Aladdin's long struggle against obesity and baldness continues aboard M/T Roy Mærsk - September 2016

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.

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”

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Roy Mærsk

Friday 16 ^th of September 2016 and I went down to the CCR 20 minutes after 1 o'clock in the morning. Loading completed at 1 thirty and the last visitor left at 4 o'clock. That gave me some quality time for myself in the CCR with paper work until 5 fifteen when the pilot is coming

And on top of the quality time in the CCR I had a few minutes of quality time in my cabin beforegoing to the bridge. I had been on the bridge for a few minutes when the pilot boat camewith the pilot. We had a shower passing just before but during the departure we had a light rain only, well, more like a “tropical” drizzle.

Lucky for the guys on deck that the shower and thunder storm took a “time out” during the departure operation. We had the last line on board at 05:40 and we were bound for the anchorage where we will take bunkers and stores.

Preparing the pilot ladder

Our Pilot is coming

I left the bridge at 6 o'clock something and I went to the kitchen to see our Cook. He was busymaking fresh bread when I stepped inside the kitchen. I was hungry and I waslucky that I had updated the diet bet with “not in force when working crazy hours” And crazy hours is what it had been for the last days.

Up all night long, anyway, I had a slice of black bread with cheese that I brought with me to my cabin where I enjoyed the bread and water while starting a movie and 10 minutes' later I was in bed.

I had set my alarm to go off quarter to 12, just in time for lunch. Of course, not enough sleep but I want to be tired tonight so I can fall asleep. When I came down to the CCR the FO bunkerboat was alongside and the stores/ provision had just arrived.

The first thing I ran in to was 36 cans of Diet Pepsi that our new 2nd Engineer had brought. Hehad emptied the whole store and I ripped open a can first thing.

Aaaah, that was good. I had soon my second can in front of me.

Our Chief Engineer came in and he grabbed a Pepsi light. And well, he was playing hard to get and he told me that it was the worst thinghe had ever been drinking.Hmm, I didn't take it too seriously as the drink disappeared in zero point five.

He continued to claim that it was a terrible soda even though it was obviously that he liked it. I asked if he wanted a second one.

He said no even though I could see that he would like to have a second one.

We had more or less planned for staying here over the weekend. The guys were going ashore on Sunday and I had asked them to buy a new Canon G16 for me that I will use with my new underwater house.

My old G16 is getting old now and I use this camera everywhere. So a new camera dedicated forthe Fantasea underwater house can be agood idea.

But they have ordered the sludge barge for tonight and we will go to the OPL anchorage and wait for the laycan to start. We know that we will load here in the Singapore area again between 20 to 24th of september.

YIPEEEE! No shopping here in Singapore and I save the money, at least for now. I will buy the camera when I sign off.Hopefully here in Singapore and I don't need to buy the camera in Thailand.

Spending as little as possible in Thailand. But I will have to fly with Thai Airways when I go on my next tiger safari. But I have an upcoming trip to Europe and it will most likely not be with Thai Airways. Well, I have a free “upgrade” with Thai. Well, not sure if I will ever use the free upgrade. And talking about upgrade.

We remember my booking form Varanasi to Bangkok? Well, that is like, well, a very long time ago and still no answer. Well, as always, there is an initial answer and they have their TOP GUN working on it. Then, nothing!

Well, I'm kind of happy, I will sit in the back spending less money with Thai.

Yes, I'm really concerned. Thai Airways is owned by the Thai government.
Will I have to attend “Atitude adjustments” for criticising Thai Airways?

And no, still no answer on my by now long forgotten questions way back in the time

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Saturday 17 ^th of September 2016 and we were anchored at the OPL when I woke up. Our next voyage are fixed, just wait for the laycan and it looks to be loading in the Singapore area anddischarging in Cochin and then Chittagong. So that looks to be a nice voyage and when we're ready with that one it is almost, well, much of October will be behind us.

I continued with the inventory of our hospital. I had done most of it, but now they have changed some of the medicines required and we have a new list.

And as we have millions of things it takes time. But it is OK, the time passes prettyquickly, especially since I bought my small portable “Ghetto blaster” and I have the funky musicblasting high on the Richter scale where ever I go. A pretty nifty machine. I remember my Hitachi blaster back in the 80's. That was a very heavy entertainment centre to carry around. 5 kilo of battery and they only lasted for an hour.

