was interesting and informative, but the book needed better structural and copyediting, as there were far too many typos and other mistakes which detracted from the flow and stories. Examples abound: repeated sections, jarring jumps forwards and backwards through time, and a nearly-complete lack of transitions between some paragraphs.

It read more like the notes for a memoir than a completed work.