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Monday 15th of September 2014 and Sverigedemokraterna 12,9% of the votes when the counting had come to an end. Of course, I didn't knew this until lunch time as we didn't had any internet connection when my alarm went off at 7 fifteen.
Final result in the Swedish election
But there can't be that big changes from yesterday and I was in a good mood going for breakfast. Mess room empty and I had no one to tell the good news. One of our armed guards came for breakfast and he was instantly under attack, a verbal attack.
I could not wait to tell anyone about the Swedish election and he was the first person I saw, so he got it all.
I had to tell someone about the election and the success for the Swedish Nazis. Well, Nazis, they are called Nazis because they say Sweden have problem with the mass immigration. 80,000++ this year, that's 1 ONE extra % of the population that goes straight to the well fare office. And soon no one left to work and pay tax in Sweden to pay for all this. So they are called Nazis.
I left the armed guard behind and I went to my office.
We have planned to have a MOB boat drill when our 2nd Officer is finished with his breakfast. He comes down from the bridge at 8 and we expect to kick off the MOB boat exercise around 8 thirty.
I sent our OS for chipping, it was wet from rain so it was not possible to paint, but it will hopefully dry up in the afternoon. We launched our MOB boat and our Pump Man and one of the ABs went to grease our accommodation ladders. And I gave up the idea to paint.
When the new crew joined I told them that we have to work in the rain. It is not just to leave deck and never to be seen again during the day. The rain was soon over us and they changed to rain clothing.
If we're going to stop work because of rain or a drizzle we can as well tie up the boat alongside and give up. The rain turned in to a shower and I went to speak with the crew. I told the guys that we work in the rain, but not in the shower. We take cover in the showers and they have usually passed in 5 or 10 minutes. But as I told them:
- I appreciate the spirit!
It was soon time for lunch, and yet again, the mess room was almost empty.
But our 2nd Engineer was eating and I attacked him and he was soon having all the information available about the Swedish election.
And of course, he was excited. We still have the day I cast my vote fresh in memory He made sure I didn't cast my vote on anything but the only choice. And I'm grateful for this support.
The sun showed up after lunch and they guys could start with the painting and we will finish some areas tomorrow with the last layer of top coat. Of course weather permitted.
The day passed pretty quickly, our 2nd Officer and I checked the gas detector for the vapour return line and I checked the detector for the ballast tanks after lunch. We will do the pump room tomorrow morning. And we got some paint on deck so the day was not a total disaster.
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Tuesday 16th of September 2014 and we're still anchored outside Dar es Salaam, the day started with sunshine but we were soon having heavy showers and all paint jobs were cancelled.
So there wasn't much happening today due to rain, well, we lost some paint that got destroyed. Mixed and then rain for a few hours so we could not use that rain again. But we use a special MONSUN technique in order not to waste so much paint. We only mix a very little paint when we see rain in the horizon and thus we don't have to waste much of the paint if the rain hits us.
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Wednesday 17th of September 2014 and I woke up to yet another day on the anchorage. Gorgeous weather, but today the crew had to remove the razor wire for the berthing tomorrow.
Of course, we got a message about delays until 19th when they were almost ready with the razor wire. Well, by that time it was almost time for dinner and they could as well finish the work with the razor wire. And we're looking forward to a new exciting day here at the anchorage.
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Thursday 18th of September 2014 and I woke up to yet another exciting day on the anchorage. Gorgeous weather, but today the crew had to move sandbags so there was not much painting going on. 2 new layers of primer on the last spots on the poop deck. Now it is only the top coat remaining.
We tested our IG plant in the afternoon and the latest news is berthing tomorrow morning. It have changed everyday but now I hope we can come alongside. And in the evening we got the pilot boarding time confirmed, 06:45. But now there is a problem with the tide water and our UKC (Under Keel Clearance) So we see what time we will have to wake up tomorrow morning.
AB and OS busy with the sandbags
It was way past 5 o'clock when I left the deck and I stopped in my office before going for a shower. I read today's news from Denmark. Not much to be happy about. Today there was no time for tea before the dinner, just a hot shower. Well, there was time to sit down and relax for 2 minutes while waiting for Bangkok Post web page to open.
