Sergio Sarti (Italy)

Hi. My name is Sergio Sarti I was born in Prato, Tuscany, in 1941. As a young man, I dreamed of travelling around the world and wanted to become a merchant marine radio telegraphist. I started prepaing for the examinations to get a license, while continuing my usual work. This period of work/study lasted for some years. Finally I got a “second class” and it became a turning point in my life. I began my career as a Radio Operator.
I left in May but returned home at the end of September to relieve colleagues who had gone on vacation. For the rest of the year, I returned to my main occupation.
This state of affairs lasted for some years, and it was intensely lived. I also had the honour and the burden of carrying out a rescue. I say honour, because I was called to execute my primary function as a radio operator on board: to ensure the safety of human lives at sea. I call it a burden because in the frantic moments, before rescue, I had to make decisions that cost me a rebuke from the Port of……………The latter challenged me an infringement of article 32/…………. of the International Telecommunications Regulations. No disciplinary measures were taken against me, however, because I had no prior histoy of similar infringements. The rescue was successful and that was great for me. I had done my job.
My first shipment, the M/N Sandalion, was a bulk carrier of 26,400 tsl. Unfortunately, it was wrecked during a storm in the Pacific in the winter of 1980. The news saddened me, but I took heart in knowing that the entire crew was safe, thanks to the radio, to the radio operators and to the Chilean ship that came to their rescue. Once again, the radio and the radio officers had done their work.
I have been an amateur radio operator since 1974. My call sign is I5jSR
SU sergio