English Like A Native Podcast English Listening Practice - Five a Day #46.5
Dec 5, 2025
Dive into a gripping personal account of a maritime accident involving a watertight door. The storyteller shares their thrilling life in the engine room and the challenges of being a third engineer. A fateful moment leads to a devastating injury, resulting in a loss of a career and grappling with phantom pain. Valuable lessons emerge about the dangers of shortcuts and the importance of safety procedures, with a powerful message for aspiring cadets. It's a stark reminder of how respect for protocol can save lives at sea.
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How A Door Changed A Life
- Anna recounts how a watertight door caused her to lose an arm during a night machinery round on a cruise ship.
- The story highlights the engine room's heat, noise, and the routine nature of inspections before the accident.
Never Pass Through A Moving Door
- Respect the golden rule: never try to pass through a watertight door while it's moving.
- Follow procedures rather than shortcuts, especially during routine but risky tasks.
When Procedures Clash With Reality
- Official procedures were technically safe but too slow and complicated for daily work, so crew adopted shortcuts.
- This mismatch between rules and reality created inconsistent and sometimes unsafe practices.