Aladdin's adventure onboard M/T Maersk Cancun

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? 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.

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Thursday 1 ^st of May 2025 and I go to my room at 8 o'clock in the evening, we are approaching Ibiza and I have not seen one single bird during the day.

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Friday 2 ^nd of May 2025 and we are approaching Barcelona when I come on the bridge 4 o'clock in the morning. We expect to reach the anchorage around 9 thirty.

Day light around 7 o'clock but not one single bird had been seen when I left the bridge. I went down to the CCR to do some paper work and I was back on the bridge quarter to 10. Time to drop the anchor, gloom and grey for long as I could see coming on the bridge.

We dropped anchor at 10:06 and I had seen 5 gulls, not possible for me to ID, so I reported them as gull sp. to eBird.

Coming on the bridge in the afternoon and the first thing I got to know was that the provision was postponed as we were waiting for some spares to arrive. And we will not come alongside until 6th of May.Hopefully later than 6th of May.

Good news, I need a couple of days at the anchorage. A few minutes later and the service boat called on the VHF, they will arrive with provision in 5 minutes. I was excited, had the managed to arrange for diet drinks.

Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

There was a lot of gulls flying around and I ID them as Yellow-legged Gulls. I marked each gull with a stroke in a “fence” to try to keep track of them.

There was a lot of them flying around and it was not easy to keep track.

I called the team at the provision and my diet drinks had come onboard. Good, now there is no need for the crew to carry diet drinks when they go ashore.

It was quite cold and strong wind, not what I had expected in Spain in May. I could count to six cruise ships in the port and four of them left around 6 o'clock in the evening.

Trying to take pictures of the gulls

Port of Barcelona

Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

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Saturday 3 ^rd of May 2025 and coming on the bridge 4 o'clock in the morning and I spot 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, at least 3 of them hunting around the boat.

Pitch dark and they were looking for food in the light from our deck light.

We had our drills at 10 thirty so I had time to drink 3 diet drinks in my office before we started with the drills.

There were gulls flying around in the afternoon, four young Yellow-legged Gull that was joined by another gull. When I checked the pictures, I discovered that the fifth gull was one I had never seen before. Audouin's Gull, a new LIFER for me, bird #1601

Yellow-legged Gull

Audouin's Gull

A new LIFER for me, bird #1601

Audouin's Gull

A new LIFER for me, bird #1601

Audouin's Gull

A new LIFER for me, bird #1601

Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

AB busy on deck

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Sunday 4 ^th of May 2025 and I spotted another Audouin's Gull during the morning, a few Yellow-legged Gulls. Otherwise, nothing but gloom and grey for long as I could see and fog patches passing over the anchorage.

I spotted one more Audouin's Gull and I got a picture when the bird was flying past the bridge in the fog. And that is the only bird picture I got from this morning.

One hour of sleep before going to launch our MOB and lifeboat, I did not manage to sleep during the night so I was dead tired.

Early morning fog coming in over the boat

Audouin's Gull

We launched our MOB and lifeboat and we were late for lunch. I should not go to the mess room as I have 6kg of Mozzarella cheese in my room. Cheese is good for the diet, as long as I can stay away from the mess room that is.

I spotted a new LIFER in the evening, the Scopoli’s Shearwater and that is bird # 1602 for me and the third LIFER for me since we left Abidjan.

It was like being in the ducking doldrums after leaving Abidjan, not one single bird seen, and a great disappointment. But after reaching Las Palmas it really kicked off with the bird watching.

Scopoli’s Shearwater

A new LIFER for me, bird #1602

Leaving the bridge at 8 o'clock, happy with a new LIFER under my belt. We are soon leaving for West Africa and I downloaded a new book from ebook.com, Helm Field Guide to Birds of Western Africa. E-book, but it is better than nothing.

And now I reallyhope that the book come to use when we reach Africa.

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Monday 5 ^th of May 2025 and we are still anchored when I come on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. And I am really not in a hurry to get out of here. One more week would be perfect.

I started the day by testing the hand steering and a bucket of tea. The sun did not start to show up until after 6 o'clock in the morning. I could see the sun for a while, between the horizon and a huge black cloud.

