It was on the Istere that I encountered him. Our conversation covered a wide range of topics - everything from ancient history to the nature of time.
Admittedly, I was somewhat distant, not entirely present, but that failed to bother him. On the contrary, he unexpectedly toasted our friendship.
That prompted me to peer more closely at him, at which point I was sure I had read his obituary a number of years beforehand, he having been involved in a solo incident.
He corrected my mistake and identified himself, and we parted in good humour, on a handshake, as we docked in my home port.
Later, I spent a long time visiting foreign countries, and as I looked upon their sights without really seeing ... I began to wonder if that obituary had actually been my own.
Who was he?
Hint #1:
Whether or not he actually was, he certainly claimed to be always in control
Hint #2:
Although I was face to face with him, I never actually knew his name. But I could still describe who he was