And of course, there are all the excitements with the Scottish referendum. One of the armed guards are from Scotland. Of course the rest of Europe is nervous.
Spain, well, who cares what Spain thinks? Germany threatens with this and that. Well, one thing we learnt is that threats don't help. In Sweden we were stupid if we vote NO to the EURO. And we would get cake if we voted yes. Well, people didn't buy the threats and it was a landslide for the NO side.
Danish news
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Friday 19th of September 2014 and we were still anchored when my alarm went off 15 minutes past 7. Start heaving up the anchor at 8 and then it was changed to 09:45 and Pilot boarding time @ 11 o'clock. Well, good, we had time for all of our pre-arrival tests and checks.
Pilot boarding time was soon changed from 11 o'clock to 12 o'clock and the crew went for their lunch at 11 thirty. No use to get started with any jobs, but I was satisfied that they had managed to finish the painting on the poop deck because of the delays.
I had an extra bowl of salad for lunch as my diet had been a success. Back in Africa and I have to dress properly, my uniform from my days in the Africa Corps (Safari in Tanzania) had not been used since we left Tanzania. And today I decided to use it again, I felt straight through the trousers when I donned my uniform.
Time turned one o'clock and still no sign of our Pilot. I had been hoping to be able to go ashore for some shopping during the early evening. Well, I had already given up these hopes at 11 o'clock. But I save money instead and that is not all that bad.
Approaching Dar es Salaam
Well, I was not the only one that I given up my hopes. The Scottish YES side had had to give up their hopes of becoming independent. One of our armed guards is from Scotland and the English guards had pestered him. Well, this was back when it was uncertain who would win. But they told him that he could not leave the ship id the YES side won. He would be without passport.
Just as people I meet in India back in the days, they were from Yugoslavia and when the war came to an end there were no more Yugoslavia. Yeah, a real dream come through, Yugoslavian back packer stuck in India running out of money.
Pilot boarded us at 13:50 and we had all fast twenty minutes past 3 o'clock in the afternoon. We had to wait for more than an hour before Loading Master and the Surveyors came on board. They were all recognising me when the spotted me on deck. Same with the Pilot. He told me that I had had the same Africa Corps uniform last time
- But the helmet is new, I pointed out.
The hours passed by and we could not start discharging until 9 o'clock in the evening. Line displacement and I was not off to bed until almost ten thirty.
Sun is setting over Dar es Salaam container terminal
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Saturday 20th of September 2014 and I woke up 5 minutes past 8 in the morning, with a splitting headache. Because of the sudden wake up call? I don't know, but they called from the CCR.
- We have a problem with a valve
- OK, we have a look at this later on.
I knew what it was and I returned to be and I slept until a few minutes past 10. We expect a long evening and in any case, my rest hours would have turned red at 12. So sleep was required. I called them in the CCR before I went for my shower. Some instructions on the valve and I told them that I would be down after my shower.
They called back in 10 minutes and the valve was working and I could enjoy a cup of tea before going to the CCR. We will not be ready with the discharge before the dead line for departure. No night time navigation for tankers in Dar es Salaam and we will have to wait until tomorrow morning.
It looked like we would be ready around 7 o'clock something in the evening and I decided to go ashore after lunch. One of the guys that was on board to pick up the garbage yesterday told me he was driving to the city and back for 40 US. He left the number on my desk and I asked one of the Surveyors to call him. He was already at the gate waiting for “BUSINESS” and I went for a quick shower and I was at the gate 20 minutes later.
We were soon on the way and first stop was Woolworth to look for safari socks. They didn't had the socks with the Scottish pattern I bought last time so I had to buy 2 pair of grey socks and a pair of black socks.. I bought to key rings in the convenient store/ Bazar across the street from Woolworth before we took off to Serena hotel.