The sun is coming up over Barcelona anchorage

I am soon discovering one Peregrine Falcon sitting on one of the lamp posts on deck. A wee bit too far away for any good pictures. The bird was hunting other small birds from the lamp post lowering my chances to see any small birds.

One Yellow-legged Gull passed us and I discovered one Audouin's Gull flying by a little bit later on. One barn swallow and a few other swallows that I could not ID. But they looked to be very big so maybe not swallows.

Well, the morning turned out very good regarding the birds and I was happy when I left the bridge, two new species for Spain, Barn Swallow and the Peregrine Falcon.

Peregrine Falcon

Yellow-legged Gull

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Audouin's Gull

Audouin's Gull

The weather durned bad in the evening, heavy rain with thunder and lightning so not many birds seen, just a couple of gulls, most likely Yellow-legged Gulls.

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Tuesday 6 ^th of May 2025 and we expect the Pilot at 2 o'clock in the afternoon and we get started with all the pre arrival test and checks after 8 o'clock in the morning.

But the Pilot will be a little late so we did not start to hoist the anchor until 1 thirty or something like that. Pilot was onboard just before 3 o'clock and I had my eBird app running.

There were plenty Yellow-legged Gulls and when we approached the cruise terminals, I spotted two dark birds and I took some pictures.

I discovered that it was two Great Cormorants and I could also see a lot of Audouin's Gulls and it looked like they were sitting on nests.

Going to Tradebe Jetty #32E

Going to Tradebe Jetty #32E

Going to Tradebe Jetty #32E

Coming alongside Tradebe Jetty #32E

Coming alongside and there was an email with a loading plan, we will blend 8 different cargoes to make gasoline. This could have been sent a couple of days ago, now I had to start doing the loading plan for the gasoline blend.

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Wednesday 7 ^th of May 2025 and it was almost 2 o'clock in the morning before I was in bed. Of course, a couple of changes in the loading plan so it took some time before we finally had the loading plan for the blending operation. and yes, I expect changes as we go along.

Calling me around 3 o'clock as they wanted to start loading and I went down to the CCR again.

Back to bed around 5 o'clock and they called me for some problem around 10 o'clock. I stayed in the CCR until lunch to finish some important paper work.

We are in Barcelona and I will go to have a look for birds on B-deck before finishing my Abidjan, Ivory Coast to Barcelona, Spain eBird Trip Report.

Audouin's Gull

Audouin's Gull

Audouin's Gull

Audouin's Gull

Audouin's Gull

Audouin's Gull

Audouin's Gull

Audouin's Gull

Audouin's Gull

eBird Trip Report

Since April 2023 eBird offer a new feature, to create Trip Reports. At least this is when I first heard of this feature and I have decided to make the eBird Trip Reports instead of my list of OBSERVED birds.

And of course, this also means that I will HAVE TO go back and do the same for my old birding adventures, WHEN I HAVE THE TIME!

Today's Trip Report: Abidjan, Ivory Coast to Barcelona, Spain | Click HERE

Download | PDF

Lifers
Icons for lifers used in the eBird trip reports

Species lifer:First time that someone observes a species in their life

Photo lifer:First time that someone photographs a species in their life

Audio lifer:First time that someone audio records a species in their life

Exotic species
Exotic species flags differentiate locally introduced species from native species.

Naturalized:Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s).

Provisional:Either: 1)member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2)rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible.

When applicable, eBird generally defers to bird records committees for records formally considered to be of "uncertain provenance". Provisional species count in official eBird totals.

Escapee:Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have
bred but don't yet fulfil the criteria for Provisional. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals.

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Thursday 8 ^th of May 2025 and we are still loading when I come to the CCR. We had started loading STEP 4 early morning and we had not completed the step when I went to my room at 6 o'clock in the evening.

I have spent the whole day study for the Vetting in West Africa, and it looks to be Lagos. At least the destination is Lagos, Nigeria for orders. Lagos and I hope to be able to put some colour to Nigeria in my eBird map.

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Friday 9 ^th of May 2025 and we are still loading when I come to the CCR at 9 o'clock in themorning. Continuing to study the material we got to prepare for the vetting, thousands of pages. Well, no onereally expect that we will read all these pages.

