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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
Tuesday 1 st
of January 2013
and the crew started the New Year by mopping cargo tank 6 Port. Well, not exactly mopping because we don't have any mops. But they were emptying
the well and scrubbing the last very few spots of grease in the tank. As soon as we have nice weather we will start ventilate the tanks and they will soon be dry.When they were ready with cargo tank 6 Port we went over to Slop tank #1. The slop tanks are pretty small and they are ready quite quickly.
It is almost taking longer with the harnesses and fall arrestors going up and down the tanks. And of course, work permit and the guys have to wear a gas detector even though I measure the tank before entry, safety first.
It is not as easy as just sending down the crew.
Work permit and we see the crew with gas detector and safety harness. Full PPE
Hmm, don'ttell anyone, Aladdin is not using any safety harness, there is no safety harness to fit me. But never mind, if I fall down and die no one gives a shit. But if one of the crew falls down I will be in a shit load of problem.
And of course, it is not very comfortable to work with the harness so they take them of when down in the tank. They are for climbing the ladder only. It was soon 4 o'clock and I went to the bridge to relieve 2nd Officer. I have had some time for paper work in the afternoon while they guys had been down the tanks. It was nice to finally have some time to check out my office. I have been onboard for 2 weeks and I know nothing about the ship. I don't even know how big the cargo tanks are. Busy with tank cleaning every day.
I also found the time to look in our computer maintenance program and I printed some jobs that the crew can start with tomorrow morning and at 8 o'clock we will continue with cargo tank 6 Stb.
I made a pot of tea first thing when I came to the bridge and I enjoyed my evening watch drinking tea listening to Danish Hip Hop. The weather is getting better and it will
hopefully stop rolling soon. The ship has been rolling for the last few days and now there is some swell even though the wind is gone. But it is getting better and we will soon have nice weather.
Steaming towards Singapore
Steaming towards Singapore
Gloomy and grey evening
Our 3rd officer came to the bridge to relieve me for dinner. I had told him several times not to
come to relieve me so I can go for dinner.- I'm on diet
- So you don't want to go?
- Well, before you came I didn't, but now you're hers so I can as well
I had a kilo of smoked salmon and a glass of tea. I also discovered that the darn candy was back
in the duty mess.
- What the
is this? The magic bowl? Take one and 3 new appear?I had really been hoping that I would never see the candy again. Well,
when it is there, I can as well fill my pockets and bring to my cabin. No one will ever see me eating the candy.My watch on the bridge passed pretty quickly and it will be nice to go to bed. But I will have to finish a movie I have started. Kommissarie Späck, a Swedish comedy. That is what they call the movie. I call it an “all time low”
It was so bad and it was embarrassing just to watch it. And
old Laurel & Hardy movie would have been more fun. So that says a lot about how bad Kommissarie Späck
was.How do they get people to participate in movies like this? Well,hmm,
people eatdoggy poo just to have a chance to be on TV.The movie was very predictable, just like when you see a clown carry a pie. What will he do with the pie?
HE THREW THE PIE IN THE OTHER CLOWN'S FACE!!!! What a surprise, hilarious and totally unexpected!Well, with the help of fast forward I managed to come to the end. And having had all the candy while watching was for sure not making me feeling any better. What a shitty start of the New Year.
+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 2 nd
of January 2013
and this day turned out to be as exciting as yesterday. The crew were in the tanks and I found the time to calibrate our gas detecting equipment. We also got our next voyage, well, we will most likely load CPO in 2 ports in Indonesia and we will discharge in 2 ports in India. A little something to look forward to.+++++++++++++++
Thursday 3 rd
of January 2013
and I was in the shower when the crew called me. We had advanced the ship's time by an hour during the night. So for the crew it was 8 thirty, but I didn't
advanced my clock until I woke up so for me it was 7 thirty. I had been busy non-stop between 8 in the morning and 10 in the evening yesterday so I needed sleep.The crew called me when I was in the shower, and they were waiting for me. But today the mopping is cancelled and the crew spent the day on deck greasing. Our Maintenance are at least to say behind. Discharging in Mombasa and Durban and now the tank cleaning.
Good, I had time to do some laundry and
while I was waiting for the laundry to be ready I made a cargo transfer binder and I'm slowly getting my
office in the order I like to have it. Cargo transfer plan and the step to step plan with stability is on the way to get ready.We will load 9000 MT of Crude Palm Oil in the first port in Indonesia. And Crude palm Oil means that we only need to mop the wells in the
tanks, no more scrubbing and I expect the remaining tanks to be ready very soon. The only tank we will spend the extra time in is 3 Stb and I'm quite eager
to get down to the tank tomorrow to see the result of our spraying.So I was finished with my “cargo transfer plan” binder and as soon as we have the loading confirmed I will complete my loading plan and instructions.
