My five years of Seafaring was spread over 14 years intermittently. At the age of 19, in 1953 I started going to sea joining the SS Petro Kure in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania and headed for the Persian Gulf Kuwait Arabia. We loaded crude oil and headed back to the U.S. I made several trips to the Persian Gulf and back to various ports in the U.S. Although I studied navigation at age 15 and excelled in my studies as I wanted to become a Captain. However to start out an OS position was not available and I had to start as a wiper in the engine room. After a few weeks I was promoted to fireman and stayed in the position for the remainder of the year and returned to Cayman. I spent about six months with my brothers, Wilbur and Hartmann, in building Puritan Cleaners. We took turns going to sea and taking care of our families and on our return promoting Puritan Cleaners. I returned to sea, as Ordinary Seaman and after four months I was promoted to Quarter Master. Sometime during this period the Captain called me to his room and said "DaCosta we are now approaching Venezuela and I have been advised that the Harbour Master and Pilots are on strike. Do you think we can dock this ship'" I replied "Sir, you give the instructions and I will follow." We docked the ship without incident. As we stepped away from the wheel house the Captain looked at me, nodded, stepped towards me and shook my hand. After another year sailing with the National Bulk I sailed with Bernuth and Lemke on one of their T2 tankers for a year. I returned to Cayman, obtained my U.S. resident papers and sailed on American ships starting out as oiler. Soon after became an Assistant Engineer sailing into war zone, the 38th Parallel between North and South Korea carrying ammunition and other heavy equipment. Sometime after I returned to Cayman and retired in 1967.

My five years of Seafaring was spread over 14 years intermittently. At the age of 19, in 1953 I started going to sea joining the SS Petro Kure in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania and headed for the Persian Gulf Kuwait Arabia. We loaded crude oil and headed back to the U.S. I made several trips to the Persian Gulf and back to various ports in the U.S. Although I studied navigation at age 15 and excelled in my studies as I wanted to become a Captain. However to start out an OS position was not available and I had to start as a wiper in the engine room. After a few weeks I was promoted to fireman and stayed in the position for the remainder of the year and returned to Cayman. I spent about six months with my brothers, Wilbur and Hartmann, in building Puritan Cleaners. We took turns going to sea and taking care of our families and on our return promoting Puritan Cleaners. I returned to sea, as Ordinary Seaman and after four months I was promoted to Quarter Master. Sometime during this period the Captain called me to his room and said "DaCosta we are now approaching Venezuela and I have been advised that the Harbour Master and Pilots are on strike. Do you think we can dock this ship'" I replied "Sir, you give the instructions and I will follow." We docked the ship without incident. As we stepped away from the wheel house the Captain looked at me, nodded, stepped towards me and shook my hand. After another year sailing with the National Bulk I sailed with Bernuth and Lemke on one of their T2 tankers for a year. I returned to Cayman, obtained my U.S. resident papers and sailed on American ships starting out as oiler. Soon after became an Assistant Engineer sailing into war zone, the 38th Parallel between North and South Korea carrying ammunition and other heavy equipment. Sometime after I returned to Cayman and retired in 1967.