Beyond the Sea

An extraordinary tale of a merchant mariner, Born in British India unfolds during the final dark days of World War II. This gripping narrative includes high seas murders, showcasing courage and seamanship in stormy weather, and harrowing experiences like being stuck in ice in the North Atlantic.

The story takes readers through visits to Chinese ports during Mao’s China in the 1960s and recounts the sinking of the S.S. Pegasus in the Arabian Gulf. It details the perilous task of loading crude oil amid the Iran-Iraq tanker war and the misfortunes of the MV Marienfels, which caught fire, lost its rudder, and drifted aimlessly in the Atlantic.

The mariner’s adventures include spending seven days adrift on a dinghy in the Indian Ocean, witnessing Captain Gregg violating the U.N. oil embargo on Apartheid South Africa, and thwarting armed piracy on an oil tanker voyage from Nigeria to Uruguay. He also survived encounters with urban guerrillas in South America.

Born in British India is a testament to resilience and adventure on the high seas, capturing the indomitable spirit and relentless determination of a life spent navigating the world’s most treacherous waters.

Adam Harris was born in British India in early 1947, during the last days of the Second World War. After India’s independence, his family moved to the port city of Karachi in Pakistan when he was six. He grew up by the shores of the Arabian Sea. In 1964, he earned a telecom degree from D J Science College, Karachi. Later, Adam became interested in seafaring and joined the merchant ships in 1966. In 1970, he moved to England. He quit sea in 1999.