And who knows, maybe we get the same remark as we got during the port state control in Sydney with Maersk Cassandra. Well, I'm happy just to be ready with the darn thing. I spent a few hours making new ballast water log, checking the ballast water so there is no oil during discharge. I also made a tank pressure log for the guys.
Vetting Inspectors ask if we log the tank pressure and we can show him this log.
I was busy in my office until almost 4 o'clock when I went to relieve 2nd Officer on the bridge. I made a pot of tea and Captain arrived and we tried the Pirate alarm button. A very good day and a beautiful evening on the Indian Ocean. Less wind and rolling, bet there were still some heavy swell at times. And then we did some heavy rolling.
Can imagine the next Chief Officer they find doing the tank cleaning on the way from Durban to Singapore in the monsoon. Heavy rolling and tank cleaning machines, and they are heave, hanging 9 meters down the tanks. Imagine these machines in the rolling. They will destroy the tank coating and the machines will be smashed to pieces hitting the bulkheads.
Well, by then I will be elsewhere, Sophia Muay Thai Gym?
Hopefully losing weight. And I feel better already with the 1000 US$ bet I have going here.
Rainbow over the Indian Ocean
Evening on the Indian Ocean
Evening on the Indian Ocean
Evening on the Indian Ocean
Evening on the Indian Ocean
Well, it had been a good day and I returned to my cabin at 8 o'clock to finish a movie I had started yesterday. I'm tired, yesterday night I could not sleep due to cramp in my leg. So I really hope they send the electrolyte in Singapore. But there is money to save on the electrolyte. Don't buy the electrolyte and ipsi wipsi wu, we have saved 25 dollars. Not bad.
+++++++++++++++
Friday 4 th
of January 2013
and I was on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. The ship was rolling heavily and I could not sleep. And of course, we cannot send down the crew in the tanks in this rolling. I was surprised when I came on the bridge, no wind. I had expected full storm, but no wind. It was a pretty nice morning, but there were some heavy swell.It was around 6 o'clock when day light started to in the East. It was a cloudy but beautiful morning and the crew were on deck moving fans between the tanks. And as there wouldn't be any tank entry in the morning I had the crew to start work on deck. I told them that we might go down in the tanks in the afternoon depending on the rolling.
Here we can see Britta Maersk rolling, and this was one of the light rollings
Here we can see Britta Maersk rolling, and this was one of the light rollings
Here we can see Britta Maersk rolling, and this was one of the light rolling
Here we can see Britta Maersk rolling, and this was one of the light rolling
We can see that it is a gorgeous morning
We can see that it is a gorgeous morning
We can see that it is a gorgeous morning
We can see that it is a gorgeous morning
Heavy rolling, we see straight down on the Indian Ocean on the other side of the bridge
Heavy rolling, we see straight up on the clouds in the sky on the other side of the bridge
I had not been sleeping for 24 hours so I was very tired when I got off the watch at 8. But I went for breakfast with Captain before my power nap. At 9 they called to ask for something about a
safety video. It was the 3rd Officer asking if he could show a safety video for the crew after lunch.- Go ahead, knock yourself out!
And it was pretty much impossible to fall asleep after that. My alarm was set to go off at 12 thirty, but they
tested the fire alarm at 12 so I went up.Never mind, my rest hours is already red. And I'm not going to write that I'm having a rest when they wake me up with the test of the fire alarm. Well, no one cares about the rest hours, at least not until there is an accident. The rolling was much better and I decided to send down the
crew in the cargo tanks after lunch.They were expected to finish the safety video around 1 o'clock and by then I was ready with the work permit.
We went down to cargo tank 3 stb and there were some white stuff remaining so the crew was scrubbing the tank and when they were ready it was too late to start with #2 Stb. I'm going on watch at 4 and I need a shower before going to the bridge. But I had time for a group hug with the Engineers
before my watch.I was in the crew's dressing room giving some instructions before leaving for my shower. The Chief Engineer came by and he asked me to come.
- What is it?
- I show you something
Well, he wanted to show me
that the washing machine was working. And of course, I took the opportunity to have a group hug.And when we finished the group hug they wanted me to take more pictures. And how did my group hug turned in to a photo session? I don't know.
And how did the group hug turn in to this?
Or even worse, this?
The wind had picked up during the afternoon and we had pretty strong wind during my evening watch. But not much rolling to talk about and I enjoyed my tea. We are in the middle of the Indian Ocean and still plenty small fishing boats around us.
+++++++++++++++
Saturday 5 th
of January 2013
and I was lucky that I suffered from lack of sleep. I went to bed at 10 o'clock yesterday evening and I was asleep 30 minutes later. Very good, because 2nd Officer called me 20 minutes before 4 o'clock in the morning.
- Are you coming on watch?
