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.
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.
Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.
“The postings on this site are my own and don't represent Maersk Group's position, strategies or opinions. All views are my own”
Tuesday 24 th of March 2015 and we were in the English Channel when I came on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. There were traffic, plenty of it, at least comparing to what we had
encountered during our way across the Northern Atlantic from Canada.We entered on an Easterly course steering towards the TSS Joburg. Traffic coming from SW was not problem.
But we had plenty traffic on a course towards the last TSS in the South West coming in from our Port bow making them the give way ship and thus have to change course for us to avoid collision.
Traffic on the port quarter is what I call the worst case scenario. The ships are all give way ships and you're the stand-on ship.But how can you trust the ships coming on to you to change course a few degrees to starboard to keep clear? You cannot!
I like to be the give way ship as I can take my own action. Well, it is not the first time I encounter port bow traffic. And I hate it with all the calling on the radio, especially since they
started with the AIS.There is a lot of ship screaming at each other when they can see the ship name on the AIS. I'm more “OLD SCHOOL” and I have the ALDIS lamp stand-by. But there was only need to use it one time this morning. I had the time to enjoy 2 or 3 cups of tea before I could leave the bridge at 8 o'clock.
I was dead tired and I went to be and I slept until quarter to then as we will continue our Safety Awareness Week at 10:15 The whole crew were in the Duty Mess and today we will cover safety during stay at shipyard. Accident involving fingers (most common accident)
Safety Awareness Week - Captain kicking off DAY 2
Safety Awareness Week - Captain kicking off DAY 2
Safety Awareness Week - An at least to say enthusiastic audience
Safety Awareness Week - An at least to say enthusiastic audience
When we have discussed the safety management on shipyards we split in to 4 groups to discuss pictures from shipyards. And something is lacking regarding the safety on each picture that we have to discuss. But first the groups have to point out the lack of safety on the pictures.
Safety Awareness Week - We split the crew in to 4 groups to study pictures
Safety Awareness Week - We split the crew in to 4 groups to study pictures
Safety Awareness Week - We split the crew in to 4 groups to study pictures
Safety Awareness Week - We're back in the duty mess to discuss the pictures
When we finished the shipyard exercise we studied 5 cases involving injuries with crushed/ missing fingers. 5 groups, one case each and they had to make risk assessments and when they were ready we got back to the duty mess. Now each group had to present their risk assessment and we discussed the risk assessments one by one.
Safety Awareness Week - We're making Risk Assessments to avoid accidents involving fingers
Safety Awareness Week - We're making Risk Assessments to avoid accidents involving fingers
4th Engineer is the first one to present his group's risk assessment
4th Engineer is the first one to present his group's risk assessment
4th Engineer is the first one to present his group's risk assessment
2nd Engineer present his group's risk assessment
Our OS present his group's risk assessment
Our Pump Man present his group's risk assessment
Our Pump Man present his group's risk assessment
Our Pump Man present his group's risk assessment
One of our ABs present his group's risk assessment
One of our ABs present his group's risk assessment
One of our ABs present his group's risk assessment
We finished at 2 o'clock and now it was soon time for me to go on my evening watch. I was hungry and I took the time to have an apple in my cabin before I went to the bridge. I stepped in to the
bridge 5 minutes before 4 o'clock and I got a chance to take a picture of our 2nd Officer taking the 16:00 position.We had plenty traffic during my watch and the time turned quickly. Well, most of the ships was going the same direction as us towards the Greenwich meridian and the TSS. We had some crossing ships and plenty fishing vessels.