I got in to the restaurant and the lunch buffet was in full swing. I checked out the buffet and I decided to go for the menu. But I took fresh bread from the buffet. And the bread was good, I went through the bread like a chipper and later on I discovered that the inside of my glasses were covered in bread crumbs. I thought I lost my sight for a while, talk about chipper. A pot of tea, fresh bread and I were soon to have a plate of avocado and smoked salmon in front of me.
My second dish was a smoked salmon baguette and they had added some excellent mustard sauce. By now I was full and I could hardly eat any more. Then they brought the dessert.
I had just had lunch before leaving the ship, well, I only had a wee bit as I suspected that I might end up at Serena in the afternoon. And when I ordered the food I asked for extra custard sauce and whipped cream.
I was chocked when they brought the dessert, the chocolate torte... Well, I had expected a wee piece, but they dumped half a kilo of chocolate in front of me.
Starter - Avocado and smoked salmon
Smoked salmon baguette
Apple pie and chocolate torte
The amount of custard and whipped cream was at least to say pathetic - Of course, I to remind them about my EXTRA order
I gave it my best, but I had to give up. I could not eat any more and i had to leave most of the apple pie and chocolate torte behind.
I was walking around the hotel area for a while trying to melt some of the torte before returning to the ship. I was also downloading Adobe Acrobat XI Pro. Almost 700MB and that is way too much for our internet on board. Would take like forever. Just a few MB before I was ready with the download my internet was coming to an end.
I was not happy, but I didn't bother refill my internet. Maybe I can down load the last few MB on board. I paid my bill and I left for my waiting driver. When I passed the fruit table I regretted that I didn't had the fruit instead of the torte and pie. But now it was too late.
This is what I should have eaten
This is what I should have eaten
I got out and we were soon on our way back to the ship. I passed the security in the gate and I was back on board around 3 thirty in the afternoon and I had been away for just a wee bit more than 2 hours.
Dinner and I just had tea and some fresh papaya that they had delivered yesterday. I was still full from my Serena adventure. So I didn't feel like eating even though it was Saturday and I'm allowed to eat.
We completed discharging at 19 thirty and paper work was ready at 22 thirty. Pilot will be on board at 06:00 tomorrow morning. So not much sleep as we have to discharge ballast and then I need to do a departure stability calculation. Well, I can hopefully sleep tomorrow.
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Sunday 21st of September 2014 and they called me just after 5 o'clock in the morning. Pilot would be on board at 5 thirty. I had a long shower and I was still in the shower when they called me the second time.
I was soon on the bridge and the Pilots arrived on the bridge a few minutes after me and we were ready to leave. We steamed outwards and it was a misty morning and we passed the fish market around 6 thirty. There was a lot of activities and it was kind of interesting. I can imagine that it have been the same beach activities for the last few hundred years.
Of course, today the boats have engines. Well, at least some of them, many are still using sail. Environmentally friendly, just the way to go. They would of course have had engines if they could afford them. Well, anyway, I'm afraid that it is too late trying to save the world.
Just before 6 o'clock in the morning - Leaving Dar es Salaam
Leaving Dar es Salaam
Leaving Dar es Salaam - Fishermen and early morning action on the beach
Leaving Dar es Salaam - Fishermen and early morning action on the beach
Leaving Dar es Salaam - Fishermen and early morning action on the beach
Leaving Dar es Salaam behind
I was in bed at 9 thirty and I set my alarm to go off after 2 hours @ 11 thirty. My alarm didn't work and I didn't woke up until 2 thirty in the afternoon. DARN! Now my night is destroyed, well, more like tomorrow is destroyed. Will be pretty hard to fall asleep tonight.
Video from www.devilspool.net
A page worth a visit if you are having plans to go to Victoria Falls
Well, anyway, our internet had been very slow during the stay in Dar es Salaam but now it was a wee bit faster. And I got replay from Livingstone Island & Devil's Pool on the Facebook. And it
An infinity edge pool
(also named negative edge, zero edge, infinity pool, disappearing edge, or vanishing edge pool) is a swimming or reflecting pool that produces a visual effect of water extending to the horizon, vanishing, or extending to "infinity." The term is also used to describe perimeter overflow pools (pools that may be on level parcels, wherein the water flows over one or more edges, usually flush with the decking elevation). One type of location in which the effect is particularly impressive is where the infinity edge appears to merge with a larger body of water such as the ocean, or with the sky (if the pool is located on the side of a hill or field of green).
