“The postings on this site are my own and don't represent Maersk Group's position, strategies or opinions. All views are my own”

No longer any need to use the Internet Explorer or run the Internet Explorer rendering engine. I gave up IE after the introduction of Internet Explorer 11
Page is tested in Fire Fox, Chrome and Safari. Looks like it works OK in all browsers, except the sounds in Safari.
Of course, browsing www.aladdin.st in Safari on an iPad is a different story, nothing looks as it should

Aladdin's adventure onboard M/T Britta Maersk

Monday 14 th of January 2013 and as I managed to fall asleep around 11 o'clock yesterday evening I woke up a few times early morning. But I was lucky and I managed to fall asleep again every time. So I can really say that I jumped out of bed at 7 thirty. Well, it was even before 7 thirty and I was in front of my computer when they called from the bridge at 7 thirty.

Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- 7 thirty and the Pilot will be onboard at 8 so if you come to the bridge by 8
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- I will be there on the motherfoocking double!

Well, I had expected the pilot in the afternoon at earliest. We had planned to launch our MOB boat at 8. And I had expected to be able to check deck before the Pilot boarding time. First time loading the ship so I wanted to check everything one more time. But Pilot at 8,an excellent time and I was in a pretty good mood when the Pilot came onboard.
Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Approaching Panjang port

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Approaching Panjang port. Stolt tanker dead ahead

First we were told to go to the pilot station and then that the pilot coming to the anchorage. And changing again and we heave up the anchor to proceed towards the Pilot boarding area. The pilotAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskboarding area is just off the jetty. While waiting we looked at the Stolt ship, no sign of her leaving. We were told that we would go alongside after the Stolt ship. But we were soon discovering a blue bulk carrier leaving aft of the Stolt tanker.

And when the Pilot left the blue bulk carrier he came onboard our ship and we could proceed towards the jetty. And we were obviously going to stay behind the Stolt ship.

When we came closer we discovered that they were loading the Stolt tanker with trucks. So we thought that there might be some waiting time because we didn't think they had the capacity to load 2 ships at the same time.

Well, again, I'm in no hurry. We turned around in the port and we had all fast 5 minutes past 10 and I was soon in my office waiting for Loading Master and Surveyor.

Before we could get the Surveyor and Loading Master onboard we needed the Immigration, Custom and Quarantine to clear the ship. I have been in many strange ports in my days, but this! There were at least 20 people coming onboard and there wasn't room for all the people in the conference room.

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Stolt tanker loading veg oil from trucks when we arrive

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Stolt tanker loading veg oil from trucks when we arrive

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Stolt tanker loading veg oil from trucks when we arrive

All this people didn't leave until 12 o'clock and we waited for a few hours before the Surveyor and Loading Master came onboard. Very good, we had time for the garbage. There were 2Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskgarbage collectors coming onboard and the service was free of charge.

2 Guys taking care of everything and our crew didn't have to help them taking it ashore.

I asked them if they wanted empty drums and the guy could not believe his luck. I had asked the AB how many empty drums we had onboard. I knew they can be sold but I just wanted to get rid of them. We're not onboard a floating flea market. They AB told me that we had 5 200 litres drums onboard.
- Give them to the guys
- We can keep 2 onboard
- Ah, better to get rid of them
- But we can swap for Pepsi
- Never mind, give them the drums, they can have them for free. They do a good job

We got rid of oily rags and filters as well. I'm afraid that they will just dump everything in the sea. Amazing how much rubbish there is in the sea outside Indonesia, looks like Africa or theAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta MaerskPhilippines. No respect of what so ever for the nature.

And are we any better? I wanted to send ashore the garbage in Singapore, but as they charge money the garbage stayed onboard. Here it is for free, but where will it end up?

Do we have a responsibility for this? Or is it just to claim to be environmental friendly sending ashore garbage that will most likely end up somewhere it doesn't belong. Well, atleast it doesn't cost anything.

No one cares, money talks. We sent ashore cooking oil, 80 litres, not allowed to throw overboard anymore. But we're allowed to do tank cleaning and pump the veg oil overboard. So when they make up the rules it is money talking.

If a shipping company have to pay a fee to get rid of cooking oil, no one cares. But if a big company have to pay for taking care of the tank washings the business would come to a stop. And economical growth is the important thing, not the environment.

And does it matter? 1 formula one race does more bad for the environment than some veg oil and this is allowed. And it is amazing to see the hotels promoting a formula 1 race as the event of a “LIFE TIME” and you get special rates at just this hotel. So it is surprising to get in to theAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskbathroom to discover how concerned they are about the environment. They want you to use the same towel and bed sheets for as long as you stay.

And no, it is not because they want to save money, but because they are concerned about our environment. What aYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stjoke!

Well, anyway, I have amended my “DIET” bet and I needed to get rid of my garbage before I could post it in the mess room. My garbage bin contains a few things that can cost me 1000$. So I went to my cabin and I emptied my bins and I can post my amended “DIET” bet tomorrow. And this is something I'm looking forward to.

Aladdin's adventure onboard M/T Britta Maersk
My amended diet bet
Now I will start to kick behind

As soon as the Surveyor and loading Master was onboard we started with tank inspection. I wanted to get this over with so the crew could close everything on deck while we did the paper work. IAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskasked who of the Surveyors that was going down the tanks for Inspection. One of the guys told me that he was going to do the inspection and I started with the work permits.

But it turned out that he only wanted to see the tanks from deck so I cancelled the work permits and we left for deck.

First tank was slop tank #2 and there were some condense in the well. All the other tanks were good and when we finished the Inspector and one of our ABs went down slop tank #2. Our AB mopped the well and at 15:30 all tanks passed. We returned to my office for some paper work and we never completed the paper work.

All Surveyors and loading Master disappeared to another ship and they didn't returned until it wasAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskalmost 7 o'clock. And suddenly everything was in a hurry.

Can we start? Are you ready? Ready!!?? I have been waiting here for almost 10 hours by now. What's the hurry all of the sudden?

They wanted to start and I told them that we had to do all the check lists and we had to agree on the loading. They looked puzzled, but we did the paper work and at 18:40 we completed the paper work and at 7 o'clock we had cargo passing our manifold. 4500 MT from the terminal via pipe line and then the last 6500MT by truck and they expect us to stay here for 4 days.

So I willYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.sthopefully have time to go ashore to look for glasses. And Diet MAX . I have sent money with the crew but they had all come back with zip. They only have Coke Zero and that is nothing I want to drink. Then I'm better off with water and tea.