- What....- Are you coming on watch?- No, we're going down the tanks- OK, but it is rolling and you said that you....- Yeah, I know I said that I would come if it was rolling. Now it is not rollingI hanged up and after a few minutes I realised that the ship was rolling quite heavily. No tank
entry today and I called the bridge and I told him that I would come to relieve him.I had a shower and I went to the mess room to fill up my pockets with apples. Well, it could have been apples. I
turned on the kettle first thing when I arrived to the bridge.I enjoyed my “apples” and tea in the dark while listening to Trip Hop. The dawn started around 6 o'clock and by then I had the deck light on and the crew had started to work on deck. There is plenty to do on deck and every hour counts. Our Pump Man was on the bridge at 6 for the daily work orders and instructions.
Yet another gorgeous morning on the Indian Ocean
Yet another gorgeous morning on the Indian Ocean
Yet another gorgeous morning on the Indian Ocean
I had a very quick breakfast at 8 and then I was off to my office to finish the “Cargo Transfer” binder and my loading plan for the first 9000MT of Crude Palm Oil, or CPO, that we will load in
Panjang, Indonesia.Very good to have time for this, I'm in good progress to learn the ship after almost 3 weeks onboard.
And it was fun so time turned very quick and it was soon time for lunch. And I had to hand
out some medicine so I was late for lunch. Yeah, foocking Doctor Aladdin, is there anything else they can put on top
of the thing I have to do?I tried to get an hour of sleep in the afternoon but it was impossible to get any good sleep and I got up for a shower. I pay some membership fee for a Ship Club and I decided to go look for the darn Ship's Club.
I had a cup of tea and I returned to my cabin for a few words on my web page before going to the bridge at four o'clock for my evening watch.
And yes, I started my watch by turning on the kettle. Well, 2nd Officer had made hot tea water for me so it was ready when I came up.- But what theis half a litre good for?I brimmed the kettle and I had a full pot of tea after a few minutes. The wind had decreased and the rolling was not all that bad and I enjoyed my tea and Italian music on the bridge.
 |
 And why not, have some pasta or a pizza and you will get a whole Italian experience out of it! |
 |
It turned dark around 7 o'clock and our Mess man came on the bridge to make a phone call to his
family. And I could not help myself
and I took a picture.Was this the most exciting thing that happened during my evening watch? Maybe it was.
But time was quick and it was soon 8 o'clock and I could return to my cabin. And stupidly enough I stopped in the slop chest for some Snickers.
- Hmm, and some white Toblerone, and DARN! 2 Pringles.
The crew is really doing a bad job watching my diet. Maybe Maersk
pay them too much so they don't care about the 1000 US dollars for catching me eating. Good for my valet, but bad for my diet.Hmm, maybe I should crank it up to 2000 $ for catching me eating. Then maybe they would burst in to my cabin trying to catch me.+++++++++++++++
Sunday 6 th
of January 2013
and I was not exactly jumping out of bed when they called me at 3 thirty. I had planned to stay in bed until 8 and to finish the tanks. But I went to relieve the 2nd officer on the bridge instead. I grabbed a white Toblerone and I left for the bridge and I was soon enjoying my Toblerone and Tea while waiting for the dawn to break.
Yet another gorgeous morning on the Indian Ocean
I had planned for a power nap at 8 o'clock but as I was full of vim at 8, strange, I had not been sleeping for the last 24 hours. Well, maybe an hour or two during the night. I went to bed at 10 yesterday night, but it was impossible to fall asleep.
We entered CT 2 Stb and when it was time for lunch it was only the well remaining. When the 3rd Officer came down from his watch at 12 I instructed him to take over on deck. I needed sleep. So
I thought him to make work permits and I told him that the crew could quit for the day when CT 1 Stb was ready.I went to bed after lunch and I felt asleep around 2 o'clock. And I slept, Slept so much I was late for my watch at 4. He called me at 4 to remind me about my watch.
- It is 4 o'clock- What... Thanks....I was in bed wondering what it all meant. 4 o'clock? Is it morning or evening? Then I realised that it was time for my watch and I had a quick shower and I grabbed a Toblerone before I left for the bridge. I discovered a beautiful afternoon when I came on the bridge.
I turn on the deck light so the AB can secure the fans
When I came back from the dinner it was dark and I turned on the deck light at 7 thirty so the AB could stop the forced ventilation of our cargo tanks. He secured the fans and I could turn off
the light again. The watch really passed by quick and it was soon time to return to my cabin.I passed our Chief Engineer's cabin and he was on Facebook eating Pringles.
- Aren't you too old for Facebook? And the Pringles, what happened with the apples?
We had a coffin nail while discussing some upcoming jobs before I returned to my cabin.
I discovered a message from MC
Skuph when I come back to my cabin. It was sent yesterday and he is running a show. Well was having a show yesterday. But as I'm not in Bangkok I would have missed it anyway.I meet him and 45 Thieves at The Overstay at Halloween 2012 for the first
time. And, OK, I wasn't sober and I asked where they used to play.- Silom Village
Silom Village, I thought it was strange place, but who knows? It is
FUNKY TOWN. I was at Silom Village looking for them the next weekend.I found foock all, but I found their web page through The Overstay's web page and we got in contact. So I went to see them again at The Overstay my last weekend in FUNKY TOWN. We exchanged contact information and now I'm updated with all the exciting stuff going on in FUNKY TOWN.