Infinity edge pools are often seen at exotic resorts and exclusive estates, in advertisements and in other luxurious places. The infinity pool design concept is said to have originated in France, where one of the first vanishing edge designs was utilized in the "Stag Fountain" at the Palace of Versailles in the early 1600s.
Design
Infinity pools are very expensive and require extensive structural, mechanical (hydraulic engineering) and architectural detailing. Since they are almost always built in precarious locations (cliffs, mountain tops, beach front, etc.), sound structural engineering is paramount. The structural engineering must be based upon the geological conditions found on the site. A geotechnical report is commissioned prior to the commencement of the structural engineering. The high costs of these pools are often found in the foundation systems that anchor them to the hillsides.
In reality the edge of the pool terminates at a weir that is 1⁄16 to 1⁄4 inch (1.6 to 6.4 mm) lower than the required pool water level. A trough or catch basin is constructed below the weir. The water spills into the catch basin, from where it is then pumped back into the pool.
The infinity edge swimming pool in the Skypark at Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore
From Wikipedia |
was good news, I will most likely be able to have a “swim” in Devil's pool. The most extraordinary infinite edge pool in the world.
At least I find it hard to believe that there is any possibility to find any more spectacular infinite edge pool than the devil's Pool in the whole of the world.
I'm suffering from a terrible vertigo, but to go to Victoria Falls without a swim in Devil's Pool is like breaking the law. So this looks good, now I just hope to avoid the “The Easter Elephant Tragedy” while I'm on the Zambezi River. I can imagine the drama when a cubic ton of Swedish safari adventurer going down the falls. The Richter scale will go crazy when I hit the bottom.
Answer about Devil's Pool on the Facebook
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Monday 22nd of September 2014 and we were drifting outside Mombasa when I woke up. Expected berthing on the 30th of september, but this can change before that, several times per day. So no one knows. But everyone is in a hurry, two Engineers and one 2nd Officer is signing off next time in Fujairah together with me.
Well, I was searching for “Polar Bear Pilot” pictures and I had a flying polar bear in mind. But I discovered a picture of a polar bear hat. I visited the web page and they were out of stock.
I found a DeLux Polar Bear White Wool Pilot Animal Cap/Hat - Limited Edition. Yes, a limited edition but they didn't ship to neither Thailand nor Sweden.
I gave it a second try, bear in mind that our internet is very slow. I found another shop with the Polar Bear hat/ cap. Same story there, not shipping to neither Thailand nor Sweden. Well, at least I gave it and I will have to wear something else when watching polar bears.
I gave up, time to go for dinner, but I changed my mind in the last second. I tried to search for a Isbjörns Mössa. Swedish for a POLAR BEAR HAT. I was lucky, they had a hat available, but when I was going to pay I discovered that it was a hat/ cap for 4 to 7 years old. OK, by now I wanted the polar bear hat/ cap and I tried in English again.
I found an ADULT polar bear at and I ended up at Lucky Shipper store. They had the POLAR BEAR HAT Gray Accents Mens Womens KNIT wool winter ski cap grey pom tail. 7 minutes later it was paid for and on the way to Sweden where I will pick it up.
Of course, 47 seconds later I discovered Lucky Shipper's *Special* POLAR BEAR HAT. So I sent them an e-mail asking if I could change my order if I paid 10 Dollars extra.
Now I just wait for confirmation that they will send the *Special* POLAR BEAR HAT furry ear accents ADULT SIZE Men Women global warming SKI CAP sweet face. And I can't wait to take off for my Polar Bear Quest next summer. And there is no longer any doubts who will look the stupidest during our polar bear adventure.
Lucky Shipper - Good service and I was soon having the hat I wanted on order
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Tuesday 23rd of September 2014 and we were still anchored when I woke up. I got my name of my reliever today and he will come on board in Fujairah.