And on top of that you had to carry around all the cassette tapes and it was closer to 20 than 10 kilos. After 50 meters of walking with this you just wanted to throw it in the bushes.

FINALLY SATURDAY again!!! Time for a Saturday afternoon fun video

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Sunday 18 ^th of September 2016 and we spent the whole day anchored. We had received our voyage orders and it will be FO from Singapore to Cochin and Chittagong.

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Monday 19 ^th of September 2016 and we started the day as usually, good morning gymnastics and tool box meeting. Then I was off to the engine room to measure gas in the crank case so our 2nd Engineer could go inside the engine to inspect the, well, motor.

Chief Engineer having a good time

2nd Engineer and Chief Engineer

We will load 2 parcels at Seraya Power Plant and then we will shift to Horizon terminal to discharge one parcel and to load another parcel. So I was busy all day long with cargo plans and pre arrival tests and checks.

We heaved up the anchor just before 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we expect to be at Singapore pilot station quarter past 10 tonight. Drop the anchor for Immigration and they, well early AM, maybe to get alongside. I hope for 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. But I have prepared everything so for me it is just to get down in my office to do paper work. It is OK even if I'm tired but it willhopefully not be 24 hours without sleep.

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Tuesday 20 ^th of September 2016 and they called me at 7 o'clock in the morning. 15 minutes to go to the jetty #1 at Seraya Power Plant. We had all fast 10 minutes after 8 and I was soon in theCCR. Loading Master and Surveyor was on board 30 minutes later.

Paper work and we started to load 12 minutes after 11 o'clock. This means that we will have a full nightagain as we will be ready late tonight. And then we will have to shift to the Horizon terminal.

I did 2 different cargo plans yesterday but late evening and they changed the cargo quantities and Ihad to make a new cargo plan before we could start loading. And after lunch I did the new plans for the Horizon terminal. So no need to do this at early morning arrival.

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Wednesday 21 ^st of September 2016 and they called me 2 o'clock in the morning. And Man! Was I lucky? I had managed to fall asleep 8 o'clock yesterday evening so I was full of vim. Stopped loading at 3 o'clock and now we were waiting for them to resume with the line push. No one knew when they were going to start again and nothing to do but to hang around waiting.

Loading completed at 06:00 and Pilot booked for 12:15 and we shifted straight to Horizon jetty #1 where we had all fast at 14 thirty. And I returned to my cabin at 8 o'clock in the evening after having being up and about since 2 o'clock in the morning. Start discharging at 19:18 and we will of course be ready in the middle of the night.

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Thursday 22 ^nd of September 2016 and they called me at 6 o'clock, discharging completed. We started loading at 07:18 and I was soon back in bed. We didn't completed loading until 6 minutes after 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Departing at 21:00 and we have about 6 days to Cochin.

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Friday 23 ^rd of September 2016 and we were on our way north in Malacca Strait when I came to the CCR at 8 o'clock. Good morning gymnastics and tool box meeting before the crew went on deck. And as we had plenty to do the time turned quickly and it was soon time to go for a shower.

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Saturday 24 ^th of September 2016 and our 4th Engineer was with the crew waiting for me when I came to the CCR at 8 o'clock. He will do the monthly routine checks of the life boat and we will secure the boat so he can get inside. And to connect the life boat in the davit require a workaloft permit and other paper works.

And of course, work permit comes with a tool box meeting. But first we need to havesome of the good morning gymnastics and our 4th Engineer threw himself in to the action and we were really appreciating the enthusiasm.

Our 4th Engineerwas impressing us with his energy and vim.

We did a full set of movements, including the sushi exercise I learned from our Guide when I was on the Ayuttaya cruise

We finished the exercises and we got right on with the tool box meeting. We started with the painting and chipping, we went through the risks and the crew went on deck. 4th Engineer and 3 ofmy TOP GUNs stayed behind. We had to do a tool box and all the paper work regarding the work aloft in the lifeboat davit.

They took off to do the job in the life boat and I started toprepare for our drills. We will do our monthly drillsafter the coffee break. And we will spend the last hours in the afternoon watching safety videos. Saturday, not only the Saturday fun video, but also a day for safety videos.