Well, but first we will have to bring a few more tonnes of veg oil around the world, but then it will be
Thai Boxing and party in FUNKY TOWN again. And of course, I might have to go through a hangover or two.+++++++++++++++
Monday 7 th
of January 2013
and as we had advanced ship's time by an hour during the night it was 9 o'clock when I came to my office. I had not advanced my clock because I needed an extra hour
of sleep. So it was 9 when I was in my office starting to do work permits for the mopping of the remaining 3 cargo tanks.The crew started in cargo tank 1 Port, the best tank because we have had a very clean oil
in the tank. So I expected this tank to be ready in a jiff. I knew for sure that cargo tank #2 on the port side was dirty after being down in #2 on the starboard side.But I expected to finish the last 3 tanks today. We entered tank #1 and it was very clean,
some brushing around the well and to pump out the remaining water from the tank cleaning. The tank was soon ready and the crew went for a coffee break before we went down to CT 2 port.The tank was better than expected, but a whole lot of brushing was required in the tank. But I
have my best guys on the job and I threw in a fourth guy to help them so I expect them to be ready soon. I was in my office doing the cargo plan for the second load port in Indonesia while they cleaned the tank.I also made a tank cleaning plan for our next voyage and I started to prepare the paper for the first load port. 10 last cargoes, VEF and tank cleaning procedures and I put them in a plastic map stand-by for the Surveyor in Panjang, Indonesia.
I had a good morning in my office and I really got stuff done and I'm starting to feel that I'm on top of things. I'm not quite there yet, but maybe tomorrow. No tank
cleaning tomorrow and I can
concentrate on my office and my music.The crew didn't manage to finish cargo tank #2 before lunch o they had to break for lunch. I had a very quick lunch and I returned to my office and my papers. And the crew are back at 1 o'clock. Time for me to measure the tank before they could continue the mopping.
Pump Man testing our gas detector
First time ever, and I think he thought it was, well, fun is not the word. More like interesting
Both Pump Man and the gas detector passed the test with flying colours
And I asked our Pump Man to check the gas detector before we left my office.
- Bring out the equipment we need
- What do we need?
- What gases are we looking for in the tank?
He checked the different bottles and he brought the right one, a few pointes were given, but he managed to get all the right equipment. A good learning experience for him. Yes, many people get angry with me when I refuse to answer the questions:
- What is this?
- How does this work?
- What do we need?
Now he did it by himself, of course, I kept my eyes out. And the angry attitude is always, well, most of the times disappearing when they realise why I don't answer the questions.
I have no clue
what they are talking about. No, but even if they are angry they are thinking by them self and they will know how to do it, and it also gives them a boost to know that they have
figured it out all by them self and next time they know how to do it. If I just tell they will have forgot next time.And instead of answer a question I ask a question.
- What equipment are we going to use?
- What are we going to do?
- Hmm, we're going to paint
- So what are we going to need?- Paint and a brush
- Right on!!
I also told them that the most important is to breathe on the detector before entering any tank. Just a last check, don't blow, just breath and the alarm shall
go off.The weather is much better and we're force ventilating the tanks and I hope they are all dry tomorrow. The guys completed the last tank around
4 thirty in the afternoon and I went for a shower before going on my evening watch on the bridge.I left for the bridge and I could hear the Chief Engineer
What the?
Is the fire on the loose? I went to his cabin and it turned out that he was in a video conference with his wife.I discovered a gorgeous afternoon when I came on the bridge and I was soon enjoying tea and
some very good music. And yes, I'm working on a Jukebox script to put on my web page and you will soon have some EXCELLENT music to listen to while browsing www.aladdin.stA little something to look forward to. But as it is right now I just can't find the time, maybe on our way to India from Indonesia. This is something I have planned for a long time so it will happen, sooner or later.
I was relieved by 3rd Officer so I could go for a quick dinner. I told him that it wasn't necessary because I'm on diet. But after the 3rd day I was
used to it and it is nice with a quick break. And I can have 2 quick cancer sticks in my cabin before returning to my
music on the bridge, and of course the sun set.
Yet another gorgeous sun set over the Indian Ocean
+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 8 th
of January 2013
and I was next to dead when they called me at 3 thirty. No sleep during the night and I can't wait to get off the ship, always tired. I had a cup of tea when I came to the bridge and as we were approaching Sumatera and the Malacca Strait we had some traffic
around us. We will reach the next waypoint at Rondo around lunch time and then we have about 2 days to Singapore.I was very tired and it did not even help with a pot of tea. But I was awake enough to appreciate the beautiful morning. The sea was like a windmill pond and no rolling.