Well, it was a good watch with plenty to do and it was soon 8 o'clock. I noted the 20:00 position in the log book and I put
down North and West. I was soon realising that we had just passed the Greenwich meridian and I changed the West to East.I brought 6 red apples to my cabin from the bridge and I'm imagine myself with a V-shaped torso. And of course, I imagine myself with a
V-shaped torso going around in an inflatable watching Polar Bears, the only thing I have to look forward to now.Time is quick and it is less than 3 months now and I'm on my way North and I will
hopefully see at least one Polar Bear and a Walrus during my Polar Bear Quest in June. And I'm getting more and more excited by the day.New Polar bear hat, new Canon lens and I was looking for a new Canon 5D Mark III but I discovered that there was no in built flash so it will most likely not be a 5D. Unless I can find a very small flash. I had a Canon flash back in the 80's, but it was so big that I never used it, not even one single time. A waste of money that was!
Yet another day have come to an end and I'm one day closer to my Polar Bear adventure
+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 25 th
of March 2015
and I was on the bridge 5 minutes before 4 o'clock in the morning. We were steering North in the TSS just off Vandelaar so I had to change course for outgoing
ships. And on top of this we had plenty fishing boats. So the watch passed by pretty
quickly. Very good as the weather didn't offer much. Gloom and grey for as long as I could see. Passing rain showers, but no wind or rolling.Europe, something is wrong: Summer in February and winter in, well, it is almost April! Ladybugs in February and icebergs in April.
I was off to bed at 8 o'clock and we had just cleared North Hinder junction when I left the bridge. I slept until 09:15 when they called. I asked them to call me at 09:45 but I felt asleep again and
I woke up just in time for the last day with the Safety Awareness Week. I took out ballast and did paper work after lunch and I was back in my cabin at 14 thirty, soon time to go on the bridge again.But I was happy when I left for the bridge, tea time! The new Aladdin
have managed to turn the SUPER TANKER called his life around 180° Only health food even if our hero is surrounded by people eating 
Before
After
the key to the success. V-shaped torso or bust! Booyaa!I got dressed in my Polar Bear Special North 56°4 jacket and I
left for the bridge. It is very cold in the accommodation and some winter clothing is required.Captain was soon coming to the bridge. He told me that he had found a winter jacket, Henly Hansen type. He thought it was
a shame to destroy my Polar Bear Special North 56°4 jacket. The red Henly Hansen fitted, big surprise, and it was warm and comfy to wear. Coming to the bridge 4 o'clock in the morning, well, coming out of the hot shower is a shock in the morning as it is so cold in the accommodation. So the summer is very welcome by now.+++++++++++++++
Thursday 26 th
of March 2015
and we were in the North Sea when I came on my morning watch at 5 o'clock. Ships time advanced 1 hour at 01:00 so 5 o'clock was like 4. Well, anyway, it was soon
8 o'clock and I was off to bed for a power nap.I was in the CCR at 9 thirty and I had made a stop in the kitchen to
check out what was for lunch before going to the CCR.Yea, a cup of oatmeal on the bridge in the morning and I was getting a wee bit hungry. And when I found out what it was for
lunch it only made me more hungry as it was a few hours ago I had the oatmeal.Our Cook was making Flæske steg and that means flæskesvær. And I was drooling on my way to the CCR where I will
test the gas detector for our Vapour return system and the ballast tanks. IG low pressure stop has to be tested as well.So there is plenty to do so I was soon forgetting about out Cook and the Flæske steg with the flæskesvær. And I must say
that it was maybe, yes, maybe the best looking flæskesvær I had ever seen. Kim's sprøde flæskesvær are not bad. Actually, they are so good it should be against the law. But our Cook's Flæske steg looked much better.I got busy in the CCR and my office and I was late for lunch. Our Chief Engineer was even later than me. He started to ask where all the Flæske steg with the flæskesvær was.
OK, I was busy in the CCR but I stayed behind completing the job hoping that everyone have had their lunch by the time I arrived to the scene. Well, everyone had been and I took a mountain of Flæske steg with the flæskesvær leaving one piece behind, just to make it look good.