FINALLY SATURDAY again!!! Time for a Saturday afternoon fun video

And yes, the Saturday afternoon fun video are almost as exciting as the safety videos. The day came to an end with a Saturday dinner with all diet bets off. So I had way too much to eat.

Apart form that it had been a good day with almost NON STOP action. And what a better way to finish the day than the picture of how our 4th Engineer instantly was accepted by our team this morning?

4th Engineer instantly becomes one with the “TEAM”

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Sunday 25 ^th of September 2016 and the ship is shaking a wee bit because of increasing sea from the Indian Ocean. We expect this kind of weather all the way to Cochin, with increasing wind and sea when passing Sri Lanka. ETA Cochin Thursday afternoon.

I sent an e-mail to Scuba Diver Life Expeditions and it looks like I will go in september/ October 2017. I have sent an e-mail to Maersk about the schedule for next year. Scuba Diver Life Expeditions was replying quickly and I got the itinerary. Click HERE!

SWIM UP CLOSE & PERSONAL WITH HUMPBACK WHALES!
THIS SNORKELLING TRIP WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST IN-WATER EXPERIENCES OF YOUR LIFE.

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Monday 26 ^th of September 2016 and yet another day with the time passing by very quickly. No coffee breaks as I was busy, good, never any time to get bored. And that is even though we could not start with the gratings due to the bad weather. Well, not bad weather, but to have the heavy gratings hanging in the crane wire lowering down to the work shop, well, will not take much movements for them to start to swing dangerously. And as we say here, better safe than sorry!

Humpback whales on Tonga and I will stay on Fiji for a week and I started to search the internetfor information. Do they have Pepsi MAX?

I found RB Patel Super markets and they have Pepsi MAX:
“RB Patel Super markets operates across 10 locations around the country and are known forits great customer service, great pricing, great range which has made it easier for its customers by saving them time, as they can buy all their weekly groceries from one supermarket” So no need to bring drinks from Home to Fiji and Tonga.

So FIJI is OK. But what about Tonga? I was searching for information about Pepsi MAX on Tonga and it was not easy to find. The only thing I found was something on Soundcloud: Tonga “PEAK TIMES” - Sponsored by Squarespace, Vocalzones and Pepsi Max

And I'm not sure this has anything to do with Tonga. The country Tonga that is, maybe the singer is named Tonga, but he can as well be from, yeah, pretty much from where ever.

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Tuesday 27 ^th of September 2016 and it was a wee bit more “shaky” when I came to the CCR today. Increasing sea and wind, but not much. We got right on with the good morning gymnastics.

It is enough for me to turn on the “entertainment centre” Power on and there is a message, agirl saying PLAY BY TF CARD and as soon as the crew hear this they stand up ready forthe good morning action.

And it is soon getting FUNKY in the CCR with the musicon full blast and the crewstart to swing with the music. We do the usual exercises and I added a few “moves” this very morning.

And when we were ready the crew took on the tool box meeting full of vim, energy and enthusiasm.

Yeah, the good morning gymnastics is a real pep! Believe it or not, it was yet another day without coffee breaks and just a quick lunch. And yes, the time passed very quickly.

Wish I could say the same about the time in my cabin. The evening went along in a slow pace. I tried to book tickets from Bangkok to Vava'u. And as it is more than 1 year it was not possible to make any bookings. My flight plan is to go to Sydney from Bangkok.Then Auckland and from there to Nadi, Fiji. And Fiji Air to Vava'u and stop for a week on Fiji to swim with sharks on the way back home.

And this time it won't be like in South Africa, on Fiji we don't use any cage!!! Snorkelling with the sharks and I might be able to pet them. Well, I think I'm better of keeping anything they like to eat away from them. I might try the old crackle the empty plastic bottle trick.

WARNING!! If you ever go to Oceania/ Australia avoid the above companies. What a scam it turned out to be.
My 3 days Great Ocean Road tour for 2500$ turned out to be a scam
VARNING! Söderhavs Resor - Destination Downunder - Southern World är skojare och lurendrejare.
Använd inte några av deras tjänster!!

Actually, my original plan had been to book with Söderhavs Resor, but as the Great Ocean Road adventure turned out to be nothing but a scam. I will chose someone else to take care of the trip for me. **s holes! They should be in prison!