I sent down the AB at 6 and they started the day by checking the cargo tanks. Better of doing it when it is dark outside and it is easy to see if the tanks are dry with a flash light only. As soon as the sun is
shining it is impossible to see down the tanks.And then we will have to go down in the tanks, something we can live without. So Pump Man started his day by checking the tanks.
The tanks were dry and we could turn off the forced ventilation. I will just have to send
down my best guys after Singapore to mop some drops of water in the wells.Time turned pretty quick and it was soon 8 o'clock. I had a very quick breakfast before I went to my cabin to make pictures from the tank cleaning. I put them on a USB stick and Captain can send
them to the company. So it was over 9 o'clock when I went to bed and I was still very tired when my alarm went off quarter to 12. A quick lunch and then I continued with the paper work in my office.They have changed the voyage orders and we have a new discharge port in India, Kandar, close to the border with Pakistan. Well, I will have a look at this tomorrow. I returned to my cabin at 2 o'clock and I put together a video of the pictures I took of the sun rise this very morning. A pretty exciting video.
I was on the bridge to relieve 2nd Officer at 4 o'clock. We were steaming on an ESE-erly course
East of Sumatera so we were in Malacca Strait.Plenty traffic coming towards us and it was necessary to keep a sharp look out. But time passed very quick, enjoying my tea watching the crew working on deck
and it was soon time for me to go for dinner.Lamb chops with rosemary but no spinach. Well, I can have the spinach at The Argentinean Steak House when I'm back in Bangkok.
When I was back on the bridge I
discovered that the crew was painting on deck. Good, they will cover the spots they have cup brushed with primer.But at 7 it was dark and they had to finish for the day. I only had one pot of tea
during my watch in hope to fall asleep easier tonight. We will advance the ships time for the last time before Singapore during the night. So I need all the sleep I can get.One more night without sleep and I will go crazy. And especially here in Malacca Strait, not good enough to be half asleep on the bridge. 4 o'clock in the morning is not a good time
AB and 3rd Officer on the bridge
+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 9 th
of January 2013
and I can't say that I jumped out of bed when they called from the bridge at 3 thirty. It was actually 4 thirty after the advancement of the ship's time during the night. But I had managed to get a few hours of sleep so I was OK. Coming to the bridge after a hot shower and I see lights everywhere around us. Plenty traffic and fishing boats. I like to pass through Malacca Strait, time is really quick and it was soon 8 o'clock.
Steaming towards SE in Malacca Strait
Steaming towards SE in Malacca Strait
I had a very quick breakfast before I went on deck to see how it worked out for the guys. Two of
the ABs were checking our tank cleaning chemicals. We will move the drums forward but first I asked the crew to mark the full drums.Just paint over the opening and we will see when the drum is open and we won't ending
(
Hopefully) up with a lot of half full drums. Now it will be easy to keep track on how much of the stuff we have onboard. Well, they guys were busy with the drums and I went to
give some pointers to the AB on my watch. He will continue painting on deck and I asked him to paint the drum openings.We have 5 water driven gas freeing fans onboard and 1 is working, the remaining 4 is leaking water. And as you understand this is not good when using the fans to dry the tanks. Our Pump Man is bus repairing the fans and I went down to the engine work shop to see how things worked out for him.
He had repaired the fans and they are ready for a test run on the poop deck. Now he was working with our pneumatic tools. I asked the crew to start cup brushing the deck the other day.
- We only have one working machine.
- What theI asked our Pump Man to have a look at the other machines as we need all the machines up and
running. And he was working on the last machine when I came down in the work shop. So we willhopefully have 3 machines working on our way from Indonesia to India so the crew can get the deck in good order.
We have received new loading instructions and I went to my office to make new loading plans. I want to finish these plans before going to sleep. We
have a management meeting at 3 o'clock in the afternoon so I really need some sleep before that. I'm dead tired.I set my alarm to go off just after 12 and I had almost 2 hours and I managed to fall asleep within a few minutes.
But 2 hours of sleep wasn't enough of sleep, but I had to get up to spend the rest of the day dead tired. Otherwise it will not be possible to fall asleep tonight after my bridge watch. And then I will
have a hard time to get out of bed at 3 thirty tomorrow morning. Always tired, but it is soon time to
go home, I have almost finished half time onboard.I had some meatballs and tea for lunch before going for a coffin nail with the Chief Engineer. I was looking for our Pump Man, he is on lunch break so I went to his cabin.
He was a sleep in his chair and I didn't woke him up. He needs all the sleep he can get.I went on deck at 2 thirty to update myself with the progress, and of course to give pointers and to “PEP” the crew before the management meeting at 3. The management was a wee bit upset with me for wanting to have the meeting during the coffee break. But I don't have time to waste on a coffee break + the meeting, so both at the same time.
- You want to have the meeting at 3?- Well, the best would be to have it during the lunch. But this is second best
- We want to drink coffee! Why can't we have the meeting after the coffee break?
