Immense cargo ships rumble past Whidbey Island every day, and many watching from the shore no doubt wonder who’s driving those ships and what life might be like for the crews.

Now there’s an insider’s look at life inside such ships, thanks to Captain Kelly Sweeney, a Master Mariner who has lived in Greenbank on Whidbey Island with his wife Frances for the past 18 years.

Sweeney’s first book, “From the Bridge, Authentic Modern Sea Stories,” was published by Philips Publishing Group (www.RHPPpublishing.com). Copies at $15.95 each are presently available at Wind and Tide Books in downtown Oak Harbor, among other locations.

The 188-page volume is a collection of Sweeney’s popular monthly columns published in the West Coast trade journal, Pacific Maritime Magazine.

Sweeney, a stout, outgoing man blessed with a generous portion of the gift of gab, is able to translate his charismatic self into the written word. The result is a collection of sea tales that not only inform but entertain.

Fans of the film, “Pirates of the Caribbean,” might be surprised to learn that pirates still terrorize shipping lanes today. But these pirates aren’t like the daffy character played by Johnny Depp. They’re cutthroats, and won’t hesitate to kill for a ship’s rich cargo.

Sweeney tells of the dangers posed by pirates, and it’s surprising perhaps to learn that American merchant sailors aren’t allowed to carry weapons. Their only defense against pirates of Caribbean or Asian waters is a primed fire hose, ready to repel invaders from the deck.

Sweeney has never had to spray a pirate off the deck of a ship he has captained, but the hose is always ready in dangerous waters. His column on the subject recommends that American vessels be allowed to carry weapons, as is the case with Israeli ships. Pirates don’t mess with ships from Israel, he said.

Predictably, the idea of arming merchant ships is controversial, but Sweeney is not shy of controversy. Amused, he quotes one of his many maritime fans as saying, “You’re controversial, but everybody agrees with you.”

Readers can learn much of the nautical life by reading Sweeney’s book as he covers everything from general living situations on ships to licensing requirements, laws of the sea and nautical technology. It’s the perfect introduction for young people dreaming of going to sea for a living. He’s a strong proponent of female sailors, and supports their efforts to advance in rank despite mistreatment at times.

Sweeney followed a stint in the Army by attending the California Maritime Academy, earning a bachelor of science degree in nautical industrial technology. Now, as a Master Mariner, he can pilot virtually anything that floats. “It’s the highest you can go,” he said. “Any tonnage, any vessel.”

His 20-year career to date has placed him on nearly 40 vessels, including oil tankers, tugboats, freighters, oceanographic ships, oil spill response vessels, large fish processing ships and passenger vessels.

Shipping disasters such as the Exxon Valdez are often the result of crew fatigue, a subject of major concern to Captain Sweeney. That infamous ship, for example, was designed for a crew of 36 but had only 21 on board when it went aground and spilled its oil. “The captain had worked 18 hour days for six weeks and he fell asleep for six minutes,” he said. “Everybody blames the mariners, but also blame the companies.” He said new regulations put in place since that disaster have helped, and now every shipping company needs an approved fatigue management plan.

Sweeney clearly enjoys his life at sea and has no intention of giving it up to become a fulltime author. “I make my living as a captain,” he said. But he does get a kick out of the celebrity his magazine column has garnered. “The column’s the most popular thing in the magazine,” he said. “In the industry, I’m a celebrity. Everywhere I go people know me.” In his line of work, that means he’s known around the world.

Sweeney said reaction to his book has caught him by surprise, because the contents were written primarily for those in the industry. “But it’s kind of taken on a life of its own,” he said. “There’s a real demand out there for real sea stories. It’s amazing how many of the public is buying this book. I’ve really been blown away by that.”

Many of those purchasers have no doubt spent time watching ships pass Whidbey Island, wondering who’s on board and what they are doing. Thanks to “From the Bridge,” now they know.