So our Chief Engineer popping up was for sure not any pleasant surprise, especially since he
stormed out in the kitchen to ask where the foock the Flæske steg with the flæskesvær was. Our Cook fainted wondering where 100 kilo of Flæske steg with the flæskesvær had disappeared. I was at me seat taking cover behind what was possibly the biggest helping of Flæske steg with
flæskesvær known to the mankind.Our Chief Engineer was soon back in the mess room with the tray with the remaining Flæske steg
with flæskesvær I had left behind, and he didn't look happy.
I offered him half of my helping and our Chief Engineer felt flat on the floor when he saw my helping. Or if it was because he thought the Flæske steg with the flæskesvær was talking to him because he could not see me behind the food.
We were steaming NE just North of Denmark when I came on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. It was a beautiful evening, not much wind. Moderate traffic and of course, North of Denmark, plenty fishing boats.
AB at the radar
AB at the radar
Hirtshals in Denmark
AB looking out for fishing vessels
When the clock turned 8 we had almost reached Skagen. We will arrive to the bunker position South of Skagen at 22 thirty, but by then I will
hopefully be asleep. And I really hope that we have left when I come on the bridge 8 o'clock tomorrow morning.+++++++++++++++
Friday 27 th
of March 2015
and we were still anchored outside Skagen when I came on the bridge at 4 o'clock. They had just finished bunkering and they were disconnecting the hose while I enjoyed
a quick cuppa on the bridge overlooking the operation on deck.It was a gorgeous morning, the sea was like a wind mill pond. I went to the fo'c's'le around 4 thirty to heave up the anchor. And what a great opportunity this was to test our new anchor washing nozzles.
We have put 2 discarded fire hose nozzles on the rail around the hawser as an extra anchor cleaning for our NSDP records. This is something we have to fill up and now I can put yes in the “EXTRA WASHING” column
We left Skagen behind and as soon as the Pilot had left us I went on the bridge to turn on the
kettle. And I enjoyed my tea while steaming South in the T-route towards Öresund and Skåne. Yes, we will pass between Skåne and Denmark on our way to the Baltic Sea. And it was a gorgeous morning in the T-route. Cloudy, but it was a beautiful sunrise even though the sky was almost covered in clouds
I went to bed at 8 and when I was back up I went to the CCR to test our last gas detector. The crew were finishing putting back the last fresh made steam pipes on deck and we were going to
test the system.I spent 2 hours in my cabin before it was time to go to the bridge for the evening watch and tea.
It turned out to have been quite a good day and I was in a pretty good mood coming on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
My mood turned better when I came on the bridge, we just passed between Helsingborg and Helsingør and we had one of the ferries just passing ahead of us bound
for Helsingborg.The weather left a whole lot to wish for, gloom and grey for as long as we could see.
Captain told me that we had the shitty
weather because we were so close to Skåne.
- What the
? If you had stayed on the Skåne side of Öresund we would have had gorgeous weather!! Well, except for the gloom and grey it was a very
nice afternoon.We had Helsingør on our star board side and we had soon left Helsingborg and Helsingør behind steering South towards the island Ven and Copenhagen
We get new charts and send ashore bunker samples outside Copenhagen
Passing Copenhagen's International Airport Kastrup
I will soon land here with Thai Airways Polar Express for my Polar Bear Quest
Passing Copenhagen's International Airport Kastrup
I will soon land here with Thai Airways Polar Express for my Polar Bear Quest
Passing Copenhagen's International Airport Kastrup
I will soon land here with Thai Airways Polar Express for my Polar Bear Quest
Passing Copenhagen's International Airport Kastrup
I will soon land here with Thai Airways Polar Express for my Polar Bear Quest
Reaching Drogden Light house where we will leave the Pilot
The Pilot leave us in the pilot boat
We slowed down outside Copenhagen to get on board some new charts over Gulf of Finland and to send ashore some bunker samples for analyse. We have to send the bunker samples for analyse before we can use the bunker. We reached Drogden light house just before 7 and the pilot left us. We were approaching Falsterbo Rev when I left the bridge at 8 o'clock.