- Well, what's the problem, I will drink tea like there is no tomorrow and I will attend the meeting at the same time. I just don't have all the time to waste on a coffee break.
I was surprised by the meeting, we managed to straight out a few question marks. Otherwise these
management meetings is just a lot of Blah-Blah-Bla. A lot of talk and no action.I went to my cabin for a hot shower before going to relieve 2nd Officer on the bridge. It was a gloomy and grey afternoon and we were steaming towards One Fathom Bank or Permatang Sedepa as they say. If it is in Indonesia or Malaysia I don't know. I passed One Fathom Bank at the end of my watch and as always in Malacca Strait, time turned quickly.
Cargo changed again, Kandla, India is changed back to Haldia in India and I went to the CCR after my watch for a new cargo calculation. This time 11,000MT instead of 9,000MT in the first load port. This was done and I could return to my cabin for a quick update of my stupid web page.
+++++++++++++++
Thursday 10 th
of January 2013
and I woke up at 8 thirty. No morning watch because we expect to be busy all day long in Singapore. Stores, provision and bunker. And of course all the other stuff they can throw in on top of all this. So it can be a long day and I'm better off being prepared and
I started by getting enough sleep. I went to bed at 11 yesterday, slight problem to fall asleep even though I was dead tired.Of course, after 8 hours + of sleep I will have the same problem to fall asleep tonight.
Well, I had a nice shower before going to the mess room for a quick cuppa and 2 slices of black
bread. Our Chief Engineer kept me company and when we were ready I left for deck. I had to take a few pictures to send to the company.We were approaching Singapore and we passed some Indonesian islands when I was on deck. And the crew was preparing the pilot ladder when I came on deck. I got my
pictures and I returned to my cabin to prepare the pictures and a letter to our Superintendent in CopenhagenI went to the bridge 20 minutes past 10, Pilot was expected around 10 thirty. Our 3rd officer left the bridge and he went down on deck to meet the Pilot when he came onboard. We dropped our anchor at 11 thirty and the first barge with stores arrived alongside while we were dropping our anchor. Not wasting any time waiting, the spirit we're looking for!
Stores arriving at Singapore anchorage
Stores arriving at Singapore anchorage
We have our provision crane aft and the barge at to move to the poop deck so we could lift onboard
our stuff.We had just started with the first barge when another service boat arrived. He arrived with 5 200 litres drums and something that looked like big bags of rags. Very good, the first barge arrived with a pallet of 20 litres drums and I was afraid that this was the tank cleaning liquid.
Running around with 20 litres drums is nothing I was looking forward to. So I was happy to see the 200 litre drums arriving. I told them to get over to our crane midships so we could lift onboard the stuff.
I got a wee bit upset when I saw the driver playing with his mobile while trying to keep the boat under out crane. I had to shout at him several times. LOOK OUT! And as I'm a nice and diplomatic I did not add anything after the LOOK OUT! This could easily have been the near miss of the month. Like the one we won in Korea when we had 2 ships colliding in front of us at the anchorage.
Ulsan anchorage December 2011
Our 2nd Officer was on the bridge and he took the video and we had people onboard form the
insurance company wanting a copy of the video. And we won the “NEAR MISS” of the month cash award. Well, anyway, when you have 600 kg hanging in a wire and a guy in the back on deck you should keep an eye on things instead of playing with your mobile.
Playing with his mobile while driving the service boat
This could easily have won the “NEAR MISS” of the month cash award. I think it is 1000$
I returned to the aft provision crane when we had our cleaning liquid and rags onboard. We had
almost 20 pallets of stores so it would take some time to get the stores onboard.While we lifted onboard the stores the luboil barge arrived and a wee bit later the bunker barge arrived.
It was almost 3 o'clock when we finished with the stores and I went for a shower before going to relieve 2nd Officer on the bridge. Evening watch on the anchorage and I was bored to death. No music, I tried to play some music but you can't hear anything with all the Blah-Blah-Bla from 3 different VHF Channels.
We ordered Pilot for 21:00 but it was later changed to 22:00 and I left for a video in my cabin when I got off my watch. Can as well kill some time with a video waiting for the Pilot, trying to sleep is pretty much a waste of time. Maybe I have time for a video, or at least a bit of a movie.
Sunset over Singapore Strait
Sunset over Singapore Strait
Sunset over Singapore Strait
Sunset over Singapore Strait
+++++++++++++++
Friday 11 th
of January 2013
and we have mops onboard, freshly delivered yesterday at Singapore anchorage so we can mop the cargo tanks. I went down from the bridge 8 o'clock in the morning and I called our Pump man and 2 ABs to my office to do work permits. And of course, our Pump Man
tested our gas detector and today he could do it all by himself. I just had to double check the reading against the test gas.He told me the reading was OK, he was right, but as I'm responsible I had to make sure.