Time turned quickly and it was soon 1 o'clock and I went to my room to get my camera. Most likely our last day here and I will see if I can see any birds around the ship.

I went on the deck behind my room and I could count to 10 Audouin's Gulls and there was one House Sparrow, a new bird for me in Spain. I think it is the 11th species in Spain.

There was one Yellow-legged Gull flying by but I never got any pictures of the bird. One poor picture of the House Sparrow that I attached to my eBird checklist.

That was the only thing the picture was good for so you will never have to see it here.

Audouin's Gull

Audouin's Gull

The afternoon was spent in the CCR continuing with the vetting preparation. And our Chief Engineer joined us at the coffee break with a cup of coffee in his hand, time is really passing quickly.

We expect to complete loading early morning so I left for my room at 4 o'clock to have a wee bit of rest. Our Cadet is going ashore so I really hope that he is able to find me some tea cups.

They have been ashore for two days but they had been able to come up with nothing. But I have high hopes for our Deck Cadet. I mean, he is here to train and he is aiming to become a Chief Officer in the future, so that require some skills.

If he can't find a tea cup, manly sized, in Barcelona there is not much hope for him to become a Chief Officer in the future.

The TOP TEAM

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Saturday 10 ^th of May 2025 and they called me at 2 thirty for topping up the tanks. We completed loading at 7 o'clock and it had been stop most of the time, short burst of cargo and then stop again for a very long time.

We completed ullaging and sampling, still no news about any departure and I went to try to sleep at 10 thirty.

We could finally book our pilot at 16:20 and the pilot was on board an hour later. We had to wait for the mooring gang to come to release the mooring ropes and I could take pictures of the Yellow-legged Gulls flying around the jetty.

Yellow-billed Gull

Yellow-billed Gull

Yellow-billed Gull

Yellow-billed Gull

Yellow-billed Gull

Yellow-billed Gull

Yellow-billed Gull

Yellow-billed Gull

Time to leave Barcelona

Time to leave Barcelona

I also took a few pictures of the area, they have a new feature in eBird. To upload pictures of the area you have been birding at. Now I can upload the pictures of the area to eBird.

Mooring gang arrived and we had the tug boat fast and we left jetty #32E bound for Lagos, Nigeria for orders.

Leaving the oil terminal behind and we are passing the container terminal while making a turn changing course from north to south. Going south towards the breakwater and the new container terminal and we have the cruise terminal behind us.

We have an unused area on the left-hand side going south and there are hundreds of Audouin's Gull and it seems like many of them are sitting on nests.

Passing the first container terminal

Passing the first container terminal

Cruise Terminal on the right-hand side

The pilot leaves us before we reach the breakwater and one ferry wait for us to come out outside the breakwaters. We leave the breakwaters behind and we steam towards Ibiza in the south.

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Sunday 11 ^th of May 2025 and we are approaching Canal De Ibiza when I come on the bridge in the morning. Enjoying tea while waiting for the sun to rise. We have two cruise ships overtaking us on our starboard side.

And several ships coming in from starboard side and I have to give way for these ships. A gorgeous morning and Canal De Ibiza is like a windmill pond.

Sun rising over Ibiza

Canal De Ibiza

It isn't until 07:20 before I see a small dark bird flying forward along the deck. I took the position for my eBird report. I was soon seeing one more bird in front of the bridge and I went out to have a luck, without any luck.

I could hear a bird twitting outside the bridge and I went out to have another look outside the bridge, no luck this time either.

I spotted one Scopoli’s Shearwater flying across in front of the boat. I saw the small birds flying around on deck and by the poor pictures I could ID one House sparrow. The birds were very far away, but the picture was good enough for an ID.

There was one warbler at the manifold, too far away. But it came closer and I got a picture. The members were able to ID the bird at www.birdforum.net and it was one Melodious Warbler. Lifer # 1603 for me! The first lifer for this voyage, I had three coming to Barcelona from Abidjan.

Scopoli’s Shearwater
House Sparrow, Scopoli’s Shearwater

Scopoli’s Shearwater

Scopoli’s Shearwater

Melodious Warbler

A new LIFER for me, bird #1603
Thanks to Sherpa and Bewick at www.birdforum.net for help with the ID

Melodious Warbler

A new LIFER for me, bird #1603
Thanks to Sherpa and Bewick at www.birdforum.net for help with the ID

House Sparrow

House Sparrow

Three House Sparrows landed on the starboard bridge wing and I could get pictures, and the House Sparrow turned out to be an eBird Rare Bird Alert for Spain.