+++++++++++++++
Saturday 28 th
of March 2015
and we were steering towards NE between Skåne and Bornholm when I came on the bridge at 5 o'clock in the morning. Yes, it was 5 o'clock as we had advanced ship's
time by an hour during the night.It was the break of dawn and I could see that it would be a gorgeous morning. I managed to check our gyro compass with the sun and that had been a long time ago due to gloom and grey.
Time was quick and at 8 I was in back in my bed for a power nap looking forward to the lunch as it is Saturday. And as I had not have any time to “edit” my diet bet there is no limits.
But first a power nap and then I'm off to make a condition report and take pictures of our ship. And it was a pleasure being on deck in the beautiful weather. Not hot, or even warm. But it was sunshine and an almost clear sky. And as I had brought my fur hat I enjoyed my day on deck.
+++++++++++++++
Sunday 29 th
of March 2015
and we were drifting between Gotland and Latvia when I came on my watch at 4 o'clock in the morning. We're at the deviation point for going to Ventspils or Tallinn and we expect to know on Monday.As I had not been able to sleep more than 2 hours during the night I was pretty tired and I was in bed at 8 o'clock. 2 hours of sleep and I was in the CCR at 10 thirty and I inspected our mooring ropes the crew had pulled out on deck during the morning.
Early morning drifting on the Baltic Sea
Early morning drifting on the Baltic Sea
It was the same in the afternoon, but the weather had changed. When I came on the bridge at 4 o’clock in the afternoon it was gloom and grey for long as I could see. And on top of that we had
a force 6 to 7 blowing from South. Well, maybe a good thing, we had 8°C (2°C in the water) so there might be some heat blowing in from Africa. But we need sunshine to
heat up the water so we can get the spring to get started.But the forecast: Gloom and grey with precipitation, hopefully
rain and not snow!+++++++++++++++
Monday 30 th
of March 2015
and we were still drifting when I came on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. The weather still left a whole lot to wish for. We have planned to start moving
towards Ventspils at 7 o'clock but we postponed it to 8. Southerly wind and we're closing in on Ventspils by almost 2 knots per hour because of the wind.We were anchored just west of Ventspils when I came on my bridge watch in the afternoon.
Latest news is that we will come alongside tomorrow afternoon to load about 18,000ton
VGO. Finally, some action around here. It will be nice to load and we willhopefully get in to some warmer weather. The wind decreased during my watch and we even got to see the sun for a while. Otherwise it was gloom and grey for as long as I could see.+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 31 st
of March 2015
and we were still anchored when I came on the bridge 4 o'clock in the morning. The weather was leaving plenty to wish for, near gale and rain. This was for sure not the
spring weather I had been hoping for. Well, we will get our pilot at 16:00 and I was in bed at 8 and I slept like I had not been sleeping since I came on board in Canada.I was up just in time for lunch and as soon as I finished the lunch I prepared the ship for loading. Pre arrival tests and checks. Cargo plan had to be done and I was very busy and time turned really quick. I could see the pilot boat approaching from the CCR and I was almost ready. I went to my cabin and I paid my
Puffin
noun a hole-nesting auk of northern and Arctic waters, with a large head and a massive brightly coloured triangular bill.
Any of three species of bird of the family Alcidae, making up a tribe of auks with coloured beaks and occasionally head plumes. They nest colonially in burrows dug with feet and bill, and feed by swimming and diving. Atlantic puffins, Fratercula arctica, breed on North Atlantic and Arctic coasts, while three other species inhabit the northern Pacific.
I will arrive to Reykjavík on the 30th of June after my Polar Bear Quest. The Grand Tour of
Iceland starts on the 1st of July so I will spend the first night in Reykjavík doing a Whales in the midnight sun tour with Elding - Adventures at seaWhen I'm back in Reykjavík from Greenland I will do another two whale watching tours and a Puffin tour with Elding
Whales in the midnight sun @ 30. jun 2015, 20:30
Whale Watching @ 25. jul 2015, 17:00
Whale Watching @ 26. jul 2015, 10:00
Puffin Tour @ 26. jul 2015, 15:00
Yes, it is easy to imagine me being excited over the upcoming adventure in the North. Polar Bears, Walruses and puffin birds. And if I'm lucky I will see a 200 (TWO HUNDRED) ton Blue whale. The biggest animals ever lived on earth. And many more animals and of course, ice bergs.