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 15 th of January 2013
and I woke up by myself at 7. I had managed to get 7 or 8 hours of non-stop sleep and I felt like a million. I had a shower and I went down to the CCR to see ifAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskthere was any progress with the loading. Well, we're not breaking any records here. We had about 3000 MT onboard, 1500 to go before we will start to load from trucks.

I went for a cup of tea and 2 slices of black bread before I returned to the CCR. As it looks now we will not be ready until tonight so I decided to go ashore to buy meYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stsome glasses. I had asked the Pilot about his glasses and he told me there were opticians in town that could make glasses in an hour or two.

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Livestock ship arrives to Panjang loaded with cattle
Maybe time to go vegetarian. See how the animals are treated makes me want to become a vegetarian

Before leaving I instructed our Pump Man on how to paint the Plimsoll mark. The paint is worn off
The original "Plimsoll Mark"

was a circle with a horizontal line through it to show the maximum draft of a ship. Additional marks have been added over the years, allowing for different water densities and expected sea conditions.

Letters may also appear to the sides of the mark indicating the classification society that has surveyed the vessel's load line. The initials used include AB for the American Bureau of Shipping, LR for Lloyd's Register, GL for Germanischer Lloyd, BV for Bureau Veritas, IR for the Indian Register of Shipping, RI for the Registro Italiano Navale, NK for Class NK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai) and NV for Det Norske Veritas. These letters should be approximately 115 millimetres in height and 75 millimetres in width. The Load Line Length is referred to during and following load line calculations.

The letters on the Load line marks have the following meanings:

TF – Tropical Fresh Water
F – Fresh Water
T – Tropical Seawater
S – Summer Temperate Seawater
W – Winter Temperate Seawater
WNA – Winter North Atlantic

Fresh water is considered to have a density of 1000 kg/m³ and sea water 1025 kg/m³. Fresh water marks make allowance for the fact that the ship will float deeper in fresh water than salt water. A ship loaded to her Fresh Water mark in fresh water will float at her Summer Mark once she has passed into sea water. Similarly if loaded to her Tropical Fresh water mark she will float at her Tropical Mark once she passes in to sea water.

From Wikipedia
and we got a remark at the vetting inspection in Durban. Now we have the opportunity to paint the Plimsoll Mark and our Pump Man will do it from the jetty.

We were on the jetty and he went to get the paint and I went to get a shower and a change of clothes so I could go ashore. But first cup of tea with the “Ship's Club” and that reminded me to have a look for some tea cups ashore when I bought my glasses. I had my shower and I went on the jetty to see if I could find a ride to town. There are usually hundreds of people screaming TAXI at us on deck. But now there were exactly ZERO people screaming TAXI.

Our Pump Man had painted the Plimsoll Mark and when I went to check it out there were a motorcycle taxi arriving. The very same guy I had kicked off the ship yesterday. He just cameAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskonboard and I asked him what he wanted.
- I do business
- You can do your business on the jetty
I also kicked ashore all the guys hanging around at the gangway doing business. I instructed the watch man not to let anyone onboard, if they break a leg or something we're in deep shit. So if they are going to break a leg we're better off if they do it on the jetty.

He asked where I was going and he wanted 10 dollars. He got of his bike and he felt the pressure on his back tyre. Hesuggested a taxi and I told him to call a cab.

There must have been a misunderstanding with the Plimsoll mark and I called our Pump Man. He had painted it black and I told him to cover it with red again. He had painted the weldedAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta MaerskPlimsoll and draft mark. But we have changed thedraft and he needed to paint it all over again.

Our friend on the motorcycle called a friend and he was soon arriving with his car. And yet again I really came to appreciate the yearly inspections of all cars in Sweden. They check brakes, rust and stuff, and if it is bad the car is banned from the roads.

In Indonesia they are obviously not having these annual inspections of the cars. This car looked likeAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskit was going to fall apart any minute.

I had not expected much, but this was way worse than expected. The car was wobbling while moving towards us and I was imagining how it was to ride the car.

And to get in to the car wasn't easy. I tried to get in to the back and it wasn't easy. The driver suggested that I would change seat with the motorcycle guy when we arrived to the gate. Yeah, the motorcycle guy was joining us and I knewYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stwhat to expect. He would walk me around town and I decided to tell him to leave first thing when we arrived to town.
I don't need any guide and he can wait with the taxi until I want to go back to the ship.

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Leaving Britta Maersk behind

It took us about 20 minutes to get to something that looked like a mall. I told the taxi to wait and the motorcycle guy started to follow me. I told him that I would meet him at the taxi and i had to say it a few times before he left me.

The mall turned out to be a department store and there wasn't any optician to find. But I took the opportunity to have a look for Diet MAX but they only had Coke ZERO. But I found some tea glasses in an OK size. So I decided to come back to buy some tea glasses before returning to the ship. And if I have some Scooby Dollars remaining I can always buy some Coke ZERO.
They will for sure last longer than the Diet MAX
Aladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Department store in Panjang

Aladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Panjang
And as you understand, the chances to find any fine dining around here is at least to say slim

Aladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Main street in Panjang?
And as you understand, the chances to find any fine dining around here is at least to say slim
Aladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Main street in Panjang?
And as you understand, the chances to find any fine dining around here is at least to say slim
Aladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Main street in Panjang?
And as you understand, the chances to find any fine dining around here is at least to say slim

Glasses, tea mug and a nice dinner was on the program. But the dinner was of my list less than 3 minutes after arriving to the town. This does not look like a place where you can find fine dining. IAladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskwalked down the street we had come up on arriving to town. We had passed an Optician and I went inside.

Well, went inside, itwas full open to the street. Well, anyway, it was a beautiful girl in the shop but she didn't have any glasses I liked. So I asked the girl if there was any other Optician close by.
- 4 stores down the road
I said thank you and I left the place hoping that they had something better at the other place. IPorky, The human balloondon't care how the glasses look, I mean, who notice a pair of glasses on a cubic ton of Aladdin. So the Human Balloon doesn't care how the glasses look, he only wants something sturdy.

At the next place they had a wee bit better selection, not anythingYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stthat made me go WOW! But this was of course making it easier to choose and I selected 2 frames, 200,000 Scooby Dollars each.
- How much with the lenses?
- 350,000 Scooby Dollars each
So I bought 2 pairs and I asked for the machine to check my eye sight so I would get the right correction.

The lady showed me to a back room that looked more like a dark back alley. I went in (or out) and I was soon back in the shop. I could not see any machine, but there was a guy sitting in a chair.Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta MaerskAnd when I saw himYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stI thought he was dead.