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Wednesday 28 ^th of September 2016 and the weather had improved a wee bit when I came down for our good morning gymnastics and the “Good morning PEP” meeting in the CCR. I had our Cook with me as he wanted to join the gymnastics. BUT WHERE ARE PUMP MAN?

1 minute past 8 and no sign of Pump Man
The crew were eager to get started with the gymnastics, and they only got disappointment.
For sure, our Cook was not impressed.

He was shaking like a leaf, on the verge of tears scared sh*tless.
The crew is lined up to deliver the well deserved punishment

HERE WE GO!

HARDER!

Last spank and Pump Man willhopefully never be late again.
- Hmm, what if... No, it cannot be....
- Yes, what if he starts showing up late every day from now on? Is it possible that he liked to be “roughed” up?

Finally! We can get started with the good morning gymnastics

Finally! We can get started with the good morning gymnastics

We send the Cook back to the kitchen again so we can start with the tool box meeting

Well, as soon as we had finished the tool box meeting and the crew were on deck it was time for me and the 2nd Officer to test run the ODME. We were ready in time for the coffee break, well, no time for any break for the Chief Officer as he was busy with malaria information. The deck crew met in the CCR after the coffee break and I informed them about malaria.

Our Cook was in the CCR some 30 minutes later. We had have spaghetti meat sauce some weeksago and I was in the kitchen teaching him how to make meat sauce “Skåne staajl” And of course, it was an instant success!

“Skåne staajl”

Anyway, he made spaghetti and Skåne Staajl meat sauce yesterday (without any pointers) and the main difference from his previous meat sauces is. Of course, the taste, but there are usually a cubic ton ortwo of left overs when he did his meat sauce “Scooby Doo” style.

Skåne Staajl meat sauce and there are noleft overs. So I had asked him to hide some of the Skåne styled meat sauce for me yesterday.

Yeah, my new diet bet and I'm only allowed to eat once per day and as I had been eating one time already I asked him to hide it for today.

Anyway, he was soon in the CCR with some spaghetti. He asked if this was enough for me. What a cheap shot! He know that I'm not allowed to eat spaghetti, he was obviously interested to win 1000US$
- YOU LITTLE... COME HERE!!

I chased him back to the kitchen and I was almost ready with the SSP review by the time it was lunch. And the meat sauce was excellent, but I had to eat in a record breaking speed as I wanted to finish the SSP review. It had been a good day and plenty to do so it was soon time to go for a cuppa in my cabin preparing for dinner. Looking forward to a new exciting day tomorrow arriving to Cochin.

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Thursday 29 ^th of September 2016 and we got our Pilot outside Cochin at 19:25. We entered the port of Cochin and on the starboard side we could see hotels and nice buildings, obviously a tourist area. We are going to discharge at an ordinary jetty with a 8" hose and there were two beautiful buildings looking like expensive hotels just when we approached the jetty.

Loading Master and Surveyors came on board quarter past 10 and I was in bed at 1 o'clock waiting for the lab analyse of the cargo before we can start discharging.

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Friday 30 ^th of September 2016 and they called me at 3 thirty. Time to start discharging and we started at 04:24 and I was back in bed at 5 o'clock. My alarm was set to go off at 10 o'clock.

We started by doing a work aloft permit to connect the life boat to the davit so our 2nd Engineer could change the batteries in the life boat. Just before arrival yesterday they sent us a message regarding the shore passes. They needed pictures and forms to be filled up.

So only 3 people was going ashore, our 2nd Engineer was disappointed as he also wanted to go ashore. But he had been asleep when the forms came. He was on duty so he needed sleep as weexpected a late evening/ early morning to start the IG plant.

But three guys going ashore,young and strong, should be able to bring back plenty Pepsi Light for “US”

There were a big tourist exhibition next to the jetty, red carpet treatment and plenty people. And everything that had looked nice and exotic in the dark yesterday, well, in the sunshine it all looked, well, not so nice and exotic anymore.

Some tourist ballyhoo next to the jetty

Some tourist ballyhoo next to the jetty

Our jetty

Pump Man filling FW

We left Cochin's International Cruise Terminal, as our jetty turned out to be at 19:00 bound for Chittagong, Bangladesh. We are steaming straight in to the month of October 2016. How this will end up? Just click HERE to find out if we run in to any adventures and excitements.

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