Not one single bird was seen during the evening, but I have high hopesfor Straits of Gibraltar tomorrow afternoon.

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Monday 12 ^th of May 2025 and we are approaching Strait of Gibraltar when I come on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. Well, approaching, we have about 12 hours to go. Force 5 head wind from west but it decreased during my time on the bridge.

But we did not make much of a speed, strong current from west slowing us down.

I kept myself busy in the CCR until quarter to 10 when our 2nd Officer and 2nd Engineer came for some gas detector training and we were almost ready by the time the rest of the crew arrived for our weekly drills.

we report to Tarifa Traffic around 16:40 when we enter the Strait of Gibraltar. I start my eBird at 16:55 when I see one House Sparrow on deck. Turns out that this checklist will be from Gibraltar and not Spain. Yet another area on my eBird map.

eBird world map

Click on the map for full size

I am running the eBird Pelagic Protocol, an option I discovered a few days ago. I will use this protoco as soon as I am more than 2 miles from the shore. Strai of Gibraltar and it was almost empty, no birds was seen, not even any sea gulls.

But one House Sparrow landed on deck, 55 minutes after me coming on the bridge. One shearwater that I reported as a Cory's/Scopoli's Shearwater as I could not ID the bird. One Yellow-legged Gull was also put on the checklist.

Two gulls were reported as gull sp. as I could not ID the birds.

I started a new lsit after 60 minutes as this is the rules when using the eBird Pelagic Protocol.

Specialized Protocols

What are Specialized Protocols? eBird offers a number of other protocols in addition to the basic Stationary, Traveling, Incidental, and Historical protocols described above. Most of these specialized protocols were developed to meet specific research objectives, and require additional information beyond the date, time, duration, and distance of a typical birding checklist.

When do I use a Specialized Protocol? The basic eBird protocols are designed to cover the majority of typical birding activity. Because specialized protocols like those below often require specialized knowledge or training, please only use them when you have a firm understanding of their application.

If in doubt, submit your checklists using the basic protocols above until you are 100% certain a specialized protocol applies.

Pelagic Protocol
Ahoy! The pelagic protocol applies to checklists that are made farther than two miles offshore on oceans, seas, or large lakes. Choose the Pelagic Protocol option from the ‘Other’ menu of Observation Types. Please note that we still have much to learn about seabird distribution, so we encourage you to add photos and notes to document your sightings on your checklists!

If you’re moving: Count for up to 60 minutes on each checklist; stopping at the 1-hour mark. Record distance travelled (ideally with eBird Mobile Tracks), adjust the distance estimate for backtracking as you would a traveling checklist, and choose a location on the map for where you started that checklist period. Repeat this process throughout the trip until you return to within two miles of shore.

If you’re anchored: Keep a checklist for as long as you’re anchored, and then follow the above instructions once you start to move again.

Note: Pelagic Hotspots are for aggregating historical pelagic data; they should NOT be used with the pelagic protocol.

Morocco side of the Strait of Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Morocco side of the Strait of Gibraltar

Morocco side of the Strait of Gibraltar

At 18:10 there are three shearwaters, also reported as Cory's/Scopoli's Shearwaters. 7 Yellow-legged Gulls and they were all around a fishing boat that was about to run in to us when we approached Tarifa.

A small boat so they do not need to worry about coming close, for them it is like we are thousands of miles away. But for us the boat was about to hit us.

Fishing boat close to hit us

Passing Tarifa and we left Strait of Gibraltar behind and the North Atlantic Ocean was in front of us. We had just changed course towards west when it was time for me to go to my room.

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Tuesday 13 ^th of May 2025 and we are steaming towards Canary Islands in the south west when I come on the bridge 4 o'clock in the morning. It was dark until 6 thirty or so and at 5 minutes before 7 I could see one brown bird flying over the deck.

Two Cory's Shearwater was flying across the boat just before I left the bridge going to my room at 8 o'clock. A few minutes there before going to see the crew in the CCR.

There is plenty for me to do, among all the stuff I have to do is to do a safety area inspection in the engine room. Gives me a chance to see the engine staff.

Engine Cadet

Engine Cadet

3rd Engineer

Chief Engineer

A 30 minutes power nap in the afternoon before having a cup of tea. On the bridge at 4 o'clock and I got a glimpse of the pigeon that have been with us since we passed Mauritania on our way to Barcelona two weeks ago.

The pigeon took off in Barcelona but the bird returned to the ship again. So, it appears like the pigeon have made Maersk Cancun to its home.

There was a group of at least 12 Cory’s Shearwaters at 18:00, I got one picture with 12 of them so that’s how I know there was at least 12 of them.

First time I see a big group of Cory’s Shearwaters so I was a wee bit excited.

12 Cory’s Shearwater on one picture

Click the picture for full size

Cory’s Shearwater

Click the picture for full size

Cory’s Shearwater

Click the picture for full size

Cory’s Shearwater

Click the picture for full size

Cory’s Shearwater

Click the picture for full size

40 minutes later and there was a group of at least 5 Cory’s Shearwaters and that was the last birds to report to eBird for today, it had been a very good day.

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Wednesday 14 ^th of May 2025 and we are steaming towards Canary Islands in the south west when I come on the bridge 4 o'clock in the morning. A gorgeous morning with a full moon.

Enjoying my tea while waiting for the sun to come up. Andhopefully, the sun will bring out some birds for me to enjoy.

Moonshine over the North Atlantic Ocean

It was after 7 o'clock when a warbler like bird showing up outside the bridge. And a little bit later there was a shearwater flying across in front of the boat.

I spent the whole evening in the CCR doing cargo calculations, Soya oil from Argentina.

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Thursday 15 ^th of May 2025 and we are approaching Santa Crus de Tenerife on the island Santa Crus de Tenerife. Coming from the Strait of Gibraltar in the NE and we change course towards south when we reach the city Santa Crus de Tenerife.

We pass Santa Crus de Tenerife around 6 o'clock and there are many ferries that cross in front of us going between Santa Crus de Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Approaching Santa Crus de Tenerife

Leaving Santa Crus de Tenerife behind

South of the Santa Crus de Tenerife and we get day light and I start to see Cory’s Shearwaters flying around the boat. Of course, too far away for any good pictures. I have only seen the boobies coming close to the ship.

The boobies are hunting for fish in the swell from the boat, bit the shearwaters do not care about the swell from our boat.

And there were many of the Cory’s Shearwaters, I could count to at least 15 singles flying around low over the water. Now I would not mind seeing something else, but the Cory’s Shearwater is better than nothing.

Cory’s Shearwater

Cory’s Shearwater

Cory’s Shearwater

We held our Enclosed Space Rescue Drill at 10 thirty, I had just completed the training of our 3rd and 4th Engineer in use of our gas detection instruments.

We were ready in time for lunch and I had a quick power nap in the afternoon, of course, after having reported the Cory’s Shearwaters from this morning to eBird.

Not one single bird was seen in the afternoon when we had left Canary Islands behind.

2nd Officer showing the EPIRB for our Cadet

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Friday 16 ^th of May 2025 and we are steaming south when I come on the bridge 4 o'clock in the morning. And when I left the bridge at 8 o'clock I had not seen one single bird.

In the afternoon, I was desperate, no birds. 19 thirty and suddenly I have a bird flying across in front of the boat. Flying towards east and very low over the water. Like a shearwater but was flying upright, not shearwater style with the wing tip towards the water, flipping between right- and left-wing tip.

I was in my room checking my books and I ID the bird as an European Storm-petrel The only bird fitting the description in my books:
ID Handbook of European Birds
Oceanic Birds of the World: A Photo Guide
Field Guide to the Albatrosses, Petrels and Shearwaters of the world

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Saturday 17 ^th of May 2025 and it was not until 6 o'clock in the evening before I spotted a bird, Cory's Shearwater. We were steaming south a couple of hundred kilometres west of Mauritania. But too far away for any pictures, and anyway, I had not my camera ready and the bird disappeared.

Our Pigeon that joined us last time we passed Mauritania on our way to Barcelona disappeared during the day. I do not know, maybe the bird got some failure to the gyros or something and landed on the boat.

The bird took off in Barcelona, but came back again.

Now, back at the Mauritania and maybe gyros or whatever kicked in and it took off. Arriving to where ever it was going 3 weeks after all the other pigeons.

The prize to winning a pigeon race can be 10 000 US$, and for sure, this bird will not win the prize. But I hope it make it home again.

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Sunday 18 ^th of May 2025 and we are steaming south outside Senegal when I come on the bridge 4 o'clock in the morning. And going to bed in the evening and I had experienced yet another day without any birds.

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Monday 19 ^th of May 2025 and we are steering towards SE leaving Senegal behind passing the border to Guinea-Bissau on our way south.

It was not until after 6 o'clock in the evening until I spotted a bird. One shearwater and I thought it was a Cory's Shearwater. White bottom and dark top.

I spotted a second one at 18:50 and it looked the same as the first one, a shearwater. I spotted a third bird an hour later, size like a big shearwater, but it was flying towards the sun so I could really not see anything on what the bird looked like.

Back in my room and I discovered that there were two different shearwaters with white bottom and dark top so the only option was to report the birds as shearwater sp.

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Tuesday 20 ^th of May 2025 and we are steering towards SE south west of Sierra- Leone when I come on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. North Atlantic Ocean was looking like a wind-mill pond. But we were rolling at times for swell from the south.

Coming on the bridge in the afternoon and the Atlantic Ocean was like a mirror. We are leaving Sierra Leone behind crossing the border to Liberia. But not one single bird during the day.

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Wednesday 21 ^st of May 2025 and we are steaming on course 123° SW of Liberia when I come on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. Passing rain showers and later on in the afternoon the skyreally opened up.

Heavy rain and it is good bye to the painting preparing for the vetting inspection in Lagos for sure an excitement I could live without.

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Thursday 22 ^nd of May 2025 and we are steaming towards east when I come on th ebridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. We are south of Ivory Coast approaching the territorial water of Ghana. Not one single bird had been seen by the time I left the bridge at 8 o'clock in the morning.

Sun is rising south of the Ivory Coast

Steaming east a couple of hundred kilometres south of Ivory Coast when I come on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. we are approaching a point south of Cape Three Points in Ghana, ETA 20:30 and we will change course towards NE.

We entering the HIGH-RISK AREA a little after having changed course towards Lagon, Nigeria.

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Friday 23 ^rd of May 2025 and we are steaming on a course towards ENE when I come on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. We are south of Togo and Benin and I was really hoping to see some birds, but at 8 o'clock, nothing.

The flag of Skå is flying proudly from my balcony in Thailand. And now, after more than a year they have discovered my flag. They sent me a message on LINE and they want me to pay a fine.

Flag of Skåne

Violation of the regulations is subject to a fine of 1,000 baht.

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Saturday 24 ^th of May 2025 and we are south of Lagos when I come to the bridge 6 o'clock in the morning. We expect to drop anchor around 9 thirty. We have an escort vessel, Khajan behind us as protection from pirates and bandits.

Escort vessel follow us to Lagos Anchorage

We drop the anchor at 10 o'clock and our armed guards, 6 Navy Soldiers is coming onboard at 10:24 and Khajan is leaving us at 10 thirty. I got on the bridge at 9 o'clock to assist with the anchoring. The AB told me that he had seen one bird since I left the bridge at 8 o'clock.

Lagos anchorage is full of ships waiting, but we find a place to drop our anchor.

There is a lot of paper work to be done with the armed guards and I kept myself busy to 11 thirty. We had Surveyors coming onboard just after the armed guards and they started to take samples and we expect it to take around 4 hours.

They were soon back in the CCR as it started to pour down, gloom and grey for long as we could see. Rainy season so it might take a long time to get the samples.

Lagos Anchorage

Lagos Anchorage

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Sunday 25 ^th of May 2025 and we get some sunshine; the sea looks like a mirror but we are rolling heavily because of the swell. And I can get a picture of Lagos from the anchorage.

Second day without any birds and I am really getting disappointed with Nigeria.

Lagos from the anchorage

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Monday 26 ^th of May 2025 and the guys come on the bridge at 6 o'clock in the morning to study some new Risk Assessments I had made. They will be Professors when they go home after all the reading.
The vessel is still rolling heavy at times due to the swell. So, I had to cancel the work on top of the steam pipes, almost ready, mainly painting remaining and I had beenhoping for us to complete the steam lines.

But I do not want the crew on top of the pipes when the ship is rolling like this.

Early morning and the crew is reading Risk Assessment

Early morning and the crew is reading Risk Assessment

I was busy in the CCR when the crew came at 10 thirty. We will have the last drills for this month. Rescue from the bottom platform in the engine room.

We brought down a “dummy” to the bottom of the engine room and we will bring the injured “person” up on deck through the emergency exit.

We brought the “dummy” to the emergency exit and we donned a safety harness. Connecting the rope and we heaved up the “dummy” with the help of the block at deck level.

Rescue drill in the engine room

Rescue drill in the engine room

Rescue drill in the engine room

The Authorities came onboard around 1 o'clock in the afternoon, good, that ishopefully some visitor less when we are coming along side in Lagos.

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Tuesday 27 ^th of May 2025 and we are still anchored when I come on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the morning. We have one armed guard on the bridge all the time so no quality alone time.

we do not know if we are coming alongside tonight or tomorrow, or next week. There is another ship going to our jetty as well and we do not know which one is on line when the ship at the jetty are leaving tonight, or tomorrow.

No news about any berthing when I came on the bridge at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 20 minutes before 5 o'clock and I spotted a bird in the front of the boat, instant excitement.

I spotted the bird again after a while when it was sitting in the mast riser. One Pied Crow, my
first Nigerian bird. And there were two of them, four days and I had been so disappointed, not one single bird. But now, finally, I can put some colour on Nigeria in my eBird map.

Pied Crow

Pied Crow

Pied Crow

Pied Crow

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Wednesday 28 ^th of May 2025 and we start to do the checks and tests after lunch. Latest news is that we will get the pilot in the evening. Later on, it is confirmed for 20 hundred and the pilot is onboard around 9 o'clock.

We have all fast at the ASPM Mid Stream Jetty at 23:54. ASPM is a jetty in the middle of Lagos Lagoon and we will hopefully not have too many visitors.

Lagos and Lagos Lagoon

I had been hopingfor us to come in during day light. Passing the breakwater and there is one eBird hotspot, but now it was too dark.

But I could see that Lagos had a very big port.

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Thursday 29sup>th of May 2025 and I am in bed at 2 o'clock. We had a couple of people coming onboard but they will start the ullaging and paper work tomorrow morning. It was late evening before we could start discharging and I was in bed at 10 o'clock.

Not one single bird had been seen during the day and I was disappointed.

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Friday 30 ^th of May 2025 and I interrogated our Agent about shore pass. I want to go visit the bird area down at the water front. Require shore pass and to rent a car. It was too late for me to go ashore today.

So, I was aiming for 6 o'clock tomorrow morning. So, our Agent was arranging for shore pass and a boat to bring me ashore. One car with Driver, but we ran in to trouble when I told him where I wanted to go.

- I want to go to Tarkwa Bay
- Then you need to go by boat
- I want to go by car!

I checked the map, the sea front west of Lagos is marsh almost all the way to the border and it would take many hours to get there. And now the Agent told me that it would not be safe outside of the Tarkwa Bay.

Tarkwa Bay seems to be a tourist area and safe, but out in the wild, it was not so safe. Not possible to go by car and the boat, would not be many birds to see so I skipped the idea. And yes, I was very disappointed realising that there would not be many birds to report from Nigeria.

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Saturday 31 ^st of May 2025 and we are still discharging, about 650m3/h and we expect to be ready in the morning of the 2 ^nd of June. We prepare for the Vetting, and of course, we have to attend to all the visitors that are living onboard.

I went on deck to check for birds in the afternoon, not one single bird seen so far.

Lagos

Lagos

Lagos

Lagos

Lagos

3rd Engineer

This is pretty much it for May of 2025 and June will start with a Vetting Inspection early tomorrow morning. we only need to click HERE to find out how this turns out.

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