They showed me back in (or out) and when the man got out of the chair I took a seat. And believe me, it took time for him to get out of the chair. He must have been like 200 something and I was about to leave when he was halfway out of the chair.

I took the seat and 10 minutes later he had an old thing in front of me and he was using sticks and pins to change the lenses. I was soon to give up
- OK, this is not working

He gave me a pair of glasses where he could change the lenses and it got worse and worse every time he changed the lenses. And yet again, I was about to give up. And the guy was moving in some kind of super slow motion and I was jumping up and down in the chair. TAKE ME OUT OF HERE!!!

But suddenly, after hundred changes it became a wee bit better and finally, he managed to make me see clear and I jumped out of the chair.
- Can you make it in one hour?
- Three hours
- By then I will suck on a exhaust pipe!
- 2 hours
- 1 hour in this town and I will go crazy and throw myself in front of a motorcycle
Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk- OK, come back in 1 hour

So how to kill one hour? Here is exactly nothing to do. I'm hungry and no restaurant in sight. OK, I can kill some time getting a haircut.

I found a salon and I stepped inside. 4 girls and they were kind of cute. But they only did shampoo and no cutting.
- Are you joking?

They told me to go across the street and I did. Here were 3 girls, not as cute as on the other place. And there was a lady getting a shampoo. I wasAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskafraid that I had ended up in yet another shampoo place but they could cut my hair and they even had a machine.

The hair cut set me back by 25,000 Scooby Doo Dollars and I had killed 30 minutes or so. I returned to the Optician but my glasses were not ready.

What to do? I was very hungry and I decided to go check out one of theYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stmany bakeries on the street.


The bakeries looks nice and I can always have some bread to eat. And believe me, I will not eatYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stanything from the food stalls around here. I went inside and there were plenty delicious looking bread and I got even hungrier.

BUT THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME IN ASIA!!! I have had some really unpleasant experiences in Asia regarding bread. You buy a bun and you’re looking forward to a feast. Take a bit and you're in instant chock. You never know what they fill their bread with. So I asked.
- What is this?
- Green beans
- No thanks! And what is this?
- Chocolate and cheese
- No thanks! And what is this?
- This is something even worse
- No thanks! And what is this?
- This is a 3 in 1
- OK, I just have a Minute Maid

I paid my Minute Maid and I left the bakery. And they weren't surprised at the Optician when IAladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskcame for the thousand time to ask if my glasses were ready. They just pointed out to the back room (back alley) and they gave me the internationally recognised sign for later.

I walked back up towards the department store and I went in to KFC. Yes, I promised myself never to go to KFC again after my experience at KFC on Future Mall in Rangsit. But now I was very hungry and I asked for a fish filet and French fries. This was not good, but I was very hungry and I managed to eat it all. I asked for an ice cream, always a safe bet, and I got the smallest ice cream I have ever seen and I left KFC.

My friend the motorcycle driver was waiting outside the department store and I asked where theAladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersktaxi was.
- The driver went home for sleep. I will call him.

I went to the department store and I bought 2 tea glasses and a few Coke ZERO.

And no sign off the taxi when I came out on the street. I asked the motorcycle guy where the car was. He told me that the car would be here in just a moment.
- OK, keep an eye on my bags, I'll go and pick up my glasses.

Now the glasses were ready and I paid the 700,000 and I walked back towards the department store. The motorcycle guy came with my bags and no sign of any taxi. He told me that we had to go look for a taxi.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- What theYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stis this?
Here I'm paying premium Dollars for a service and now we have to run around town looking for a taxi! But I took this as an opportunity for some sightseeing and the motorcycle guy was carrying my bags. Yes, nothing less was expected after I have paying him for taxi to town and back.

Aladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Going to look for a taxi

Aladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
On our way across town to look for a taxi

Aladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
On our way across town to look for a taxi

Aladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
On our way across town to look for a taxi

The guy arranged one of those small vans picking up people along the road and we were soon on our way back to the ship. Good, now I have had enough “coming ashore” excitements to last me until itAladdin's adventure in Bandarlampung, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskis time to go home.

When we were back onboard the motorcycle driver asked if he could have one of my Coke ZEROs.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- ARE YOU FORYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stREAL??!!

Here we have carried all the sodas from town and now he want to have a soda. Why the hell didn't he buy one in town? Of course, he didn't get a soda! Why bother going through all the trouble to go to town to buy soda just to have him drinking them when they are finally onboard? I tried to explain, but he never understood.

I popped open a soda when I was back in my cabin and it turned out to be some very cheap CokeYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stZERO, they will last me forever. It is like drinking coffee, a cup last for a life time. I remember when I was a child and we were at my neighbour's house. His mother asked if we wanted ice cream.
- YES!!!

Well, turned out it was ice cream with coffee flavour and this motherfoocker lasted me until it had melted. The ice cream was running down my arm, impossible to eat. Yes, young and behaving well and always polite. Today I would have thrown away the ice cream, nothing you could do as a child.

+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 16 th of January 2013
and I woke up quarter to 7. I called the CCR to see how things went. Still not ready with the loading. We have had a loading rate between 20m³ and 200m³ since we started loading. I had expected us to be ready yesterday evening. Well, anyway, I got out of bed and I moved over to my desk where I continued the Coke ZERO I had started yesterday. And the ZERO had not become any better over night.

They stopped the first parcel at 07:00 and the lines were blown at 7 thirty and the new cargo hose was connected 5 minutes before 8. We had time to take ullage and to do some calculations before we resumed the loading.

And by the looks of it they manage to keep almost 300 m³/h loading rate and we might be ready tomorrow evening. Would be nice if we could leave Panjang tomorrow night.


Erik,

this is for you. So now you know how we load the veg oil in Indonesia. Maybe this oil will end up in your bathroom as a soap. Or in your freezer as ice cream. Back in the 90's I was a Chief Officer on a veg oil tanker and we transported much veg oil to Karlshamns AB, a huge maker of oil for cookies, candy and dairy products etc.

I even remember when we had a Jewish Holy man to come to Karlshamn to bless the tanks before we loaded the oil. It was some special HOLY oil the jews use. The guy flew in from New YorkYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.starrived in a limo to the jetty. He went down the tanks and did some holy stuff. Believe me, the tanks had to be clean before he entered. Of course, Chief Officer responsible.

We can imagine the value of this oil. Many times we discharged straight in to bottles and then theYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stbottles were delivered to the supermarkets as cooking oil. Tank cleaning extravaganza.