Well, otherwise it was a pretty uneventful day. Yeah, berthing prospects changed from 30th to 29th of september. But again, tis can change several times
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Wednesday 24th of September 2014 and I was so tired I could hardly find my way in to the shower. But 20 minutes later, all of them spent in hot water, and I mean really hot water I turned cartwheels out of the shower. At least to say full of vim, I was surprised what a change a hot shower could do. And I need all the vim I can get as it promise to be an action filled day today.
I was delirious with anticipation when I left for the breakfast in the mess room. I noticed that Captain as busy in his office. And as the breakfasts are quite boring without Captain I stopped by to remind him about the breakfast.
I had planned for the crew to get started with the cup brushing and painting of the spots they have been chipping for the last 3 days. But it was raining so they continued with the chipping. Well, it was a drizzle, when we have rain we stop the chipping.
We started the drill at 10 thirty, gas leak in the pump room that developed in to a fire and we had to extinguish the fire. So this was exciting, actually so exiting that one of the ABs suffered from a cardiac arrest. And were we lucky?
An excellent opportunity to train the crew in how to use the stretcher and the defibrillator.
The injured AB is back in safety
I demonstrated the defibrillator and some CPR techniques when we were back in to the CCR. No need to do this outside in the sunshine. We had got enough training with the stretcher and I told the crew to go inside. They looked happy to get inside to the AC.
- Hmm, or was it because they didn't had to carry me on the stretcher?
When I was ready it was time for a demonstration of the EEBD (Emergency Escape Breathing Device) A small box with compressed air to give you just enough time to leave the accommodation if you need to escape smoke etc.
We have these apparatuses placed around the ship, so of course, it can come in handy to know how to use them. Just in case...
We were finished in the CCR and we had completed all of our drills. Well, one remaining, the life boat muster. I called the bridge and I informed Captain that we were ready and that he could let go the life boat alarm.
We dashed off to the life boat aft of the bridge and we held our muster. Everyone knew what to do and we returned to our jobs when we were ready. I asked our Pump Man to change two light bulbs that was not working.
Well, almost lunch time and we have killed half of the day. The rain seems to have disappeared and I asked the crew to get started with cup brushing and painting after the lunch break.
Life boat muster
Life boat muster
I got hold up with paper work during the lunch break and I was thus late for my constitutional around the accommodation. I got 30 to 45 minutes before I returned to my office and more paper work. Looks like they will have a vetting inspection next time discharging. I will not be on board!
I studied old vetting remarks and I started to make new fresh risk assessments for our cargo operations and there will hopefully not be any remarks about risk assessments and cargo operations.
Time turned quick, so that means I had some fun. But I was still relieved when our 2nd Engineer came by and I went on deck to assist him in some important work.
And berthing prospects is moved (yet again) and now it will be on the 30th of september. Well, I'm in no hurry. I was back in my cabin a wee bit late and I only had time for half a bucket of tea before I went for dinner.
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Thursday 25th of September 2014 and we were still awaiting berthing when my alarm went off. I discovered a gorgeous morning and the crew spent the whole day cup brushing and painting the pre-chipped spots on deck.
Berthing changed form 29th of September to 1st of October and I will for sure have to buy trousers and a jacket when I'm going to Copenhagen. I was looking for BIG & HANDSOME shops in Copenhagen on internet. I came up with ZIP and most of them were online shops.
Suddenly there was a link from the Captain. We had discussed the clothing during the dinner and he told me that he would help me search the internet. And he found Store Robert, a Big & Tall shop in Copenhagen.
I found an Alaska jakket for 600Dkr and I decided to get this one. Later on I discovered a STORE ROBERT VINDJAKKE. Windproof and “almost” water proof. This one has a 1300Dkr price tag. So I will see what kind of weather we have when I'm coming to Copenhagen.
Maersk paying, but I really don't need any more of this winter clothing. My condo is full of winter clothing that I will hopefully never have to use again. Last time I was home I threw away 2 big bags of clothes.
