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

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

Thursday 1 ^st of September 2016 and we were still anchored when I came down in the CCR with my tea. Time to get started with the good morning gymnastics again after a few days with no morninggymnastics. The new on signers had of course heard about the good morning gymnastics, and even if they have 50 years of combined experience they had never experienced this before.

I sent the painters and the OS on deck to continue chipping. One of the ABs went to change the bolts on the PV breaker so we could open the PV breaker quickly for inspection tomorrow.

The Pump Man and one of the other ABs were going to inspect the butterworth hatches so we had to go through risk assessments and a tool box meeting. And I had to make a work permit before we started the work. So time passed quite quickly, especially as I had to make 3 riskassessments.

My lunchconstitutional was postponed until 13:00. I went through gas detectors with the 3rd Officer so it was a very quick lunch and I didn't found any time for my constitutional until 13:00. 30 minutes in the track.

Not as long as I had been wishing for but better than nothing. I was soon in the CCR making new cargo calculations as they are working on a new voyage, Singapore back to Chittagong and I don't mind.

It worked well over expectations this time in Chittagong. And I don't mind going back, and I might find the time to go ashore for a look at the scrap yard. Dinner/ lunch at Radisson Blu?

And I had to double our order on the malaria medicines as we never know where we will end up after Chittagong next time. Well, no news from any of the tour operators about my tiger safari inSundarban, maybe tomorrow.

Of course, a few “AUTO” generated answers that they will be back ASAP. And actually, there was a twat answering that I should get a username and password to log in to their page
- Do you want to sell a safari?

+++++++++++++++
Friday 2 ^nd of September 2016 and we were still anchored when I came down to the CCR with a cup of tea. I had made sure I had finished munching the bacon. Darn, this Cook make bacon so I'm thinking that I'm on board a Swedish ship.

We started with the good morning gymnastics and then we held the tool box meeting and we were walking through the risk assessments. The Painters and our OS was sent on deck for chipping. I kept 2 ABs and our Pump Man in the CCR. We will be busy today and I had to hold 4 tool box meetings during the day. Inspection of the P/V breaker, greasing mooring winches, pulling up loosemooring ropes and everything require risk assessment and tool box meeting.

In the afternoon I called the crew to the CCR. Just to keep up the moral and the spirit, never let anyone forget that it is hard work. So the whole crewhad to enter the “spanking ring”

Yeah, nothing boost the moral like a good spanking. Yes, there will be no doubt on what to expect when slowing downon deck. Slow is not the way to go if you want any noticeable progress on deck.

Well, looks like my tiger safari is falling to place as well. 5 days and 6 nights living river side smack in the middle of the National Park with the largest habitation of Bengali tigers in the world.
1. Pick up and drop from and to Kolkata.
2. Exclusive six cylinder Launch boat.
3. All Park entry fees.
4. Food and bottled drinking water.
5. Exclusive boat cruise through the creeks of Sundarban searching for birds and of course elusive Royal Bengal Tigers in their original habitat.
6. Exclusive guide.
7. Stay in a resort at Dayapur island.

A little something to look forward to, and of course, my underwater camera training on Bali.

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 3 ^rd of September 2016 and the crew were yet again excited to get started with the good morning exercise when I came in to the CCR at 8 o'clock. Or actually a few minutes before,and that is even though I took the time to have a plate of bacon and a bun for breakfast.

Yes, it is Saturday and the diet bet is off, well, almost off. Still no cake, chocolate or desserts etc.

And our Cook have turned the Saturdays in to Raggmunk day,and this was no good news for my diet.

But it is not only Raggmunk day. Saturday means fun day and on fun days we have the “special” afternoon fun video. Something we look forward to the whole week. And finally, Saturday and here it is. Enjoy!

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

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 4 ^th of September 2016 and we are still anchored. We will heave up the anchor at 11 thirty and move to Haldia anchorage. We started to purge our cargo tanks at 11 o'clock and wewill run the IG until we have less than 2% VOL HC in our cargo tanks. And this will take a few hours.

I booked my tickets to India, and the only flights are with Thai Airways, my first plan was to book monkey class to spend as littlemoney as possible with Thai Airways. Sundarban tiger safari and I will yet again find the use for my safari uniform.

But to sit in the back in full safari uniform isn't really something I want to do as I can imagine the reactions.
- OH! Look, here we have a real twat!
But up front it will be a totally different reaction:
- OH! Look, here we have a real adventurer!