I also remember when they saw me the first time.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- Are you the Chief Officer??!!
The first few times the same, but after that.
- OK, you're the Chief Officer, good, we don't need to check the tanks

Well, anyway, when we arrived to Rotterdam we were doing a “ship to ship” with a Stolt tanker taking the oil to New York. The same “holy” man was there to bless the cargo hoses and equipment. Quite fun to see him on deck blessing the ships.

And Karlshamn, always ice cream at arrival. Fresh from the factory.

Or the palm oil might end up in your car as “green” gasoil. This cargo will go to India and when we have discharged we will have to start all over again with the tank cleaning.


Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Early morning and we have finished loading from the Terminal
Now they will remove the pipe line and prepare for the trucks

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Early morning and we have finished loading from the Terminal
The pump to be used for the trucks is already on the jetty

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
They are blowing and pigging the line to clear all cargo from the pipe line

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
The shore tanks are far away from the ship so it is a long pipe line

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
They are ready with the pig. The pig is the rubber thing that is yellow from the Crude Palm Oil
They push the pig through the pipe line with air and thus clearing the pipe line from all remaining cargo

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Also time for a picture of our Surveyor
They push the pig through the pipe line with air and thus clearing the pipe line from all remaining cargo

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
They bring the equipment needed for discharging the trucks

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
This is the tray they will use to empty the trucks to
Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
The hose from the terminal is disconnected and they are about to connect the hose for the trucks

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
They remove the terminal hoses

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
They remove the terminal hoses

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
All pipes and hoses from the terminal is removed from the jetty

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
The connect the cargo hose to the pump

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
The connect the cargo hose to the pump

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Here we see how it is going to work
They empty the trucks in to the tray and the pump is pumping the palm oil onboard our ship

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Here we see how it is going to work
They empty the trucks in to the tray and the pump is pumping the palm oil onboard our ship

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Here we see the tray and the pump. Quite easy to to see how it works
And wasn't that a strange angle I got when I took the picture. Almost make me sea sick looking at the picture

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Crude Palm Oil for India


I spent the day sorting out our hospital and I will finish the work tomorrow. I was back in my cabin at 18 thirty and I decided to skip my visit to Novotel, the only thing I had seen that might haveAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersksome fine dining around here. Well, I brought 4 apples to my cabin and my diet is or sure better off. Especially since IYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stdon't dare to bring any Snickers to my cabin anymore as this will cost me dearly.

And I don't want to come home with lessYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stmoney than that I had when I left home. I will have to bring out my guitar and spend my holiday on the street corner with my hat on the sidewalk.

And seriously, apples and bananas taste better, well, it makes me feel better anyway. And with the amended bet the
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st
Before
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st
After
chances for me to get back home a wee bit smaller than when I left is much greater.

+++++++++++++++
Thursday 17 th of January 2013
and it looks like we will complete loading around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. This time is confirmed by the Surveyor and we can leave Panjang behind without any backward glances steaming towards Padang. I don't know why, but I have the feeling of being in South America here in Panjang.
I don't know why, maybe because of the shacks I can see from the ships.

Padang is almost 2 days away and my hopeYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stis to find Diet MAX in Padang. Panjang is too closeto Jakarta and the urban and trendy people that know what to drink leaving Farmer John andAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskhis friends in Panjang with the Coke ZERO.

Padang is far away from Jakarta so even though it would be worth the drive to get some real drinks I don't think most of the people would bother, so maybe.Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st

I finished our hospital and I made a requisition for new medicines that will expire with in this year, well, not the medicines that will expire at the end of the year. But it was a pretty long list. Well, there is always something to do on a ship.

Our Pump Man and I also had time to check our winch break test kit and they can start with the tests when we have the time. But there isn't much time onboard between the ports and tank cleaning and all the other stuff.

I was off to my cabin for a sip of Coke ZERO, yes, sometimes there is a minute or two when Chief Officer isn't busy. I was soon back in the CCR and I went ashore to compare our draft with our calculated draft. 20 to 30 cm off and I wasn't very happy. I will see after loading in Padang and then I will have to change some of our constants in the loading computer.

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Not many trucks remaining before we're ready

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
The use wooden wedges to tip the trucks so the oil comes out easier.

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Soon ready to leave Panjang

Our Surveyor came onboard around 2 thirty and he told us that they would be ready with the loading around 5 o'clock and Pilot would be onboard at 8 o'clock in the evening. Good, finally we canAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskget out of here. 2nd officer called me and he told me that we had completed loading.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- What? It is only 3 o'clock.

He called again 15 minutes later and now he told me that we were waiting for one more truck. I was in my officeAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskwith our Surveyor waiting for the last truck. I remember when the Surveyor came onboard when we arrived. He heard my Swedish Hip Hop and he gave me all his moves.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- YO!!!!!

Seems like he likes Swedish Hip Hop and he could not sit still while we were waiting for the last truck. Wecranked up the volume on the entertainment centre.

And his moves, I just had to have a video. I'm used to have people showing meAladdin's adventure onboard M/T Barcarolletheir moves in my office. Yes, we remember the one of theAladdin's adventure onboard M/T Barcarollerepresentatives from PEMEX when weYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stloaded Naphtha in Mexico. Impossible to sit down.

And every time they came onboard they asked for some “FUNKY” music.

And why not? No need to hang around in the office looking gloomy when we can have a good time. And of course, with some Swedish Hip Hop from Malmö the time turns a wee bit faster and we had a few laughs. And they say that a laugh prolong your life.

Music from Malmöand it is impossible to sit down
Important documents was suddenly not so important


Yes, we were shaking our arses and we can just imagine the abomination when Chief Officer was shaking his behind with 2, 4 meters behind the back pockets. For sure an eye sore. Well, anyway,Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskwhen I finished the video I gave the address to my web page to the Surveyor and he could not wait to get home to watch the movie.

We completed loading at 15:50, the last truck was finally arriving and it took a few minutes to empty thetruck. Ullageing and calculation with my office full of people shaking it to my music.

And of course, the Surveyor taking about going home to watch the video every second minute. He also told methat he would arrange Diet Pepsi for me next time we came to load in Panjang. Seems like the whole Panjang knows about my efforts to get hold of Diet Pepsi.

The other morning I had a guy coming in to my office with a bag of different cans of Pepsi
- Do you like any of these?
I opened the bag and I found Pepsi Blue and something that looked like they had added lemon. And a ordinary Pepsi. For sure nothing I was going to drink, well, maybe with a gun to my forehead.
- No thanks, this is what we call “foster fördrivnings medel” in Skåne.

I told the guy that I appreciate his effort, but this was nothing I could drink. And IAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskreally think I'm better off without the fizz drinks.

