Meet the crew of the M.S. Polaris

Six people, one ship

A crew is more than a collection of names on an official form. Roles aboard ship are clearly divided, yet everyone depends on the knowledge, alertness and commitment of the others. These are the people with whom the voyage of the Polaris begins:

• Eddy de Graaf — Master, 57Captain of the Polaris, with ultimate responsibility for the vessel, her cargo and everyone aboard.
• Henk Vermeer — MAROF, 32As a maritime officer, Henk works both on the bridge and in the engine room, providing a vital link between navigation and engineering.
• Dennis Villanueva — Second Officer, 25The young second officer assists with navigation, keeps a bridge watch and helps ensure that the voyage is conducted safely and carefully.
• Allan Mendoza — Able Seaman/Motorman, 35Allan works on deck and around the technical installations, combining practical seamanship with engine-room experience.
• Raymond Bautista — Able Seaman, 39Raymond is an experienced deck crew member involved in watches, maintenance and the vessel’s daily deck operations.
• Charley Santoso — Able Seaman/Cook, 53Charley combines deck duties with work in the galley, caring for both the ship and the crew’s day-to-day wellbeing.

Where reality meets fiction

The crew list is fictional, but its ranks, division of duties and design are rooted in the real merchant navy. Details like these make the world of Black Voltage believable. They also show how people with very different roles must function as one unit at sea.

Who will be tested during the voyage, and which decisions the crew must face, are deliberately left unspoken here. That story begins in the book.