Well, anyway, I paid the last bill for my additional tours and I went to the bridge. Pilot was on the bridge and we approached the breakwaters in Ventspils. The sun was shining and if it would not
have been for the strong wind it would have been quite a nice spring day.We entered the port where we will swing around and back up to our jetty with the head pointing towards the sea. When I was here 30 years ago there was a big Russian tanker exploding at the jetty. Half the tanker was alongside and the other half was towed up on the beach. The pilot remembered that accident.
Captain asked our Pilot if he needed a stamp on his receipt. The pilot said no and Captain told me that this was setting standard for the whole port. No stamp required and the chances are great
that we will have a smooth operation here in Latvia.If you come south of the Alps they require hundreds of stamps and nothing is for sure going smooth. Discharging in India, plenty stamps required on each document and then I had two cargo receivers in a
fist fight on the manifold.Fist fights, things falling apart left to right, no problem. The paper work is up to date and that is important. So no one cares if they
throw fists at each other on the manifold. Well, I was chocked, this was for sure nothing I was used to. And as I told the Captain the other day, it is very nice to be back in NW Europe where everything works smoothly. No need to sit around for hours doing nothing.
Coming alongside in Ventspils
Coming alongside in Ventspils
Coming alongside in Ventspils
Well, anyway, we turned around and we backed in to our place on jetty #21 where we will load our VGO. We had all fast just before 6 o'clock and I went for a very quick dinner before I went to
the CCR to do paper work with the Surveyor and Loading Master before we can start to load the VGO.As soon as I got the density, temp and quantity to load I could finalise the cargo plan. We will load about 18,000 tons and now they tell me that they only have 16,200 tons. Then they had the 17,900 tons.
The Loading Master told me that we were going to Tallinn to load more cargo but this was nothing I had heard anything about.
Well, when my cargo plan was ready we did the ship to shore check list and we completed the “Pre Transfer Conference” 10 minutes after 8 o'clock in the evening.
Pre arrival check list completed and our 2nd Officer studied my cargo plan while waiting for the terminal to start loading. Our 2nd Officer was with me on board Roy Maersk so he is well familiar with my “Cargo Handling Plan” so he knows what to study and where to sign. We started loading at 20:36 and we stopped for foot sample at 21:00.
I have not had any diet drinks since I left Bangkok. One of our ABs and the Mess Man was going
ashore and I asked them to buy some diet drinks for me.- PEPSI LIGHT OR PEPSI MAX ONLY!! NO FOOCKING COKE!!!
They took off and I was delirious with anticipation. Latvia, they should have the right stuff and I remember when I was here with Bro
Promotion back in 2009, we bought Diet Drinks. And a horse for Captain! We still have that drama fresh in mind. The good ol' times!We resumed loading at 22:30 and the foot samples had been so good they decided to take remaining samples only on CT 2 P/S. I returned to my cabin and I told 2nd Officer to call me when the guys came back from shore with my diet drinks. Well, the AB was soon outside my cabin door.
Joy turned in to disappointment quicker than I can say it. He brought back ordinary PEPSI from the town. And I had really expected them to be able to arrange some of the real stuff.
- What theI can't drink that! It will cost me 1000 US every time some one caught me!What a terrible end to the month of March 2015. Will April be better? Some of the guys will go ashore tomorrow and I hope they can find me some PEPSI Light or PEPSI MAX. You just need to click HERE to find out! And I'm not sure I want them to find any PEPSI Light as I feel very good drinking tea and water only. But one of the smallest bottles can't hurt?
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