We loaded 1 and 6 P/S as last tanks so they were blowing these cargo lines and I had my TOP AB to take the ullages in the other tanks giving CT 1 and 6 some time to rest before we measured the tanks. And they were busy taking samples, a lot of samples.

We will get 45 bottles onboard and I tried to make them all for the receivers. But I had to keep one bag of samples for the ship. And they brought a cubic tone of samples back ashore when they left. We had loaded 11,000 MT from shore tanks and hundreds of trucks and we only had 13, something MT differenceAladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskbetween ship and shore figures. Pretty good and I was surprised.

Hundreds of trucks and I had expected a few cubic metres to disappear in the trucks. But they were obviously able to drain the trucks pretty good with the help of the wooden wedges.

Pretty clever to back up the trucks on the wooden wedges to tip them a bit toYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stdrain the tanks. Maybe the explanation for our almost non existing difference between ship and shore figures. Well, anyway, I was in a good mood when we had finished all the paper work and we could leave. Always nice to leave a port behind, almost always anyway.

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Evening at Teluk Lampung again and we're waiting for the Pilot

Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Evening at Teluk Lampung again and we're waiting for the Pilot

Pilot was ordered for 18:00 but was later on changed to 19:30. We left Panjang at 8 and it was almost 9 when I was back in my cabin where I continued on my Coke ZERO.

+++++++++++++++
Friday 18 th of January 2013
and we were steering 311° when I came on the bridge at 4 o'clock. Gloomy and grey with passing showers. But when the day light started to break I discovered thatAladdin's adventure onboard M/T Britta Maerskthe Indian Ocean looked like a mirror. Some swell, but no wind and waves.

I bought 2 new tea glasses in Bandarlampung when I was ashore the other day. One I have been using ever since even if there is a small crack in the glass. And it was the GRAND inauguration of my second tea glass this very morning. I was very pleased and I had several glasses of tea.

Tea, there are so muchYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stantioxidants in tea so it is like drinking salad. And then imagine 2 apples per day on top of that. OK, well,hmm, it have been more snickers and Toblerone than apples lately. But this will change,Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.sthopefully.
But it is so exciting since I got going with my amended diet. Yesterday I was in the slop chest taking 5 Bounty chocolate bars and it was really exciting sneaking back to my cabin trying to dodgeYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stthe search. Imagine coming with my pockets full of Bounty chocolate and running in to 5 crew members demanding to see what I have in my pockets.

I got an e-mail the other day “Nice to see the parts of the sea charts you added, makes others more clear were you are sailing” Yeah, why not, I took a picture of our chart and now you can see how it looks where we are just West of Jakarta and Sunda Strait.
Aladdin's adventure onboard M/T Britta Maersk
“Nice to see the parts of the sea charts you added, makes others more clear were you are sailing”

Time turned pretty quick and it was soon 8 o'clock and time to go for a quick breakfast. Pump Man had been on the bridge at 6 and I had asked him to prepare the winch brake test kit so we couldAladdin's adventure onboard M/T Britta Maersktest the winch brakes today.

I went out on poop deck to see how things turned out for the crew. They were about to connect the test kit and I went in to the mess room for my breakfast. A bucket of tea and 2 slices of black bread with cheese. And a few sausages on top of that. I was back on the poop deck after about 15 minutes, I had 2 very quick coffin nails before going to poop deck.

The crew was ready with the test kit and we pumped up almost 450 Bars on the hydraulic jack and I was slowly opening the brake.

BANG!!! The brake opened after a few turns and we measured the spring. 370mm, last year it was 402 so the brake had worn a wee bit. The crew also made a new marking for the brake. Well, I'm not going to elaborate what I think about this exercise. A pretty pointless exercise. I'm sure it works excellent in a workshop, but on a ship's mooring winch. You open the brake very slowly,Aladdin's adventure onboard M/T Britta Maersknothing happens and then, a quarter of a turn and the brake open with a BANG.

You don't even notice the difference between brake on and brake open. Of course, there is a difference from brake full on and the rendering point. But how to mark the micro millimetre just before the rendering point?

The winches are not made for marking the rendering point. And the brake bands are not evenly worn. And if this exercise shouldn't be totally point less the brakes should be tested before every use. Annual test and we can imagine what rust and the wearing of the brake bands will do for the rendering point after just a few months.
Aladdin's adventure onboard M/T Britta Maersk
Testing the winch brakes

Well, someone has come up with this and now this is the most important thing to do. Same with the fire wires. A few years ago you we sentenced to a life in prison if the fire wires weren't rigged correctly. Yes, this is how serious this was. And in Port A they complained about the fire wire.
- This is not how to rig the wire. This is how it should be done!
And they give you instructions exactly how they want it to be rigged.

Arriving to Port B, fire wire rigged according to recommendations in Port A.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stWhat is this? Are you crazy?This is not how it should be done!
And here we go again, yeah, you get the picture. And if you had forgot to rig the fire wire theYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stPolice department was soon on full alert. Military stand-by for decampment, the fire wires was nothing you joked around with.

Now they have found out that the fire wires causes more accidents and actually, they have never came to use according to the report. So now, no more fire wire. And if you rig the fire wires . Yeah, you guessed it. FIRE WIRES!!!! ARE YOU CRAZY??THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!!
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stPolice department is soon on full alert and the military is stand-by for decampment, the fire wires is nothing you joke around with.

Well, our winch brakes were tested at 5 o'clock in the afternoon and that is less than today 1 hourAladdin's adventure onboard M/T Britta Maerskper winch. Start at 8, well, at 6 o'clock with the preparation.

But from 8 to 5 with 1 hour lunch and that gives 30 minutes per winch. I had the AB on my watch to cover the old test date on the winches so we can make new dates tomorrow. All in all a pretty good day.

And I can't help it, but I was pretty impressed by the winch makers, they delivered the winches with markings for the rendering point. And excellent instructions on how to perform the test. Only for us to adjust the yellow/ white marker on the track. Should be aligned with the yellow band on the spring.

Something other makers should copy? I have seen many “home made” rendering point markings in my days, and so far I have not seen any good ones. Well, here is a picture on www.aladdin.st of how it should look so no more excuses for Rauma and Kvaerner and whatever maker it is not to do it properly. Arrival to Padang tomorrow and we will use the winches. I'm delirious with anticipation tosee how much the crew appreciate the new markings. Yes, like waiting for Christmas Eve and the Christmas gift, will I be able to fall asleep tonight?

And as soon as I have worked out a sponsor deal I will go to find out the maker of the winches so you know what to buy next time you are building a ship. Recommended by Aladdin, 5Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stout of 5!