As I mentioned before, no one gives
a flyingif I die, but if anyone in the crew dies I'm in a sh*t load of problem. Well, anyway, he knows how to do it by now.We went on deck and Slop tank #2 was dry and our Pump Man was soon on deck again. Before the crew went down in slop tank #2 I had them to sign the tank entry permit. Not required, the crew are only signing the work permit. But as I don't trust anyone I have them to sign all the papers. Something for you Chief Officers out there to think about.
It is like a marriage, everything is just fine
- I love you, I give you a million!!Of course, when the marriage comes to an end it is a totally different tune.
- I want to kill you! I HATE YOU!!Same on deck
- You are the best AB in the whole of the
world!- And you are the best Chief Officer in universe
- Flattery.... Blah-Blah....
And when there is an accident it will of course be a totally different tune
- You never told me it was dangerous
So I have them to sign all permits and risk assessments, what good does it make if Captain and I are making risk assessments if the crew doesn't read them. And if they read them they have to
acknowledge. One work permit valid to 16:00 was signed by the crew and then they had to sign a total of 15 entry permits, 1 before
each entry when I had measured the tanks.There were not much water in the tanks, some condense in the pump wells and we were ready with the tanks just after 12 o'clock. Then we have had a quick
coffee break, well, the crew had a break while I prepared the entry permits. We were soon back on deck again and I was happy when we finished, a quick lunch and I was off to bed. My rest hours have been red since 7 o'clock in the morning. But now we finished our tanks, the crew only needed the mops.Well, nice to be ready, now we hope the tanks pass the Surveyors inspection.
AB heaving up the bucket from the tank
AB heaving up the bucket from the tank
My alarm went off at 3 o'clock and I had a shower when I got out of bed 20 minutes later. I was
soon on the bridge to relieve our 2nd Officer. I discovered our Pump Man and Engineers on deck when I came on the bridge, they were working with our SAAB tank radar. It had not been working since I came onboard and they discovered that the SAAB radar was full of water.I discovered that the radar was working again when I went down for a quick dinner at 6. Lamb chops and it was delicious, we got a new Cook in Singapore yesterday and he have been
very good so far. Well, back on the bridge and I enjoyed the evening with a pot of tea and some good music.They had ordered snus for me when Britta Maersk was
in Singapore back in November 2012 and the box had been in our Cooks stores since November. I asked our Mess Man to put the box in the duty mess together with a carton of coffin nails.The AB brought the stuff to my cabin on his way to the bridge and when I went down from the bridge at 20:20 I filled my fridge with snus. Enough to last me until it is time to sign off?
Time for a quick update of my web page before going to bed and I really
hope that I manage to fall asleep tonight. No tossin' and turnin' all night long as previous nights, a killer when it is time to get up at 3 thirty.+++++++++++++++
Saturday 12 th
of January 2013
and I was not exactly full of vim when they called me at 3 thirty, and that’s even though they had retarded ship's time by an hour during the night so it was like 4
thirty. But I managed to get in to my shower and I was soon on the bridge, bringing my entertainment
center. I was soon enjoying my morning tea and it started to get light around 5 as we had retarded our ships time.My bet is up and running and no one have manage to
catch me eating. It is known to have happened that I have sneaked down to our mess room to
fill my pockets with of course, only healthy stuff.Well, anyway, when the sun came up I discovered what might, and I say might, be the
most handsome guy onboard in the radar. Of course, I took a picture only to discover that the lens was full of crumbles and stuff from my pocket. Well, I will shape up on my diet so this willhopefully never happen again.I had planned to test all our hydraulic cargo valves with Pump man after my watch. But as I was tired I went to bed instead. I asked our Pump Man to prepare for our drills in the afternoon instead. And we would do the tests at 12 thirty instead.
My alarm went off quarter to 12 and I had a shower before lunch. A quick lunch and I went to my office to do my cargo plan and at 1 o'clock our Pump Man came. We did the test of the valves and it was soon time for the drills.
We did a fire drill, oil spill and rescue from tank drill. And of course the life boat muster. And as always, I had a group picture, but the pictures didn't get exciting until I asked our Chief Engineer to open up his boiler suit a wee bit. Could have opened it more, but this was better than nothing.
The guys in my office, not quite what we're looking for.....
.... Motherfoocker, here we go. Chief Engineer opened up his boiler suit.
THE SPIRIT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
We finished our drills and I had taken a few pictures of deck for the company and I was on my
way to my cabin for a shower before going on my evening watch.I decided to make a stop at the slop chest on C-deck to pick up a cubic ton of white Toblerone and Snickers. I could hear someone in the slop chest.
- DARN! I cannot go in, someone might see me taking the candy
Well, it was our 3rd Officer and I told him it was Saturday and it is for my dinner. I filled my pockets and I left for my shower.
We were in the Java Sea steaming SW towards Jakarta when I came on watch. When I left the bridge this morning we were in South China Sea so we’re moving along just fine. ETA tomorrow around 6 in the evening and we will drop our anchor waiting for a Stolt ship to be ready. And I don't know for how long, but I'm in no hurry.