I got my tickets confirmed. Leaving Suvarnabhumi to Calcutta, Subhas Chandra Bos Airport on the 30th of November and back home on the 10th of December - Varanasi Airport Lal Bahadur Shastri to Suvarnabhumi arriving at 21:15

I discovered when I was going to choose seat that my last leg is in cattle class. I searched for the business class ticket and when I had paid and was going to choose the seat I discovered that it was in the back. And the price was in Indian rupees so it was about 8000 Baht. So the price is OK and I can use the saved money for 4 (FOUR) whale watching trips. So looking like a twat in a safari helmet for a few hours is OK.

I got my itinerary and our Chief Engineer will send 125 000 Rupees to JUSTTRAVELS India as they only accept Indian Rupees. So I will give him US $ and he will transfer the money from his account to their account at the State Bank of India

+++++++++++++++
Monday 5 ^th of September 2016 and I checked my e-mails after the good morning shower. I got ane-mail from JUSTTRAVELS India with pictures of Sundarban Riverside Holiday Resort on Dayapur island. It look like a prison.

The only way to reach the hotel is by boat and the hotel is located smack in the wilderness and as the hotel is located on the Ganges Delta, and adjacent to the Sundarban Reserve Forest in Bangladesh. The delta is densely covered by mangrove forests, and is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including the salt-water crocodile.

So there is a 10 feet high fence around the hotel as the tigers in the area is man eating. And the crocodiles are not much better, good, this looks to be an adventure. Sundarban Tiger Reserve, no one is exactly sure why the tigers of the Sundarbans are so aggressive towards humans, but scientists, biologists, and others have speculated about a number of reasons.

About 5,000 people frequent the swamps and waterways of the Sundarbans. Fishing boats traverse the area and many stop to collect firewood, honey and other items. In the dark forest, tigers findit easy to stalk and attack men absorbed in their work. Even fishermen in small boats have been attacked due to tigers' strong swimming abilities.

The human death rate has dropped significantly due to better management techniques and fewer people are killed each year. Even at the rate of fifty or sixty kills per year, humans would provide only about three percent of the yearly food requirements for the tiger population of the Sundarbans. Thus, humans are only a supplement to the tiger's diet; they do not provide a primary food source.

I was down in the engine room to take some gas measurements in the boiler as the Engineers were going to do an inspection. So I calibrated the equipment and I went down hoping to see the 2ndEngineer in the work shop as I needed some help to remove a connection from the hose quick coupling.

I had tried to remove the coupling in the CCR, but well, better to have the Engineers todo it before I destroy the coupling beyond repairable.

And of course, it didn't take long for the 2nd Engineer to remove the connection form the quick coupling. We went back to the ECR (Engine Control Room) because removing the coupling isn't the thing that will take the longest time. We will haveto do paper work as well.

And as I'm missing a few Engineer “action” pictures on www.aladdin.st I had brought my camera. I washoping to catch some action in the ECR.

Our 2nd Engineer and me stepped in to the ECR and there wasn't much action. Our 4th Engineerwas sitting in front of the computer. For sure not the kind of action I had been hoping for.

I was soon to realise that I would have to arrange the picture to get some action in to it. And we had to get started with the paper workfor the entry permit so it had to be quick.

I asked the 2nd Engineer to get up behind the 4th Engineer and to point at the screen. Andsuddenly, it looks like our 2nd Engineer are giving some important pointers.

I got the pictures I had come for and we could continue with the gas detection and paper work.

Now it starts to look like something

We finished the paper work and gas measurements. I finished the medicine inventory. And we had plenty to do during the day so the time passed very quickly. Latest news, maybe tomorrow. The money had reached JUSTTRAVELS India's bank account and I was surprised. It is holiday here in India. But they sent my e-ticket for the Kolkata to Varanasi leg.

I also got an e-mail from Thai Airways in Bangkok, they had sent a request to Thai Airways in India. This booking was strange, I searched for business and I got my ticket and then I discover that it was cattle class, and no information. We will see how this turns out.

Latest from Line

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 6 ^th of September 2016 and we were on the way to the pilot station when I came to the CCR. So we were only 4 people for the good morning gymnastics. We did the usual stretching andwhen we were set we continued with the tool box/ safety meeting before the work on deck could start.

We expect to be at the pilot station around 10 o'clock and at the jetty around 2 o'clock. We did all the pre arrival tests and checks and we were busy on deck when we found out that we would arrive at 12 o'clock. Geez, were we lucky that we're one step ahead or we would not be able to make it in time.

Approaching the jetty in the river

They want us to have 10 mooring lines in each end so it took quite some time to tie up the ship. And we're not going through the lock as last time I was in Haldia. We're going to stay at a jetty in the river. A river full of oil. The water around the terminal was full of oil and no one cares.