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 19 th of January 2013
and we were steering 335° (T) when I came on the bridge at 4. Passing showers and a bit of head wind. But yesterday evening, I stayed behind on the bridge for achat with our 3rd Officer. We got a shower over us, the heaviest shower I have everexperienced. It came in roaring and you could not see anything through the water. For a while there was so much water coming down I thought we had sunk and I was about to take off towards the life boat.

Flooding in Jakarta, 11 dead was the latest in Bangkok Post. Mother nature, we will never win over the nature. We can destroy the nature, but never win. The weather will always win no matter how many fancy mobile phones and other gadgets we have. We are losing!

And it won't help us writing “GO GREEN” and we think about the “environment first” or to use SAVEAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta MaerskTHE WORLD posters as wall paper. We're not going to win this!

I spent the afternoon in my office listening to music while completing the cargo plan and the pre arrival checks. High level alarms, P/V valves, emergency showers and all the other stuff we need in port.

I was on the bridge at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and our Pilot came onboard 5 minutes past 3 o'clock. I had time to study our chart. I was told that Padang was a big city by the Surveyor in Panjang so I had expected to see some big buildings. Padang was on the other side of the hills andAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskwe could not see Pedang. But according to our chart there was a village called Puang or something like that next to the port. When we came closer I saw that Puang was only an area covered by shacks, looked like a shanty town.

Erik, as you can see this is a normal looking oil jetty.
No trucks and it wasmore fun in Panjang with all the trucks and the “Wild West” feeling. We will soon see how this turns out to be, this might be an exciting place. And I might be lucky and find a few Diet Pepsi


Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
A village named Puang or something like that next to port of Padang

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
A village named Puang or something like that next to port of Padang

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
A village named Puang or something like that through the binoculars

When I came back onboard after having checked the draft I discovered 20 people on deck. Half of them were Surveyors and the other half was “business” men that I sent ashore again. I had oneAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskguy following me when I checked the draft, he offered me all kind of bull shit.

But when he said that he could buy cargo from me on the anchorage I told him to foock off.

He was seriously suggesting that I should drop the anchor at departure and we would pump some of the cargo to his boat on the anchorage. He was obviously very stupid. Or, maybe, this is the way they do thingsAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskaround here. Yes, I have heard many strange stories. Well, anyway, he wanted to buy cargo.
- I pay you good!
- Foock off!

There were hordes of “business” men on the jetty and I asked if they could arrange a few cases of Diet Pepsi.
- No problem!
They took off but they never returned. Well, I guess they don't have Diet Pepsi in Indonesia. But they had Loading Masters and Surveyors and when Surveyor #100 and Loading Master #57 came onboard I just had to ask how many of them there was. And when I had asked them there was no more Loading Masters and Surveyors coming onboard. Now there was a whole lot of the “Port Authorities” people coming over the gangway.

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Afternoon turning to evening and we're still not loading

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Afternoon turning to evening and we're still not loading

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Afternoon turning to evening and we're still not loading

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Afternoon turning to evening and we're still not loading

Changed loading plans recalculations and at 22:00 my rest hours turned red and still no sight of any Diet MAX or cargo. They had some problems ashore and we were waiting for them to start. And when I went to the manifold one of the “Loading Masters” followed me.
- Psst, I'm a Loading Master, but I'm also a “business” man and taxi driver.
- And...?
- Maybe you want to go to town
- Well, maybe you can go have a look for Diet MAX for me. I pay for the taxi ride

He took offYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stand I was really expecting him to be able to arrange Diet MAX for me. HeAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskis a Loading Master fer foock sake!

I was waiting for one of our “Loading Masters” and my Diet MAX when our new Captain came onboard. He had a new camera and 2 tea glasses for me. I took a picture and he looked puzzled.
- You already have a camera?
- Yes, but I need a back up

I showed him my other camera, the one that capsized down in cargo tank 5 Stb. It stopped working in the steam. But now the camera was working again and I have 3 cameras.

Well, cameras are always good to have. Running a web page and people expecting action pictures so I destroy a few cameras every year. Good for the economy and the stock market, but not so good for our environment.

Our Loading Master/ Business Man returned without any Diet Pepsi and I was at least to say disappointed. He told me that they only had Coke ZERO.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- What theYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stCoke ZERO??Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st

Well, I hate to admit it. So pleasedon't tell anyone about this. But I asked him to arrange 3Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskcases of Coke ZERO for me.I told him that I would give him 63$ and he asked for 65 US Dollars.
- I only have 63$
- OK
He took off again and this timeYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stI was pretty sure that he was going to come back with 3 cases of Coke ZERO. But there wasn't any sign of any FIZZ drinks when we started to load at 23:25. I asked the other Surveyors and Loading Masters if they had heard any news about my sodas.

They were going to call him to see where he was and I saw a car approaching on the jetty and I asked the guys if this was our man. They wereAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersklooking out the window and when the car stopped at the gangway and our Loading Master/ Business Man stepped out they told me it was him.

I was happy and I went out on deck and IAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskgot worried instantly.

He walked up the gangway, but he wasn't carrying anything. Empty hands and I was disappointed. He told me that the supermarket was closed. But he would give it another try tomorrow. He asked for 10$ guarantee and I gave him a 10$ bill.
- I give you the remaining 53 at delivery tomorrow.

Loading was up and running and it looked good, all paper work completed and it was midnight when I returned to my cabin and the latest updates on my web page before going to bed.

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 20 th of January 2013
and 3rd officer called me from the CCR quarter to 8. I was tired, I didn't felt asleep until 2 in the morning.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- Coast Guard onboard. There is oil in the water and they want to speak with you
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- I'm coming
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- They know it isn't from our ship, they just want to speak with you.

Well, anyway, I have had almost 6 hours of sleep when 3rd officer called me quarter to 8. My rest hours was red when I went to bed and they were red when I woke up. I tried to fall asleep againAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskbut it was impossible. So I went to the CCR and I ran into a whole lot of jobs and it was almost 10 before I had the time to try my new tea glass.

Captain had brought 2 new tea glasses for me from Thailand. And SURPRISINGLY, he managed to get exact the kind of glass that I wanted.

The very same glass I bought in Pattaya during my refuge in Pattaya during the flooding in Bangkok. I expected to stay for a
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st
Before
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st
After
long time and as my diet doesn’t allow any restaurant meals I bought a tea glass, milk and black bread to enjoy in my hotel room while losing weight.