+++++++++++++++
Sunday 13 th
of January 2013
and we were passing through the oil fields north of Jakarta when I came on my watch 4 o'clock in the morning and when I got off my watch I had just changed course
towards SE and Sunda Strait.It was a gloomy and grey morning and it looked like it would start to rain any
minute. But the AB on my watch managed to paint the first layer of top coat on the spots with primer. Now only one layer of top coat remaining and they are ready to move over to starboard side.We have some spots with paint falling off the deck and we need to fix these spots, looks terrible. But my best guys have already finished half of it so it will soon be ready.
Plenty fishing boats on the Java Sea and time passed very quickly and it was soon time to go for breakfast with Captain. But first a few instructions to the crew in my office.
I went for my power nap after breakfast and I slept like I had not been able to in a very long time and I woke up just in time for lunch. Onion and meat sauce for me.
We're in Sunda Strait when I come on deck after lunch
Pump Man and I did the pre arrival tests after lunch. Well, I had finished my loading plan in my office before Pump Man came at 1 o'clock and at 2 o'clock I was back in my cabin munching on white Toblerone. And yes, I'm working an my amended “diet” bet. The amended “diet” bet will be
Before
After
Or at least, the diet will get more exciting and interesting. And soon....We were steaming north in Teluk Lampung towards Panjang and the anchorage when I came on the
watch at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. It was a gloomy and grey afternoon.We had passed Sunda Strait and we were on the Indian Ocean side again. So we can say that we had been around Sumatera and we're back in the Indian Ocean. Swell coming in from the Indian Ocean and we were rolling slightly.
But the further up in the Teluk Lampung we came the more cover we got from shore and the rolling stopped. I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure Teluk means bay in Indonesian and Panjang are located up in a bay. We had received a anchoring position from the port control and we expected to be there around 6 o'clock.
A gloomy and grey afternoon in Teluk Lampung
I saw a lot of echoes on the radar and I thought it was fishing vessels outside Panjang, but it
turned out to be fish farms and when we reached the anchorage there wasn't that many ships. Around 20 ships mostly bulk carriers.We dropped our anchor 20 minutes past 6 in the evening. I discovered that Panjang was the port and the town or village was called Bandarlampung. It didn't look like much, but I really
hope they have an optician in town.Well, I remember many times swearing over “four eyes” that didn't bring extra glasses when they joined the ships. Back then I thought it was impossible for a He-man to lose his eye
sight. And of course, back then I thought a guy was very very old if he reached 30 and that it was impossible to get as old as 40.Well, today I'm there and now I'm the foocking “four eyes” without the extra glasses. And the string is gone, I think I forgot them in Durban. And who knows, I even might get a chance to get a few Diet MAX .
I was in the mess room 20 minutes before 7 for a quick dinner and it was dark when I was back on
the bridge. I had stopped in my cabin for aquick coffin nail on my way back from the mess room.I discovered a e-mail from the Japanese girl that I meet in Shanghai last year. She is working in Shanghai and she was coming to Bangkok during the Chinese New Year and she wanted to see me. Well, I'm in India by then and as I really want to see her again I suggested that she would come to Bangkok during the
Hi, Aladdin!!
How are you doing?
I will visit Bangkok during Chinese New Year.
Because especially during CNY, there is no fun in SH. And its cold here.
So I thought I should escape cold SH!!
Are you in Bangkok from Feb 9 -12?? If you are in there, I would like to visit you!
Maki
P.S. we enjoyed nice time on NYE!!
There was my friend, Maria’s place. She is from Argentina!
Maki/Maria from Argentina/Stefi from Italy
The Chinese New Year is very exciting, for about
15 seconds and then you are feed up with the dragon and noise. But the Thai New Year, as soon as your wet it is just to go. I agree that the first few minutes going from dry to soaked are very annoying. But after that it is fun.So if she wants to have fun she is better off in Bangkok during Songkran, and I will most likely be there to escort her around this dangerous town. Well, that is a few months from now and we have plenty to do before the Thai New Year.
They didn't had any news for us when I called Panjang Port Control to report that we had dropped
our anchor 1,1 NM NE from Palau Tangkil. And Palau means island in Indonesian.I had not expect them to be able to give us any information, and I'm not in a hurry as long as it is day time arrival.
Time had yet again turned very quickly and it was time for me to return to my cabin. A quick update of my web page before going to bed.Hmm, I might spend 20 minutes with a movie. I bought the 2 last Snickers today and I want to enjoy them
with a movie. or 15 to 20 minutes of a move, as long as it takes to finish the Snickers.Well, it seems like it is time to split the month of January 2013 in to 2. Good timing, just when we arrive to Panjang. So click on the link and you will soon be in the middle of Aladdin's adventure in Panjang, Indonesia.
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.
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