We had first line ashore at 12:35 and we had all fast at HOJ II in Haldia at 2 o'clock. Gangway down at 14 thirty and the CCR was soon full of Surveyors.

We started to load at 16:36 and we expect to be ready early tomorrow morning. And then we will leave as soon as possible or we will have to shift to the jetty behind us. There is a gas tanker arriving and they have priority. And shifting with 20 mooring ropes, well, I hope we can leave before that drama takes off.

+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 7 ^th of September 2016 and they called me at 04:45 and I was down in the CCR after my shower. We had problems with the rate, we had asked for 1300 in order to be able to complet the ballast in time. As we're loading for maximum draft 7.7 meters we need to get the ballast out of the boat.

And to pump out ballast is a time consuming task, well it looks to go quick when you start the full ballast tank, but when you're at the bottom it is slow. And the ejecting, 80m3/h at best.

Pump Man, the OS and the Painters came for a tool box meeting and some good morning gymnastics at 6 o'clock. 2 of the gays came a wee bit late so the put them in the “spanking ring” and as there were only two of them it wasn't really enough to for a ring.

The crew had a lot on their table, as well as me so there wasn't really any time for any good morning gymnastics, only time for some team building exercise and they were off to deck and Icould attend the loading again.

We finished loading at 06:56 and we were ready, well, I was ready with our paper work not long after the ullageing was completed. But we would have to shift to the jetty behind us and we will leave around 10 o'clock tonight.

The paper work was just to be signed, the B/L was on board when the Pilot came and we had to leave the jetty to shift.

We had expected to depart but now we will have to wait until tonight. We started to take home our ropes at HOJ II 10 minutes before 11 o'clock. We had all fast at HOJ II 90 minutes or so later. We signed the cargo documents and the Loading Master and Surveyor left. Now we only wait for the Agent to leave the ship.

Sending ashore the ropes at HOJ I

Sending ashore the ropes at HOJ I

Sending ashore the ropes at HOJ I

+++++++++++++++
Thursday 8 ^th of September 2016 and I cannot help but to notice that a great part of the month of September have already disappeared behind us. Yeah, time is for sure turns quickly when you're busy. We were on our way towards Singapore/ Tanjung Pelepas, we had left Haldia around 11o'clock yesterday evening.

And we were having yet another busy day as there were a cubic tone of paper work to do. And I had to make a break after the coffee break in the afternoon as we had to hold a H2S safety meeting in the CCR.

And while we had the meeting I took the opportunity when I had them all in the CCR to train the crew in the use of the EEBD (Emergency Escape Breathing Device (I think)) I informed them of the high H2S content in the cargo and we went through the danger with H2S.

After the safety meeting we sent our Engine Apprentice to see the video “The silent killer” a videoabout the danger with H2S. Suspense and drama from thebeginning to the end. So he will be on the edge of his seat for a few minutes while watching the movie.

And of course, we had 2 guys coming late so they we immediately told to get in the spanking ring. They will never come late again!

I was busy until 7 to make new stowage plans as we might do an internal transfer of the cargo we have and then we will load 2 more parcels. But this is something we will have to see about. I spent the rest of the evening in my cabin drinking soda water dreaming about the snorkelling adventure on Bali and the tiger safari in the Ganges delta.

+++++++++++++++
Friday 9 ^th of September 2016 and we are still on the way towards Singapore when I come in to the CCR for our morning gymnastics and tool box meeting. The crew were sent on deck and I spent most of the day doing stowage plans for different loading scenarios. But the time turned quick and it was soon 8 o'clock in the evening.

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 10 ^th of September 2016 and we had advanced ship's time by an hour during the night and I was a wee bit late to the CCR. I called them at 8 and I asked them to study STS riskassessment until I came down.

We finished the tool box meeting and I was busy doing a STEP BY STEP plane for the internal cargo transfer. Moving cargo from tank to tank while filling ballast, and exciting operation.

And our Cook and I have changed the Raggmunk day for a spaghetti meat sauce day. And of course, meat sauce “Aladdin style” so I hadto attend the kitchen every now and then to givepointers. A pointer here and a pointer there and it will be almost like I made the sauce myself. I finished the internal transfer plan just in time for the lunch.

A few last pointers and we were ready for lunch. And it was OK, not the same as when Imake it at home. Butit was good and I had two bowls, and it was brimmed bowls before going back to the CCR

We will have a STS meeting after the coffee break and my plan is to start the purging of the H2S content in the ullage space before that.

Then we will purge during the night and no one can be on deck during this time. Our Pump Man had to wear a BA set when he went on deck to open the P/V valves and nowwe stay inside until tomorrow when it is time to measure the gas.