Ok, the only thing coming out of my refuge was a few extra kilos. Yes, I missed Bangkok Fight Club everyday while taking refuge in Pattaya. I had to throw away the milk and bread because I spentAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskall my time at different restaurants. So a few extra kilo and a tea glass was the only thing I had when I returned to Bangkok. Well,Aladdin's adventure in Pattaya during the Bangkok flooding 2011and a cubic metre of drinking water. I remember turning the taxi in to a tanker when we returned to Bangkok.

But I still have my tea glass that I use every day enjoying my tea.

The Loading Master/ Business Man/ Taxi driver arrived around 11 o'clock with my Coke ZERO and I gave him the remaining 53$. Only one case of small bottles and the rest came in big bottles as they were out of small bottles at the supermarket. Well, better than nothing.

I grabbed the bags and our new Captain took the case and we brought it to my cabin.

I tried to get some sleep in the afternoon, but I gave up. So I returned to the CCR for some of our computer based maintenance and it was soon time for dinner.

+++++++++++++++
Monday 21 st of January 2013
and they called me at 1 thirty in the morning. It was OK, I never managed to fall asleep.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- Loading completed and we're blowing the lines
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- OK, I'm coming
What happened with the one hour notice before completion? We had a signed agreement with the Loading Master that they would give one hour notice before completion. But I guess it is all a guess work. No one knows when they are going to be ready, same as in Panjang. Well, I had a shower and I went down to the CCR.

Well, we haven't had any music for a long time now, so here we go with some very good stuff. This is the thing I have blasting high on the Richter scale in my office today. FUNKY!!
Aladdin's FUNKY music
Yes, about time to kick some good music again. Just hit the PLAY button above. But first, crank up the volume to MAXIMUM.

Eller som den gammle Skåningen Kal P Dal brukade säga på Skånska: AVLYSSNAS PÅ FULL PATTE!!

I came down to the CCR and no sign of the Surveyor and I wanted to get right on with the ullageing. 2nd Officer said that the Loading Master was going to get him in the smoke room. The Loading Master came back without the Surveyor and I asked where he was.
- He is coming
I wanted to get started with the ullageing ASAP so we could start the second parcel and return to bed. We waited and my mood didn't turned any better by the minute and I went up to the smokeYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stroom. The Surveyor was sleeping in the sofa and I, well, I wasn't happy. Here I am waiting while he isYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stsleeping. I could have been in bed, I need sleep.
- ON DECK TO TAKE ULLAGE!!!

I had one AB waiting for him on deck and I was sitting in my office waiting and this guy is sleeping like there is no tomorrow. I told them to start with CT 2 and as they were blowing cargo line 1 and 6 I asked them to take them last and at 02:15 they started the ullageing.

The Surveyor was back just before 3 and I asked for the ullage in CT1. They were still blowing line 6 so we had to wait with #6. He told me that they were going to blow line #1 so we had to wait until they were ready.
- When will they be ready?
- 4 or 5 o'clock
- So why theYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stdid they call me? So I can sit here waiting for 4 hours?
Yes, at completion I should be in the CCR to see if we had the right stop ullages ETC, that’s why we had agreed on 1 hour notice. But now they finished and I don't need to sit in the CCR for 4 hours while they blow the lines. I did the calculations of the completed tanks and I went to my cabin while they were blowing the lines.

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Loading Master and Surveyor prepare for sleeping while they blow the lines

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Loading Master and Surveyor prepare for sleeping while they blow the lines

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Loading Master and Surveyor prepare for sleeping while they blow the lines

The Loading Master and Surveyor prepared them self for a power nap in my office while waiting. I told them to call me when everything was ready so we could continue with the calculations. They asked me to crank up the music before I left. I just wish they had told me about the eternal line blowing, then all of us could have stay in bed sleeping waking up in a good mood taking the ullages.

I was back in the CCR at 5 when they had completed the blowing. Surveyor sleeping in my office and I had to wake him up several times before he woke up.
- HEY! Hurry up so we can finish this!!
I was very tired and half asleep so it was obvious that I wanted to finish this so I could go to have some sleep. I was back in bed by 6 o'clock and I woke up at 1 thirty in the afternoon.

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 22 nd of January 2013
and I woke up an hour before my alarm went off at 7 thirty. I was surprised, I had managed to fall asleep yesterday evening even though I had slept until 1 thirty in the afternoon. So I had obviously a lot of missed sleep.

I ran in to our new 2nd Engineer. He asked for safety matches and we went to the smoke room.

We completed loading of the RDB Palm Oil at 13:50 and we had completed blowing the line about 1 hour later and we could start with the ullageing. And then we had to calculate how much cargo we
Ullage

ullage
noun [MASS NOUN] the amount by which a container falls short of being full.

• loss of liquid, by evaporation or leakage.

ORIGIN late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French ulliage, from Old French euillier ‘fill up’, based on Latin oculus ‘eye’ (with reference to a container's bunghole).
have onboard before we can start loading the last parcel of CPO. Then I might be off to the shopping mall.

I called the deck watch and he called the “business men” on the jetty and one of them would take me to town in his car. Our gangway watch called me back and there was a “business man” stand-by to take me ashore.
- Good, I will be there in 20 minutes.

I went to get some cash from Captain and I had a hot shower and a change of clothes and I wasAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskready to leave for Pandang. I was going to the shopping mall and I was going to have a look for a restaurant.

I didn't have much hope about the restaurant, but I had asked several of our Loading Masters and Surveyors and they had told me that there were some nice hotels in town. I had my doubts, but I decided to give it a try.

And to sit onboard, well, it is not all that exciting. So a tour to town it is. The driver was waiting for me at the gangway.

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Britta Maersk loading veg oil in Padang, Indonesia

I and the driver took off towards town and I discovered yet another guy in the car. And he was wearing a Maersk coverall. I had seen him on deck before and I had asked him where he got the coverall from. Well, never mind. I asked the driver to stop so I could get a picture of Britta Maersk alongside the oily jetty.

Some of the guys had been ashore and they told me that there wasn't very much at the shopping mall. A KFC and a Chinese restaurant. But I wanted to try my luck, but the driver told me that there were a few “nice” hotels in town.
- 5 stars hotel?
- Nice hotels
- With restaurants?
- Very nice

OK, I gave up and we reached the shopping mall and I told the driver to wait outside. I went inside and there was a KFC and the Chinese restaurant.I choose neither of them.

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
On the way to Padang City

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
On the way to Padang City

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
On the way to Padang City

There was a coffee shop and I could really have a pot of tea. I was hungry, and a pot of tea with some pastries would be just fine. I walked up to the place, disappointed, just doughnuts and IAladdin's adventure at Hotel Pangeran Beach in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskwalked past the place.

