07/18/2026
There's something special about working a buoy.
It's dirty. It's physically demanding. It's early mornings, long hours, plenty of sweat, and the smell is, well, interesting 🤨 But every aid we service helps keep our waterways safe for the mariners who rely on them.
This long over-due photo dump from some aids we worked in June is also a reminder that every experienced deckie was once a "green hat." We've got a lot of new crewmembers learning the trade, and it's been awesome watching our qualified buoy deck riggers—the "blue hats"—take them under their wing and show them the ropes. Every evolution is another opportunity to pass on knowledge, build confidence, and strengthen the team.
Most of these photos are from the buoy deck because that's where the action is easiest to capture, but every successful day depends on the entire crew. While many of us are sleeping, our engineers are often still hard at work in the engine room keeping the ship running and ready for the next day. And none of this happens without the bridge team safely navigating us from buoy to buoy and keeping watch around the clock. And of course the galley team who keeps us fed and happy. Their work may not always make it into the pictures, but it's just as essential 💪
The buoys may be what mariners see, but behind every one is a crew that works together, trusts one another, and takes pride in the mission.
Proud of the Maple crew, proud of the teamwork, and proud to be part of a tradition where experience is shared, hard work is expected, and everyone is invested in making the next generation better.
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Photo Credit: MK1 Loe, BOSN Carawan, LTJG Artis, LTJG Ciaburri 🙂