I have received confirmation from our Agent in Singapore that my underwater equipment for my camera have arrived. So I'm looking forward to receive myparcel so I can get started with the familiarization by “dry” practicing.

I have given up the plans for training in the pool as I don't have any snorkelling mask, otherwise that was an excellent idea.

Dinner and then I had expected to retire to my room with a soda water, but we had received another enquiry about cargo intake and there were some calculations to do.

Another Saturday have come to an end, and today we swapped the Raggmunk for spaghetti and meat sauce. But Raggmunk day or not, it is still the fun video day

Well, even though we changed the Raggmunk day
to Spaghetti day it is still the fun video day

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

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 11 ^th of September 2016 and we are still steaming towards Singapore. We had a Pirate drill after the coffee break and we re-measured that cargo tanks at 13:00 and all tanks were under 100ppm H2S and we stopped the purging.

+++++++++++++++
Monday 12 ^th of September 2016 and we had received loading orders and discharge orders. We will stop to load 2 more parcels at FSU Energy Star at Tanjung Pelepas and we will discharge at PalauSeraya power station in Singapore. They had given us the sequences as well, good service and I could start with the loading and discharge plans

Good, I have the day to prepare the paper work and we will do the pre-arrival tests and checks tomorrow morning. We will load 2 parcels and in two tank pairs so it will be maximum 1000m3/h and we expect to be ready in the middle of the night.

Not many minutes to Singapore pilot and it will be a full night of action. And maybe, I say maybe, I will have my underwater camera equipment on board at arrival to Singapore. Always something to be excited about. We will get three guy s signing on here in Singapore so we have 3 guys on board that are happy to go home.

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 13 ^th of September 2016 and we approached Tanjung Pelepas pilot station. We had all fast at the FSU Energy Star 9 twenty something. The Surveyors came on board with a service boat at14 thirty. Delayed by several hours due to problem with the service boats.

It had been a public holiday yesterday and they had run out of service boats.

Well, something like that, anyway, we had to wait for several hours before we could get started with the paper work. Tank inspection and more waiting and we could finally start to load the first parcel at 16:36. I left the CCR just before 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

My new friend the Surveyor

We will load 2 small parcels and we expect to be ready very early morning. An hour to Singapore and it will be a long night and day with red rest hours. So I really hope I can get some sleep tonight or it will not be fun.

And it must have been beginners luck, I managed to fall asleep after the dinner and I woke up at 10 o'clock. So I'm ready to take on the night ahead of us.

+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 14 ^th of September 2016 and they called me just after midnight. I was awake as I had been up since 10 o'clock when we finished our first parcel. We completed the second and lastparcel at midnight thirty. We had finished the paper work, well, most of it at 4 o'clock. Pilot booked for 6 o'clock and I had expected the cargo documents to be on board soon.Later on it was changed to 7 and by that time I managed to fall asleep.

They called me at 8 thirty as the Pilot was on board and we will depart without the cargo documents. We only have 30 minutes or so to the Singapore Pilot station.

So I need some sleep and I was soon in my bed. I managed to fall asleep and I woke up at 12o'clock and we were still anchored in Singapore.

Chief Engineer and 2nd Officer signed off and the boat that brought the on signers had my parcel from Bluewater camera on board. So now I have my underwater camera equipment. Good, now I'm ready to go to Bali for some training.

Anchor was up at 14:00 and we were soon on the way to Seraya power plant where we will discharge our cargo. All fast 10 minutes before 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

We started to discharge at 20:30 and I was soon in my cabin to have a look at the new stuff from Bluewater camera. I put together the underwater equipment and I went to our 2nd Engineer's cabin to try it out.

Fantasea Line FG16 waterproof housing and the Sea & Sea YS-03 underwater strobe

Fantasea Line FG16 waterproof housing and the Sea & Sea YS-03 underwater strobe

My first picture - BOOM! The strobe lit up the whole cabin

The strobe is very power full, 2nd Engineer is watching a movie in the dark and the strobe fill the whole cabin with light. Enough for a humpback whale?

+++++++++++++++
Thursday 15 ^th of September 2016 and we spent the whole day discharging in Singapore. I had expected us to be, well, first early afternoon then late evening but we were still discharging at midnight. Pilot booked for 05:15 and it will be a full night. Well, 15:15 and by then we have split the month of September in to two. Just click HERE for part 2 of the month of September 2016.

Tweet

You are visitor no.

To www.aladdin.st since December 2005

Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011

Mobilize your Site

View Site in Mobile | Classic