In to the supermarket, no Diet Pepsi and I went back to the driver outside the shopping mall.
- OK, lets fins one of your “nice” hotels.
- OK
- Whats the name of the hotel?
He said something, but I found out later on reading the menu that the hotel was named Hotel Pangeran Beach. And the hotel was on the beach so the beach was most likely called Pangeran Beach. I asked for the restaurant and they pointed down the hall. I was pleasantly surprised when I found the restaurant.Aladdin's adventure at Hotel Pangeran Beach in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta MaerskLooked really nice and I stepped inside.

The restaurant looked good and I was alone. Nice, I could see that there was a buffet thing going on. I lifted the lid, not that I was going to have any buffet. But one glimpse on the food is usually enough to see if the food is good. Empty, no buffet, but there was something that looked like fresh French bread.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- MMM!! YUMMY!!!

I took a seat and I asked for a pot of tea with milk and the menu
- Just a moment Sir
- And please, can I have some fresh bread?
- No problem Sir

They brought a cup of tea and sugar, no bread.
- Can I please have a pot of tea and some milk?
- You want a pot of tea? No problem Sir
They came back with a pot of tea and milk and I told them that I didn't need the sugar. I asked for avocado with shrimps for a starter.
- Please, make it 2 avocados
- No problem Sir
- And a lasagna
- Right on Sir
She was going to take the menu, but I kept it. I might want to have something more. I had seen that they had tenderloin in the basked. The second most expensive meal on the menu. The most expensive meal was stuffed tenderloin. Stuffed tenderloin? Tenderloin in the basket? Well, if the lasagne is OK I can ask for the tenderloin. I have never had any tenderloin in the basked. And for sure, no stuffed tenderloin so I wanted to tread carefully. I'm on unmarked territory here.

I really enjoyed my tea and I was in a good mood. For 20 minutes and then it was:
- Where theYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stis the bread and food?
The girl came up to my table. She told me that they didn't had any avocado, and yes, she wasAladdin's adventure at Hotel Pangeran Beach in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersksorry.
- OK, never mind
I asked for the bread and she was back a few minutes later. She told me that there wasn't any bread. And they didn't have any lasagne.

I asked for a cheese burger and some toast. She brought the toast and butter and some chocolate stuff to put on the toast.

My fine dining ashore was quickly going down the drain. Of course, if I would have toast or some of our Cook's delicious bread onboard I would risk losing 1000 US. Andhmm, I'm starting t think it would have been wroth the 1000$. This was not worth the money and the time I'm wasting here

I was munching on the toast when the Waitress left and I added some spaghetti to my cheese burger order. The burger arrived like after an eternity and I asked for the bill andAladdin's adventure at Hotel Pangeran Beach in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskassorted pastries for dessert. The burger didn't leave a good taste in my mouth and I was hoping for the pastries to leave a better taste behind. But by now my hope wasn't, well, let's see. I might be surprised.

The pasties turned out to be some buns and I asked for m bill for the second or third time. I was really hopingYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stthat they would have forget the spaghetti Bouillabaisse or whatever it was. But when I asked for the bill my dreams crash landed.
- Don't you want your spaghetti?
- OK, bring it on
A Waiter brought my Bouilbaise or what theYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stthey call the spaghetti sauce.
- Here is your Bouillabaisse, delicious!!
Well, the smell only told me that it wasn't going to be delicious. I finished the spaghetti, not the sauce and where is my bill? I went up to the cashier. There were soon a guy coming from the reception and we had to go out there to pay the bill, 208,000 Scooby Dollars.

Aladdin's adventure at Hotel Pangeran Beach in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Swimming pool outside the restaurant

Aladdin's adventure at Hotel Pangeran Beach in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Swimming pool outside the restaurant

I paid my bill and I went to get the driver so we could return to the ship. I will not go ashore again, not until it is time to go home to FUNKY TOWN. I was back onboard around 7 and I went toAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta MaerskCaptain's cabin. We talked about the good ol' times

And as we were talking about one of our old class mates that we had not seen since when we finished school I remember that I had got an e-mail from him. He had found my web page so he sent me an e-mail and we went to my cabin to search for his e-mail.

While searching I found another e-mail from 2004 sent from my web page. And it turned out to be another guy we had talked about the other day. I asked Captain if there was any remaining in Maersk from Broström. Captain had mentioned his name, but I had no clue who it was. But here we had an e-mail that he had sent me almost 10 years ago from my web page.

+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 23 rd of January 2013
and I didn't woke up until 8 thirty. Strange, what happened with my alarm clock? I went out to my desk to check the alarm clock, and yes, it was on for 7 thirty,Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskstrange. Is it possible that I had been up to turn off my alarm?
Maybe, but not likely.

We completed loading at 09:45 and we could start with ullageingYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stand calculation.

We completed calculation around 12 o'clock and I was yet again surprised, only about 800kg difference between ship and shore figures. Not bad on 27,000 MT and loading 3 different parcels here in Padang and 2 different parcels in Panjang.

Pilot was booked for 14:00 and I had time to finish all my paper work in my office as I'm used to. I want to have finished everything by the time I go to the bridge for departure.

Aladdin's adventure Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Finally, time to leave Padang

Aladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
I remember when we were young and handsome students on Kvarnberget in Go:teborg

And I even had time for a few sips of my ZERO in my cabin before I went to the bridge. Our Pilot came onboard 10 minutes before 2 so they had started to single up when I came on the bridge atAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk2. Departure 10 past 2 o'clock assisted by 2 tug boats.

Our Pilot was off at 2 thirty and we were all by lonesome steaming towards Krishnapatnam in India. And I know from my own experience that they have Diet Pepsi in India. Yes, this people understand how to enjoy their lifes.

Well, except for these people, I don't knowAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskwhat they call them self, but we have all read about them. Sitting in a tree for 120 years, haven't had any food or water for 60 years. I even read about a guy who buriedAladdin's adventure in Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maerskhimself alive for several years. But I think the prize goes to the guy that held his breath for the whole of his life.

So yes, I'm pretty sure I can manage to get a few can of Diet Pepsi in India. Well, anyway, it was a beautiful afternoon when we left Padang and I hopeYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stthe sea will look like a mirror all the way to India.

Aladdin's adventure Padang, Indonesia with M/T Britta Maersk
Leaving Padang behind

Well well, yet again and the downloading time force me to split the month of January. And part-3 of January 2013 willYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.sthopefully be the last we see of January 2013.



OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? NJET PROBLEMA! Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.





You are visitor no.
To www.aladdin.st since December 2005

Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011


Send me an e-mail
My web page directory
Mobilize your Site
View Site in Mobile | Classic
Share by: