Pepsi MAX


Move along, nothing to see here!




Pepsi MAX


+++++++++++++++
Saturday 1st of October 2022
and the 3rd barge will arrive 6 o'clock tonight. So it is almost 24 hours after the last barge left. We will have crew change today and I will get some stuff from our Ship chandler. 15 packs of MAX and my snus that my friend picked up at the custom.

I expect my stuff to come on board in the afternoon so I was pleasantly surprised when our Agent came on board. He was doing paper work for the off signers and he brought our stuff in the boat.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
My snus have arrived on board

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
My snus have arrived on board

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
15 packs of MAX coming to the CCR

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
A box of healthy stuff to give a well needed “BOOST” to my diet

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
A box of healthy stuff to give a well needed “BOOST” to my diet

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Healthy stuff to give a well needed “BOOST” to my diet

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our Surveyor sitting in

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our Surveyor sitting in

Lunch time and as we don't have our friend on board I offered his seat to the Surveyor, and of course, I sent the pictures to our friend via LINE.

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 2nd of October 2022
and the 3rd barge completed at 01:24 and we expect the 4th barge at 9 o'clock. Last barge for this parcel and as next parcel is very hot in the shore tank we will wait until the 4th of October for the first barge for the second parcel so the cargo can cool down before we start the loading.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
4th barge ready to leave

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
4th barge ready to leave

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
4th barge ready to leave

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Surveyor busy with the cargo documents

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Loading Master and Surveyor

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Barge ready to leave

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Barge leaving to load in Bangkok

+++++++++++++++
Monday 3rd of October 2022
and we started to grease our mooring winches in the morning. We have plenty to do and now we got 2 bonus days here waiting for the cargo. So, I will have the crew to do as much work as possible.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Greasing the mooring winches

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Greasing the mooring winches

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Mooring crew busy fishing

We have many Thai crew on board during the stay for the mooring of the barges. And they are busy fishing while waiting for the barges. They always offer me food, but I am sorry to say “I AM Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st ON DIET”

Morse snus is coming and now they send it straight to my friend's house and he is happy. No need to drive across the country to pick up my parcels.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Snus delivered to my friend's house



Morse snus is coming and now they send it straight to my friend's house and he is happy. No need to drive across the country to pick up my parcels. And I also got to know that there is heavy rain in Samut Prakan.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Snus delivered to my friend's house



Rain Season in Samut Prakan, Thailand
Raining in Samut Prakan

Rain Season in Samut Prakan, Thailand
Raining in Samut Prakan

Rain Season in Samut Prakan, Thailand
Raining in Samut Prakan



Disaster

Disaster


+++++++++++++++
Thursday 6th of October 2022
and the last barge, #8 arrived at 7 o'clock in the evening and they had all fast at 19:18. I was on the bridge when the Loading Master came to the bridge to keep an eye on the barge when she came along side on our starboard side.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Loading Master

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Last barge arriving

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Last barge arriving

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Last barge arriving

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Last barge arriving

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Last barge arriving

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Last barge arriving

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Last barge arriving

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Last barge arriving

We started to load just before 9 o'clock and they expect to be ready around 4 o'clock in the morning. That means an early wake-up call and a long night/ early morning.

+++++++++++++++
Friday 7th of October 2022
and we completed loading around 4 thirty and we started with the paper work and I could go to bed at 8 o'clock.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
I got a new thermos

Our Ship Chandler sent some stuff we had ordered with the boat that came to pick up the Surveyors. I had ordered a thermos so I can start to drink herb.

I checked my LINE when I was back in my room, and my friend had got more snus to his home. And this time as well, no need to drive across the country to pick up the package.

Swedish snus
More snus have arrived


+++++++++++++++
Monday 10th of October 2022
and coming to the bridge at 6 o'clock in the morning and we were in dense traffic just south of Singapore. Following the traffic lane going towards east.

I go down from the bridge at 8 o'clock and we have almost passed Singapore approaching the STS area in Tanjung Pelepas.

Tanjung Pelepas is in Malaysia and the anchorage/ STS area is just next to Singapore. So we are anchored closer to Singapore than we are to Malaysian shore band.

Aladdin's adventure at Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Gorgeous evening on Tanjung Pelepas anchorage

Aladdin's adventure at Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Gorgeous evening on Tanjung Pelepas anchorage

Aladdin's adventure at Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Coming to pick up the Surveyor

Aladdin's adventure at Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Gorgeous evening on Tanjung Pelepas anchorage

Aladdin's adventure at Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Gorgeous evening on Tanjung Pelepas anchorage

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 11th of October 2022
and the small boat loading at FSU Aquarius Star was delayed so we did not leave the anchorage until 11 o'clock. We had all fast after lunch and we started to discharge 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Aladdin's adventure at Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Going alongside FSU Aquarius Star

Aladdin's adventure at Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Going alongside FSU Aquarius Star

Aladdin's adventure at Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Going alongside FSU Aquarius Star

Aladdin's adventure at Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Going alongside FSU Aquarius Star

+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 12th of October 2022
and we complete discharging at 8 o'clock and the Pilot is booked for 23:30. Pilot was o board in time and we expected to leave before midnight. But some container ships was arriving and we could not let go the last lines until they had passed the area.

Aladdin's adventure at Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Time to leave FSU Aquarius Star

Aladdin's adventure at Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Time to leave FSU Aquarius Star

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 16th of October 2022
and my friend take care of the home front back in Bangkok and there are small parcels coming to his house all the time.


+++++++++++++++
Monday 17th of October 2022
and as it is Monday they work at the post office again

Monday and more surprises arrives to my friend's house

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 18th of October 2022
and we get the pilot at 13:45 to leave Singapore. We have our bunker and we are ready to take on Chittagong. I discover a gorgeous evening when I come on the bridge in the afternoon.

Sea like a mirror and the sky is coloured in beautiful colours from the sun set.

Aladdin's adventure in Malacca Strait on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Gorgeous evening steaming north in Malacca Strait towards Chittagong

Aladdin's adventure in Malacca Strait on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Gorgeous evening steaming north in Malacca Strait towards Chittagong

Aladdin's adventure in Malacca Strait on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Gorgeous evening steaming north in Malacca Strait towards Chittagong

+++++++++++++++
Friday 21st of October 2022
and our friend is on a Chinese Ship in SiRacha (ศรีราชา) and he is updating us via LINE.

My friend's room on the Chinese ship in SiRacha (ศรีราชา)

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 23rd of October 2022
and we expected pilot to board us at 8 thirty. I was drifting 1. 5 NM sw of the pilot boarding area and there was no news when I left the bridge at 8 o'clock. But the pilot boarded us just before 10 and I was back on the bridge when we were steaming up Karnaphuli River.

Coming along side and we had many people coming on board, but it worked quite smoothly and we could start discharging at 15:12. We had expected to stay here for two days but we could discharge with 1000m3/h so we expect to be read tomorrow morning.

Aladdin's adventure in Chittagong (Chattogram) on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Going up Karnaphuli River to DOJ Terminal

Aladdin's adventure in Chittagong (Chattogram) on board M/T Karen Mærsk
2 tankers arriving

Aladdin's adventure in Chittagong (Chattogram) on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Arriving to DOJ Terminal

Aladdin's adventure in Chittagong (Chattogram) on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Barges at DOJ Terminal

Early evening and we get a storm warning from the Agent. They have Hoist Local Cautionary Signal No 03 (Three). Click HERE to find what it all means


Good day!

Have received below msg from the VTMIS / Port Control of Chattogram port, contents of which you’ll find self-explanatory:

QT:

Dear Sir,

As’salamu Alaikum,

Maritime Port of Chittagong has been advised to Hoist Local Cautionary Signal No 03 (Three).

Regards
Senior VTSS Operator
Vessel Traffic Service/Port Control (VTMIS)
Chittagong Port Authority

Classification of Cyclones
The following is the classification of the cyclone according to the intensity and velocity of wind.
(a) Depression : Wind speed 31 miles/hr or 50 km/hr.
(b) Deep depression : Wind speed 32-38 miles/hr or 51-61 km/hr.
(c) Cyclone : Wind speed 39-54 miles/hr or 62-88 km/hr.
(d) Severe Cyclone : Wind speed 55-73 miles/hr or 89-117 km/hr.
(e) Cyclone with hurricane : Wind speed 74 miles/hr or 118 km/hr or more.



Warning Signals for Sea and River Ports
1. For sea ports the following 11 (Eleven) kinds of cyclone warning signals are used.

Warning Signal
Number Explanation
(i) Distant Cautionary Signal No. I (i) There is region of squally weather in the distance sea where storm may form.
(ii) Distant Cautionary Signal No. II (ii) A storm has formed in the distant sea.
(iii) Distant Cautionary Signal No. III (iii) The port is threatened by squally weather
(iv) Local Cautionary Signal No. IV (iv) The port is threatened by a storm but it does not appear that the danger is as yet sufficiently great to justify extreme precautionary measures.
(v) Danger Signal No. V (v) The port will experie3nce severe weather from a storm of slight or moderate intensity, that is expected to cross the cost to the South of the port in case of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar and, East of the port in case of Mongla.
(vi) Danger Signal No. VI (vi) The port will experience severe weather from a storm of slight or moderate intensity that is expected to cross the coast to the North of the port in case of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar and to the West of the port in case of Mongla.
(vii) Danger Signal No. VII (vii) The port will experience severe weather from a storm of slight or moderate intensity that is expected to cross over or near the port.
(viii) Great Danger Signal No. VIII (viii) The port will experience severe weather from a storm of great intensity that is expected to cross the coast to the South of the port in case of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar and to the East of the port in case of Mongla.
(ix) Great Danger Signal No. IX (ix) The port will experience severe weather from a storm of great intensity that is expected to cross the coast to the North of the port in case of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar and to the West of the port in case of Mongla.
(x) Great Danger Signal No. X (x) The port will experience severe weather from a storm of great intensity that is expected to cross over or near to the port.
(xi) Communication Failure Signal No. XI (xi) Communications with the Meteorological warning centre have broken down and the local officers consider that a devastating Cyclone is following.


Good evening!

Have received below msg from the VTMIS / Port Control of Chattogram port, contents of which you’ll find self-explanatory:

QT:

Dear All,

Maritime ports of Chattogram has been advised to hoist local warning signal no. Four (R) Four.

The Cyclonic Storm 'Sitrang' lies over East-central Bay and adjoining West-central Bay.

Kind Regards
Senior VTSS Operator
Vessel Traffic Service/Port Control (VTMIS)
Chittagong Port Authority

We got a new warning later on in the evening, they will have all boats to leave the port tomorrow morning. I went down to the CCR, it will be touch and go. If we don't complete we will have to leave the port and then we have to come back again, nothing I was looking forward to.

Terminal representatives on board and now they listened very carefully to wait I suggested.

+++++++++++++++
Monday 24th of October 2022
and we received a new weather update early morning. They will hoist warning signal no. Six (R) Six from 0945 HLT/24.10.


Good day.

Have received below msg from the VTMIS / Port Control of Chattogram port, contents of which you’ll find self-explanatory:

QT:

Dear All,

Maritime ports of Chattogram has been advised to hoist warning signal no. Six (R) Six from 0945 HLT/24.10.

The Cyclonic Storm 'Sitrang' lies over East-central Bay and adjoining West-central Bay.

Kind Regards
Senior VTSS Operator
Vessel Traffic Service/Port Control (VTMIS)
Chittagong Port Authority

Aladdin's adventure in Chittagong (Chattogram) on board M/T Karen Mærsk
At DOJ Terminal waiting for the last ship to leave before we can leave

Aladdin's adventure in Chittagong (Chattogram) on board M/T Karen Mærsk
At DOJ Terminal waiting for the last ship to leave before we can leave

Aladdin's adventure in Chittagong (Chattogram) on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Waiting for this ship and we can leave Chittagong as the last ship

Aladdin's adventure in Chittagong (Chattogram) on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Waiting for this ship and we can leave Chittagong as the last ship

Aladdin's adventure in Chittagong (Chattogram) on board M/T Karen Mærsk
OK, we can leave Chittagong as the last ship

Coming out and the weather was OK. Very strong wind but no rough sea as it is shallow water so the waves cannot build up. But I told the crew to go in at 2 o'clock. No one allowed outside as it was very strong winds. And we don't want anyone to blow overboard.

I went to the bridge and the weather map showed us to be in the middle of the bad weather, all red. And the cyclone is moving north towards Chittagong.

Aladdin's adventure in Chittagong (Chattogram) on board M/T Karen Mærsk
No empty or dry pants when in the middle of the hurricane

Aladdin's adventure in Chittagong (Chattogram) on board M/T Karen Mærsk
We're in the eye of the hurricane and nowhere to go

Aladdin's adventure in Chittagong (Chattogram) on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Middle of the hurricane


I come back on the bridge at 5 o'clock and our 2nd Officer is having meters of weather report from the Sat-C. We are moving south and we will hopefully have good weather tomorrow morning.

Wind force 70 kn ++ so it is hurricane forces but I got out on the bridge wing trying to get a video of the Cyclonic Storm Sitrang from the bridge wing. Very lucky that we are in shallow waters. We can imagine the sea out on deep water.

But the speed was not much to write home about, only 1,5 to 2,3 knots so we were hardly moving.

Aladdin's adventure with Cyclonic Storm Sitrang on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Meters of weather reports regarding the Cyclonic Storm Sitrang


Aladdin's adventure with Cyclonic Storm Sitrang on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Cyclonic Storm Sitrang

Weather is improving, barometer when from 999 to 1003 in 3 hours and the wend went down to a force 8 from 10/11 three hours earlier.

And we made almost 4 knots when I left the bridge at 8 o'clock in the evening.

I had not been on the bridge for long when I discovered 5 Bee-eaters flying over deck towards SW. I saw them again after 5 minutes and I suspected that they were looking for a place to spend the night. Of course, it was too dark to get any good pictures by the time they landed on deck.

Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Blue-tailed Bee-eater

Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Blue-tailed Bee-eater

Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Blue-tailed Bee-eater

Listen to the Blue-tailed Bee-eater

Remarks from the Recordist

5 Blue-tailed Bee-eaters flying over deck 5 minutes past 6 in the evening. Flying towards SW. I saw them over deck 5 minutes later and they were flying around and now I suspected that they were looking for a place to sleep.

30 minutes later they are sitting on the rail and I manage to get a few pictures. Of course, dark so the quality is poor.

They make a lot of noise, 30 meters away and I try to make a recording with a lot of wind noise as I try to avoid the sound from the engine behind me


www.xeno-canto.org



+++++++++++++++
Saturday 12th of November 2022
and we are steaming north towards Bongkot where we will be on the 14th going in to the PTT charter. We had left Singapore anchorage yesterday evening after having taking stores, bunkers etc.

I had the crew to clean the cabins for the OFF-LOADING TEAM coming on board at Bongkot. I have turned 4 of our cabins in to:
Somnuek 1 - For Mr. Magic himself
Somnuek 2 - For the Pilot
Somnuek 3 - For the Safety Officer
Somnuek 1 - For the Surveyor

And of course, I updated Mr. Magic with pictures via LINE


Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Preparing for arrival to Bongkot

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Preparing for arrival to Bongkot

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Preparing for arrival to Bongkot

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Preparing for arrival to Bongkot

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Preparing for arrival to Bongkot

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 13th of November 2022
and Bongkot Off Loading Team had sent a picture to Mr. Magic from their last visit to Maersk Kara. I already knew what pilot and Safety Officer we would have on board at the first loading. Mr. Magic had sent the passenger list for the helicopter yesterday.

I know who will be on the helicopter

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Bongkot Off Loading Team

If he calls him fat, what is he calling me?


So, I knew the Pilot and Safety Officer that would come on our first loading. But the Surveyor was a nice surprise, I have not seen him since 2018 so it will be nice to meet him again.

+++++++++++++++
Monday 14th of November 2022
and I asked the AB on my watch to bring my camera to the bridge at 07:30. I was accompanied by a Brown Booby diving for food in the swell from the bow. In front of the ship so the bird was a wee bit too far away for any pictures.

I reported the bird in eBird and it was registered as a sighting in Vietnam.

Brown Booby
Brown Booby Red-footed Booby

Brown Booby
Brown Booby Red-footed Booby

Brown Booby
Brown Booby Red-footed Booby

Brown Booby
Brown Booby Red-footed Booby

Brown Booby
Brown Booby Red-footed Booby

Brown Booby
Brown Booby Red-footed Booby



Sent: Sunday, 11 December 2022 19:29

Dear www.aladdin .st,

Thank you for being a part of eBird. To help make sure that eBird can be used for scientific research and conservation, volunteers like me follow up on unusual observations as a part of the eBird data quality process.

I am writing about the following observation:

Species: Brown Booby
Count: 1
Observation Date: Nov 14, 2022
Location: Gulf of Thailand, Kien Giang, VN
https://ebird.org/checklist/S122399421

This is Red-footed Booby!! A nice record.

Best regards,

I got a picture from our Chief Engineer. He have ordered a Ganesh for me that he sent to the 2nd Engineer at home and he will bring it on board in December. We will order one more Ganesh so I will Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st hopefully get two in December.

Ganesh (พระพิฆเนศ)
Ganesh (พระพิฆเนศ)

+++++++++++++++
Monday 14th of November 2022
and our friend updated us with pictures on LINE. My “Göta Kanal” tea have arrived from Sweden and he will bring it when he comes on board next time in SiRacha (ศรีราชา). And this is of course something I look forward to.

We dropped anchor 50 NM or so North East of FSO2 Pathumabaha at Bongkot South Gas and Condensate Field in the afternoon. We will load on the 19th of November and it looks like the first voyage will go to Ta Phut (มาบตาพุด)

Göta Kanal Te
Tea from Sweden arrived to my friend's house



+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 16th of November 2022
and Maersk Kara passed us at 13:30 going south and we officially took over the PTT charter when she passed our Rendezvous position. I was on deck when I saw her approaching from the north coming from behind on our port side.

Maersk Kara
Maersk Kara steaming south handing over the PTT charter to us.
Click picture for bigger size!

+++++++++++++++
Thursday 17th of November 2022
and I had a bird of prey around the ship just after 7 o'clock in the morning. I was almost sure it was an Osprey but I could not be 100%. So not possible to report the bird in eBird. But I was lucky and the bird landed and I could confirm the ID.

Turned out that the bird was recorded in Vietnam when I reported the bird in eBird. We are closer to Vietnam than Thailand and I suspect that the gas field is just on the border between Thailand and Vietnam.

Maersk Kara
Osprey

Maersk Kara
Osprey

Maersk Kara
Osprey

Our friend impressed by the “EAGLE”

We had load order for 100.000 bbls and next loading on the 22nd of November. This was changed to 170.000 bbls and next loading on the 23rd. So, we decided to take a chance to order soda and Pepsi MAXMAX from MAMA. And our friend will bring our stuff that we have sent to his house in Bangkok from Sweden.

So we will Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st hopefully get a lot of things on board at map Ta Phut anchorage. We are running very low on everything now. No more MAX, well, just a very very few bottles.

I am mostly worried about my liquid for the e-cig, uncomfortably low on stock. I still have snus but I will run out of MAX tomorrow or on Saturday.

Map Ta Phut
Our things are ready in Map Ta Phut

Our friend keep himself busy at Samut Prakan market and he updated me with a picture. And of course, he sent a voice message to make sure we knew how busy he is.

Samut Prakan Market
Our friend busy at the market


+++++++++++++++
Friday 18th of November 2022
and my friend left Samut Prakan with our snus and tea. He will make a stop in SiRacha (ศรีราชา) before continuing to Map Ta Phut (มาบตาพุด) where he will leave it for the MAMA boat. She will bring the stuff to us on the anchorage with here service boat.

And we would have known nothing or very little about his adventure if it wasn't for the LINE app. But now I am updated second by second and I know exactly how busy he is.

Samut Prakan
Package from Samut Prakan

LINE

Leaving Bangkok with a car full of snus

Samut Prakan
Stop in SiRacha (ศรีราชา) to pick up more stuff

Leaving SiRacha (ศรีราชา)

Our stuff is in Map Ta Phut (มาบตาพุด)

We miss our friend, but we will soon see him. As per lates schedule, we will discharge in SiRacha (ศรีราชา) 26th of November and he will be on board. And this is obviously something we are looking forward to. I have not seen him since I left Bangkok in the beginning of August.

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 19th of November 2022
and the Team from Bongkot boarded us at 06:12. We started the tandem mooring with FSO2 Pathumabaha at 07:36 and we had the chain fast forward at 07:42. We went down to the CCR to do the check lists.

Bongkot Terminal
Boat with the team approaching

Bongkot Terminal
Boat with the team approaching

Bongkot Terminal
Boat with the team approaching

Bongkot Terminal
The team coming on board

Bongkot Terminal
The team coming on board

Bongkot Terminal
Ready for action

Bongkot Terminal
FSO2 Pathumabaha

Bongkot Terminal
FSO2 Pathumabaha

Bongkot Terminal
Our heroes

Bongkot Terminal
Someone is missing

Bongkot Terminal
He always have a seat at our table

Meter proofing completed just after 12 o'clock and we could go for lunch. We expect to complete the first parcel around 6 o'clock tonight and we might have time for dinner before that.

I went for a quick power nap after lunch and I watched a movie in “FAST FORWARD” mode before going for dinner at 17 thirty.

Our Steward had made a cake from a Swedish recipe that I found online, special to welcome the BONGKOT TEAM on their first visit to Karen Mærsk. It was really good, but darn! I did not feel good after the cake reaching blood sugar levels that would have killed an elephant.

Bongkot Terminal
Time for dinner

Bongkot Terminal
Time for dinner

Bongkot Terminal
Cake

Bongkot Terminal
Cake

Bongkot Terminal
Cake


Bongkot Terminal
Cake

Completing the first parcel at 18:06 and we resumed with the second and last parcel at 18:26 and we expect to be ready around 3 thirty tomorrow morning.

+++++++++++++++
Monday 21st of November 2022
and we are approaching Map Ta Phut pilot boarding position when I come on the bridge just before 6 o'clock in the morning. Pilot boarding us just after 6 o'clock and we have all fast at TTT 2B at 07:12.

Loading Master and Surveyors coming on board and I know them from when we were here with Rita, Romø and Roy Mærsk.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Approaching Map Ta Phut (มาบตาพุด)

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Approaching Map Ta Phut (มาบตาพุด)

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Approaching TTT 2B in Map Ta Phut (มาบตาพุด)

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Alongside TTT 2B in Map Ta Phut (มาบตาพุด)

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
In the CCR

+++++++++++++++
Thursday 24th of November 2022
and left Bongkot 6 o'clock in the morning bound for SiRacha (ศรีราชา). We will arrive tomorrow morning and our friend will come on board at arrival. I have ordered party hats and stuff for our “WELCOME ON BOARD” event tomorrow afternoon.

Our Messman will prepare a cake and I have made a picture to put on the cake.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Picture for our cake

+++++++++++++++
Friday 25th of November 2022
and our Pilot will not board until 9 o'clock so I had to slow down a little as we have adjusted the speed for arrival at 8 o'clock.

We had all fast at PTT 4 at 10:12. We could see our friend arrive with the speed boat from the bridge while we were mooring the ship.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Approaching PTT 4

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Approaching PTT 4

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Coming along side PTT 4

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend arrives to PTT 4

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend arrives to PTT 4

They are bringing all the stuff we had ordered. Our friend had taking it to Map Ta Put to be delivered with the Mama boat. And as we had no time in Map Ta Phut Mama sent our stuff to SiRacha. And now finally we have it on board and I ripped open a bottle of MAX first thing.

It was nice to meet our friend and he was happy to discover his office and all the “Somnuek” cabins on board.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend comes on board

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
He finds his office

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk

Karen is almost the same as Roy Mærsk, but the CCR is a wee bit different. On Roy I had my desk next to our friend's seat. But here I cannot see him from my desk so I had ordered a mirror that was delivered today.

So, the crew was putting up the mirror and now I can see him from my desk so I can keep an eye on things and I was very happy. The USB extension arrived as well so I could connect our friend's computer to the printer I have set up in the CCR for the Surveyors.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Putting up our new mirror

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Now I can see him from my desk

It was soon time for dinner and I had directed the crew not sleeping or working to the duty mess while I took my friend to the mess room. I made sure he got his food and then I left for the duty mess leaving our friend alone.

The crew was preparing in the duty mess and I returned to our friend in the mess room

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Make sure our friend get food before I leave him

Things were in progress and I returned to our friend in the mess room. I felt a little sorry for our friend as he was feeling very lonely. I started the video camera and I gave the secret sign to the Mess man in the duty mess and they came in to the mess room.

Our friend could not believe his eyes and ears. He could hear the whistles and he thought that there was a birthday party and that he was left alone. Priceless to see him when he realised that it was a surprise for him.





Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend is happy

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend is happy

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend is happy

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Serving me cake

Our friend was very happy and he enjoyed the videos all night long. He told me that it was very strange, sitting alone eating but he had been very hungry. Captain had been behind him on the way down to the mess room but then he had disappeared.

Our friend had really felt alone and he heard the whistles wondering why he had not been invited.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Busy with videos from the dinner

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 26th of November 2022
and I woke up at 4 o'clock, I guess I was still excited from meeting our friend yesterday. I called CCR and we will be ready around 5 thirty. Our friend was in the CCR when I came down to the CCR at 5 o'clock.

We completed discharging at 05:24 and pilot was booked for 8 o'clock. I had asked our Cook if he could make our friend's favourite breakfast yesterday.

And at 6 thirty he could go for his cheese omelette with bacon. He got used to it having breakfast with me on board Roy Mærsk before going to bed after having pulled a full nighter.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Early morning in the CCR

Early morning in the CCR

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
His favourite breakfast

His favourite breakfast

He was happy with the breakfast and we returned to the CCR and we could complete all the cargo documentation. Last time I was here with Roy Mærsk we had different Surveyors at PTT 4 and at the SBM. Now we use the same Surveyors so they will stay on board.

So we had completed much of the paper work for TOP SBM already when we left PTT 4.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Time to move from PTT 4 to TOP SBM

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend and the Mooring Master

We left PTT 4 just after 8 o'clock in the morning and we had all fast at TOP SBM 90 minutes later. I had to call our friend hiding in his room “Somnuek1” as the Loading Master was missing him. Thai Oil crew had not seen him for a long time so I called him.

We completed discharging at 17:24 and departure was set for 8 o'clock. We completed the paper work quarter to 8 and our visitors was leaving. Our friend will also leave going back to Samut Prakan and as it looks now, he will not be back until next time here in the middle of December.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Time for our friend to leave

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Time for our friend to leave

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Time for our friend to leave

Our friend left us and we left the SBM just after 8 o'clock in the evening to go drop the anchor until tomorrow night when we will leave for Bongkot where we will load in the morning of the 29th.

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 6th of December 2022
and we are steaming South towards Bongkot North Gas Field.

Red-footed Booby

+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 7th of December 2022
and our Pilot is boarding us just after 6 o'clock in the morning. And less than one hour later I spotted a Brown Shriek on deck that I could report to eBird.

+++++++++++++++
Monday 12th of December 2022
and we start loading at Bongkot and I am back in my room after lunch. There is an e-mail from eBird. I had been wrong with my ID of the Brown Booby back on the 14th of November. Turned out to be a Red-footed Booby!!


Sent: Sunday, 11 December 2022 19:29

Dear www.aladdin .st,

Thank you for being a part of eBird. To help make sure that eBird can be used for scientific research and conservation, volunteers like me follow up on unusual observations as a part of the eBird data quality process.

I am writing about the following observation:

Species: Brown Booby
Count: 1
Observation Date: Nov 14, 2022
Location: Gulf of Thailand, Kien Giang, VN
https://ebird.org/checklist/S122399421

This is Red-footed Booby!! A nice record.

Best regards,

vaccine

+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 14th of December 2022
and we complete discharging at 4 thirty in the morning. Pilot is booked for 7 o'clock and I spotted an Osprey hunting for fish when I came to the bridge. Of course, the bird came close as I did not have my camera with me.

We left Map Ta Phut and we could pressure test the cargo line, something we have to do on a yearly basis. last pressure test was 14 December 2021. We were ready so I could go for lunch at 12 and the boys could continue the chipping and painting on deck.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Busy on deck

Straight to Bongkot and then direct to Sriracha where we will see our friend again, a little something to look forward to. Not much else to look forward to around here.

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 18th of December 2022
and we are approaching SiRacha, ศรีราชา when I come on the bridge at 6 o'clock in the morning. We will be at the pilot station at 08:00 so I have time for tea Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stwhile enjoying a gorgeous morning. But we have a strong wind, force 7 blowing from north and I hope we can come in to the SBM.

Our friend will arrive with the pilot so I am a wee bit excited.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Steaming towards SiRacha, ศรีราชา

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Passing Pattaya

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk

The pilot station confirmed that they would board us when I called them on the radio. But it was a little too rough sea for the pilot boat and they called a tug boat. Pilot, Surveyors and our friend transferred to the tug boat and then they could climb on board.

So, we could write 08;30 before the Pilot was on board. And we recognised our friend climbing on board as he have had his blue Mærsk bag for long as I have known him.

Now Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st the bag is hopefully full of gifts and souvenirs.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Pilot, Surveyors and our friend coming to board us from the tug boat

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Pilot, Surveyors and our friend coming to board us from
the tug boat and we can see the pilot boat leaving

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Pilot, Surveyors and our friend coming to board us

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Pilot, Surveyors and our friend coming to board us

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend is coming on board

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend is coming on board

Pilot is coming to the bridge, but our friend never shows up. I suspect that he got caught in his Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stoffice and I had to use our PA system with a public announcement:
“TO THE BRIDGE! DOUBLE SPEED!”

He stormed in on the bridge a few minutes later and he ran in to a disappointment first thing. Our coffee machine, like to having to program a computer to get a cup of coffee so powder coffee it was.

We started discharging just in time for lunch and we expect 9 to 10 hours of discharging.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend on the bridge trying to get coffee

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Don't touch my tea

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend in his office

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Lunch time

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Discharging almost completed

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Time for our friend to go back home

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Time for our friend to go back home

We left the SBM at 23:00 to go drop the anchor. Crew change and provision tomorrow at the anchorage before leaving for Bongkot to load again.

+++++++++++++++
Monday 19th of December 2022
and our 2nd Engineer from India brought my Ganesha (พระพิฆเนศ) with him and it was a beautiful Ganesh. We will bring all the Ganesha to “Mama God” when I sign off next month. She will put “POWER” in the Ganesha and I will soon win a billion on lottery.

Ganesha (พระพิฆเนศ)
Ganesha - พระพิฆเนศ



Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk

+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 21st of December 2022
and Bongkot Pilot boards us at 06:18 and around 7 o'clock I spot a bird flying over deck. Of course, we have Pond Herons flying over the ship, but this one was something else. The bird landed outside the bridge and I went to get my camera.

I was lucky, the bird was still there and I took a picture through the window.

A quick picture just to ID the bird, I was pretty sure it was a Watercock, นกอีลุ้ม. The bird was on starboard side so I went out on port side to try to sneak up on the bird. I was lucky again and I managed to get a couple of pictures of the bird.

Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea, นกอีลุ้ม
Watercock, นกอีลุ้ม

Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea, นกอีลุ้ม
Watercock, นกอีลุ้ม

Watercock, Gallicrex cinerea, นกอีลุ้ม
Watercock, นกอีลุ้ม
+++++++++++++++
Saturday 24th of December 2022
and we will be ready with the discharging at 2 thirty. So, I had time to prepare the fruit-syrup sauce and the Ris a la Malta. We expect to have the pilot on board at 4 or 5 o'clock.

They will have the Christmas dinner after departure so I want the food to be ready in time.

Risalamande

(also spelled as ris à l'amande) is a traditional Danish dessert served at Christmas dinner and julefrokost (Christmas lunch). It is made of rice pudding mixed with whipped cream, sugar, vanilla, and chopped almonds. It is served cold with either warm or cold cherry sauce (kirsebærsovs).

Etymology
The name is based on French riz à l'amande meaning "rice with almonds", although the dessert has a Danish origin. Today risalamande is the spelling authorized by the Danish Language Committee.

The usual Danish pronunciation is [ˌri:salaˈmɑŋ].

History
Risalamande was clearly inspired by the classical French dessert of riz à l'impératrice (empress rice) which is more solid, shaped in moulds and decorated with raspberry jelly.

Risalamande was created in the late 19th century. It gained popularity when rice pudding became more common. Until then rice pudding had been an exclusive dish, requiring two expensive, imported ingredients: almonds and cinnamon.

After World War II, risalamande experienced an increase in popularity, being touted as a "savings" dessert: adding whipped cream (which was easily available) to the still fairly expensive rice would make the rice last longer. In order to minimize costs, risalamande was frequently made without almonds during this time, too.

Use in Christmas tradition
Simple rice pudding (risengrød) can be served all year in Denmark, but is also often seen as a Christmas dish. It is served hot and topped with cinnamon and butter, often along with malt beer (hvidtøl).

Some families make a large batch of rice pudding for dinner on December 23 (lillejuleaften meaning "Little Christmas Eve") and keep a part of it for preparing risalamande as a dessert after the big Christmas dinner. Others eat hot rice pudding as part of the Christmas dinner, usually as a starter and more rarely as a dessert. This is often regarded as an older tradition than the risalamande.

According to tradition, hot rice pudding is also the dish eaten by nisser, the Christmas elfs, which is common in other Nordic countries too. As such, children may put out a bowl of rice pudding, and if eaten (possibly by a cat, or more often, the parents), it will demonstrate the existence of the nisse. This usage is derived from the ancient belief in house spirits.

On Christmas Eve, a whole almond is added to the dessert, and the person who finds it wins a small prize such as a marzipan pig, a chocolate heart or a small board game. The finder may conceal their discovery as long as possible, so that the rest of the partygoers are forced to eat the entire dish of risalamande, even after they have already devoured a large Christmas dinner.

In Sweden, Finland, and Norway
In Sweden, this dish is called ris à la Malta, which is a corruption of the Danish name. Typically it is made of chilled leftover rice pudding, whipped cream, sugar and vanilla, with or without almonds. By tradition, the person finding a hidden almond in the dessert is expected to get married before the next Christmas.

A variety containing diced oranges is called apelsinris. The dish is mostly served with either a smooth cordial, jam or semi-thawed frozen berries.

In Finland, this dish is called Maltan riisi, Typically it is made of chilled leftover rice pudding, whipped cream, sugar and vanilla, with or without almonds. By tradition, the person finding a hidden almond in the dessert is very lucky whole year. In Finland, it can be served with puree made of raspberry (or even lingonberry) or raisin compote.

Norwegians have a similar dish called riskrem (“rice cream”) and, as in Denmark, the person finding a hidden almond in the dessert wins a mandelgave (almond present) in the form of a marzipan pig or the like. The dessert may contain almonds for flavour, but mostly chopped on top as decoration. In Norway, the sauce is also normally made of raspberry (or even strawberry) rather than cherry.

Ris a la Malta
Whipped cream for the Ris a la Malta

Ris a la Malta
Making fruit-syrup sauce (saft sås)

Ris a la Malta
Mixing whipped cream and rice porrige


Ris a la Malta
Ris a la Malta

Ris a la Malta
Pouring fruit-syrup sauce (saft sås) over the Ris a la Malta

Ris a la Malta
Ready to eat

I had a bowl as soon as it was ready, just in case there will be no time in the evening. It tasted very good and now I had enough Christmas to last me until next year.

Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas


+++++++++++++++
Sunday 25th of December 2022
and we will not be at Bongkot pilot station until around 1 o'clock in the afternoon. We normally take pilot 6 in the morning but we left Map Ta Phut very late yesterday so it will be afternoon before we reach Bongkot.

I started the day in the CCR with some leftover Ris a la Malta from yesterday.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Leftover Ris a la Malta for breakfast in the CCR

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Leftover Ris a la Malta for breakfast in the CCR

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our Chief Engineer
Picture from November that I found on my phone, inspection in Singapore

We started the day by cleaning cargo tank 5 Stb so the tank will be ready to enter. We will repair the cargo pump after discharging in Map Ta Phut. Tank cleaning and draining was ready in time for lunch and we will be ready to take on board the pilot after lunch.

There was a little trouble with the rope on the chain. They had prepared for STB side but they decided to change to Port side. And it took a long time for them to move the rope to the STB side on the tug boat. And it took quite some time for them to come over to our port side.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Approaching FSO 2 Pathumabaha at Greater Bongkot North Gas Field

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Approaching FSO 2 Pathumabaha at Greater Bongkot North Gas Field

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Waiting for the Pilot

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
FSO 2 Pathumabaha

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
FSO 2 Pathumabaha

We started to load at 5 o'clock and I could go to have dinner. 3 parcels so I will have to come to the CCR around 9 o'clock and then around 2 o'clock in the morning again to complete the parcels and the cargo papers. And we expect to be ready around 11 o'clock tomorrow.

I enjoyed the dinner and I spent a couple of hours relaxing until they called me to tell me that we would complete the first parcel in 30 minutes.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
A healthy fruit drink

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Engineers having plenty time to enjoy dinner

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Loading from FSO 2 Pathumabaha

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Loading from FSO 2 Pathumabaha

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Loading from FSO 2 Pathumabaha

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 27th of December 2022
and we are approaching Map Ta Phut. I am in the office when I see a big bird flying in front of the ship. I think it is a Red-footed Booby and I grab the binoculars (in a wood box marked “FOR BIRD WATCHING ONLY”) from my office and I run out on deck to have a look.

It turns out the be a Brown Booby. So this was a little bit of an excitement.

eBird Rare Bird Alert

We are instructed to drop anchor at arrival, pilot at 22:00. We drop anchor at 12 o'clock and then pilot boarding time is changed to 22:00 and then to 8 thirty in the evening.

And of course, it was soon back to 22:00 again.

Anyway, we had network coverage at the anchorage and I could book my ticket to New York leaving Bangkok end of March. The ticket they cancelled will be refunded and not it looks like I can finally take off to USA and Canada to look for birds.

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 31st of December 2022
and we are anchored at Map Ta Phut anchorage since early morning on the 29 December. Next loading on the 2 January 2023 so we have had time to take bunker and to repair 2 cargo pumps. We will leave for Bongkot at 9 o'clock tonight.

So there was time for the crew to have New Year dinner and to play games during the day. They had boat race in the pool and BINGO with nice prizes.






Mess Man's mango ice cream

As I am NOT allowed to eat anything I left to go look for some Christmas cand in the mess room Mangoand I ran in to our Mess Man's homemade mango ice cream.

It tasted wonderful and I have to ask for the recipe before I sign off so I can make some when I am back home.

Of course, I kept an eye out while enjoying the ice cream in the CCR as it will cost me 1000 US to get caught eating. I restrained myself from having a second helping.




HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023!



+++++++++++++++
Monday 2nd of January 2023
and we had made fast the chain to FSO 2 Pathumabaha at 07:12 and I sent down to the CCR. The Surveyor was there and I recognised him when he took off his mask. It was the same Surveyor that had been here when I came here the first time with Rita Mærsk.

We will load 4 parcels, 3 for Map Ta Phut (มาบตาพุด) and one parcel for SiRacha (ศรีราชา). But they expect bad weather and they want us back as soon as possible as they will close the terminal on the 7th. So we will go to SiRacha next voyage instead

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
The Surveyor from the very first time I came to Bongkot

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
The Surveyor from the very first time I came to Bongkot

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
The Surveyor from the very first time I came to Bongkot

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
There is a picture of him from Rita in his room



+++++++++++++++
Monday 2nd of January 2023
and we had made fast the chain to FSO 2 Pathumabaha at 07:12 and I sent down to the CCR. The Surveyor was there and I recognised him when he took off his mask. It was the same Surveyor that had been here when I came here the first time with Rita Mærsk.

We will load 4 parcels, 3 for Map Ta Phut (มาบตาพุด) and one parcel for SiRacha (ศรีราชา). But they expect bad weather and they want us back as soon as possible as they will close the terminal on the 7th. So we will go to SiRacha next voyage instead

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
The Surveyor from the very first time I came to Bongkot

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
The Surveyor from the very first time I came to Bongkot

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
The Surveyor from the very first time I came to Bongkot

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
There is a picture of him from Rita in his room

+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 4th of January 2023
and we arrive to Map Ta Phut pilot station at 02:00 as we had been on full speed to arrive as early as possible in order to be able to discharge as much as possible before we have to leave map ta Phut to meet the dead line in Bongkot.

Of course, the pilot did not arrive until 4 o'clock, 2 hours late and that is 4200m3 of cargo we could have been discharging.

We had all fast at 05:12 and I received new discharge orders immediately. We will discharge the Arthit Condensate and then we will leave to Bongkot with full speed to be able to reach the FSO as early as possible tomorrow.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Surveyor join us for lunch

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Chief Engineer

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Surveyor

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Seat reserved for our friend “Mr. Magic”
No one dare to sit in his chair

+++++++++++++++
Thursday 5th of January 2023
and we left Map Ta Phut just after 2 o'clock in the morning and we took the Pilot in Sriracha at 08 thirty. We could see the service boat approaching with our friend and the Surveyors while we were mooring at PTT 4.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Approaching PTT 4 in Sriracha

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend is arriving from shore

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend in the CCR

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk

My friend will go back to Bangkok when we are ready here so he will bring back the Ganesh so I have less to carry when I sign off.

Now we have plenty Ganesh to bring to “Mama God” when I am back home. Three more loadings at Bongkot and I will sign off next time in Sriracha.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
With the new Ganesh

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
With the new Ganesh

+++++++++++++++
Friday 6th of January 2023
and I went down to the CCR after midnight and I found my friend eating in the mess room. We are soon to be completed and pilot is booked for 3 o'clock. It have been night work almost every day since we got in to the PTT charter.

We completed the paper work and our friend left with the Surveyors a little after 3 o'clock and we will see him again when we are back on the 18th.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Eating

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Surveyor and 2nd Officer

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Time for our friend to leave the ship

+++++++++++++++
Monday 9the of January 2023
and coming back to Map Ta Phut with 4 parcels from Bongkot. Pilot at 16:00, of course, changed to go drop the anchor until the evening. Only middle of the night work here on the PTT charter.

We inspected one of our fresh water tanks in the morning and then I spent time to prepare for discharging in Map Ta Phut, tests and paper work, a never-ending story

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Outside the FW tank

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Outside the FW tank

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Pump Man

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 14the of January 2023
and we had to wait for the pilot as the jetty was occupied when we arrived 6 o'clock in the morning. We picked of a Technician from MARFLEX that had arrived from Holland. He will be on board during discharge to have a look at our cargo pumps.

Pilot boarded us just after 10 o'clock and it was the same Pilot that had given me an Thai Buddha amulets (พระเครื่อง) back when we worked on board Roy Mærsk. And many of the people working here in Map Ta Phut and Sriracha would like to have one.

ธงชัย ธมฺมธโช - สมเด็จพระมหารัชมงคลมุนี - วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร
ธงชัย ธมฺมธโช - สมเด็จพระมหารัชมงคลมุนี - วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร
Thai Buddha amulets (พระเครื่อง)

Name of Monk who make: From pilot in Map Ta Put. Loung Poo Tongchai put power
ธงชัย ธมฺมธโช - สมเด็จพระมหารัชมงคลมุนี
Temple: Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan - วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร
Jangwat: Bangkok
Year: 2017

But the Pilot had only made a few of them and today he showed pictures from when they put power in the Thai Buddha amulets (พระเครื่อง) at the Temple: Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan.

I asked him to send the pictures to me via LINE and when I came down to my room the pictures was in my LINE app. Nice, now I have some history and pictures to go with my Thai Buddha amulets (พระเครื่อง).

ธงชัย ธมฺมธโช - สมเด็จพระมหารัชมงคลมุนี - วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร
Putting power in the magic at Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan

ธงชัย ธมฺมธโช - สมเด็จพระมหารัชมงคลมุนี - วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร
Putting power in the magic at Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan

ธงชัย ธมฺมธโช - สมเด็จพระมหารัชมงคลมุนี - วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร
Putting power in the magic at Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan

ธงชัย ธมฺมธโช - สมเด็จพระมหารัชมงคลมุนี - วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร
Putting power in the magic at Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan

ธงชัย ธมฺมธโช - สมเด็จพระมหารัชมงคลมุนี - วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร
Putting power in the magic at Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan

ธงชัย ธมฺมธโช - สมเด็จพระมหารัชมงคลมุนี - วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร
Putting power in the magic at Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan

ธงชัย ธมฺมธโช - สมเด็จพระมหารัชมงคลมุนี - วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร
Putting power in the magic at Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan

+++++++++++++++
Monday 16th of January 2023
and we arrive to Bongkot in the afternoon. Good, we will leave tomorrow afternoon and we will arrive to Sriracha in the afternoon. That means that we will complete discharging in the morning on the 19th. Normally we complete late evening.

So I will sign off in the morning and our friend will leave together with me and we have planned for breakfast at Hilton in Pattaya.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Last loading at Bongkot
Our Surveyor and I send a LINE to our friend in Bangkok

+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 18th of January 2023
and we drop anchor in SiRacha (ศรีราชา) at 11 and we have a boat with our life rafts waiting for us. We sent ashore our old life rafts and by the time we had the new rafts on board when the boat with stores and on signers arrived.

And of course, our friend was on board. Well, not exactly of course, I had expected him to come on board with the pilot as usually. So I was very pleasantly surprised when he told me that he would come on board with the crew and stores.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Boat with crew and stores on the way
My friend sent this picture from the boat

Again, I was pleasantly surprised that our friend would come already on the anchorage and I was on deck looking for the boat. The boat arrived while we took on board the last raft and when the life raft launch left the boat with our friend and our new crew came alongside.

When the new crew is off the boat will come aft to the gantry crane and we can lift on board provisions and stores. I met the new Chief Officer and our friend came in to the CCR a little later.

The Agent told me that I had to go ashore to visit the immigration as I will stay in Thailand for more than 48 hours after leaving the ship. I was not happy to hear this, but it was decided that I would go ashore after we had started discharging. And our friend will join so it will be Japanese food after the immigration.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Boat with crew and stores waiting to come alongside

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Boat with crew and stores waiting to come alongside

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend is happy to come on board

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Coming on board

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Coming on board

I had a chat with our friend, but I was busy. As soon as the new Chief Officer got his working clothes we went to have a look on deck. Lucky that they could come on board before we come alongside the SBM or he would have had to come after discharging giving him very little time for hand over before I would have left the ship.

Now he will have plenty time, well, not plenty, but he will get some “hands on” experience from the discharging the ships using the electric Marflex pumps.

He had never been working with these Marflex pumps before, same as me when I joined in Chittagong back in August. But it is, well, pretty much the same as FRAMO pumps.

We heaved up the anchor at 1 o'clock and we will be at the pilot 2 o'clock. I stopped to look for our friend in his room on my way to the bridge. All off signers had left, only me and 2nd Officer remain and we will leave tomorrow.

So there was one extra 2nd Officer on the bridge and I went back to the CCR.

I stopped at our friend's room on the way to the CCR to get him to keep me company in the CCR.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend in his cabin

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Surveyor and our friend prepare paper work before discharging

A lot of waiting and we could not start discharging until it was almost 6 o'clock in the evening. And it was late by the time we could leave the ship. Agent waiting on the jetty and he took us to the immigration. It was a very quick visit to the immigration and we could leave.

We drove to Central Si Racha and we found a Japanese restaurant and we could have our dinner.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend working his way out of the car

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Now we just have to find a restaurant

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
The food is good

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
The food is good

We are back on board at 9 thirty and the gyro technician is leaving with our boat. My friend help me pack my luggage before we retire for the day. We expect to complete discharging around 8 o'clock tomorrow morning.

+++++++++++++++
Thursday 19th of January 2023
and I wake up at 6 o'clock, dead tired, but too excited to fall asleep again. My friend help me to bring down my luggage to the CCR. We are lucky and we run in to “Mr. Young Leg”, our Mess Man and he help us out.

My friend's favourite breakfast is cheese omelette with bacon so ask our Cook to arrange this for my friend. And of course, he is happy. We had planned to have our breakfast at Hilton in Pattaya, but as we will not complete discharging until 8 we will miss the breakfast.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Waiting for his omelette

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Waiting for his omelette

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Waiting for his omelette



We leave the ship around 9 thirty, the pilot boat pick up the Pilot and Surveyors and we get on the service boat from Singha Marine. I am first on the gangway and it was nice to step on the service boat.

We have time for a couple of pictures in the boat while they lower our luggage in to the boat.

I asked the driver to stop so I can have a few pictures and we had to go around the boat before we stop so we had the sun shine from the right direction.

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend coming on deck

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend ready to leave Karen Mærsk

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Boat come to pick us up

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Our friend comming down the gangway

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
Jumping on board

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
2nd Officer coming on board the service boat

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
We are ready to come ashore

Aladdin's adventure on board M/T Karen Mærsk
We are ready to come ashore

Karen Mærsk
I get some pictures of Karen Mærsk

Karen Mærsk
I get some pictures of Karen Mærsk

Karen Mærsk
I get some pictures of Karen Mærsk

Karen Mærsk
Leaving Karen Mærsk behind

Karen Mærsk
Leaving Karen Mærsk behind

I got a couple of pictures and we left Karen Mærsk behind. We passed the slower boat with the Pilot and Surveyor on the way to the jetty. And we could see our friend with his taxi when we approached the jetty.

We filled his taxi with the luggage, as we had our 2nd Officer with us we had to walk to the Agent's Office where we left him and his luggage.

Sriracha
The Surveyor stop to say hello

Sriracha
We are in the Agent's office

Sriracha
Bye bye to the 2nd Officer

We leave the Agent's office and we take our seat in the taxi. We take off towards Hilton in Pattaya to see if they have anything interesting in their restaurant. We had given up on the breakfast as it is way too late for breakfast.

Click HERE to find out what we find.


                                       

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