Well, yet another day have come to an end, only remaining a few hours to kill in my cabin banging my head against the wall trying to kill the boredom. OK, I have my Learn Thai with Mod and the Alif Silpachai videos, but so far I have not been watching any videos. I have not even open my Thai books. And yes, I suffer from a terrible agony because of it.
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Friday 26th of September 2014 and I was looking forward to yet another day on the anchorage when my alarm went off. But when? It was changed form 30 to 29th of september. Then to 1st of October and today it was changed to 4th of October. But we will see.
I had my breakfast, 2 slices of black bread and cheese with a bucket of tea before I left for my office. The crew would continue with the painting. Maybe we will be able to put the last layer of pain on this area tomorrow.
2 man painting and one started with the chipping in another area in order to keep the areas separated. 5 layer of paint and it is easily to keep count on the layers if we separate the areas.
Grey and red so if we have spots with 3 layers and the first layers next to each other they will have the same colour.
So this is the reason for us to be all over tank deck and the poop deck chipping and painting. I started with a vessel condition report and time turned pretty quickly. I don't know why, was it funny or was I just keeping myself busy forgetting about the time?
Never mind what it was, time turned quick while I was around checking the condition of the vessel. The guys have chipped and painting quite a lot so she looks better by the day.
Well, we're running the cargo heating for coming alongside on the 29th or the first of October. So when we got the news that we will have to wait until the 4th of October I decided to stop the cargo heating in the afternoon. The 2nd Engineer can stop the boiler before he finish for today. No need to burn fuel for nothing.
The higher the temperature the quicker the temperature goes down and thus we destroy our environment. I was on the fo'c's'le with our Pump Man and 2nd Engineer in the afternoon to have a look at some hydraulic pipes. And suddenly it was time for tea and a shower before dinner. Yet another day had come to an end.
Back in my cabin and I managed to send money to my brother, he sent money to me in Thailand as I could not use my internet bank due to slow internet. Now I could use my internet bank and I transferred money to him. There was also e-mails and among them one from Amazon.
Yet another one that had found my review of ECCO sandals useful. And of course, I took the picture and I posted it on ECCO Shoes Facebook page.
ECCO is at least to say annoyed by me by now. I have posted my pictures of my ECCO sandals so many times. And it never fails, always asking me for a receipt and I can change my sandals for new ones.
Not necessary as I have bought Timberland sandals and they are still looking like new after a year of heavy duty use. And seriously, why keep receipts when buying shoes. I paid 150 US and I just expect them to be OK. I could not even dream about a pair of 150US dollars ECCO sandals falling apart after 100 meters walk. I will take the receipt for my cloth purchases in Copenhagen, but that’s only because I will have to send them to Maersk for reimbursement.
Captain sent me a map to Store Robert - Big and Tall in Copenhagen
Captain sent me a map to Store Robert - Big and Tall shop in Copenhagen and it is not too far away from my hotel. I will have to take a taxi there, but as soon as I'm dressed I can walk back to the hotel enjoying the views of Copenhagen. And of course, burning calories at the same time.
Well, yet another day have come to an end, will there be time to Learn Thai with Mod and the Alif Silpachai videos tonight? To open my Thai books?
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Saturday 27th of September 2014 and yet another day drifting outside Mombasa when I woke up. I was a wee bit surprised, I had felt asleep without too much trouble. I was not full of vim, and for sure, I was not swinging myself out of bed when my alarm went off quarter past 7. But it was OK, and I was actually feeling “almost” like a million when I came out of the shower. And today promised to be an exciting day.
We will have a “seminar” about crisis at sea as a part of a Health and Safety initiative. Captain have divided us in to two groups, half of us after the 10 o'clock coffee break. The other half with me speaking will be after the afternoon coffee. I don't know how Captain managed to do it, but he actually manage to split the crew so he got the B Team on the morning session with him as a speaker. And I got to be in charge of the A Team in the afternoon.
And as I took this seriously I invited guest speakers. I also sneaked up on the morning “seminar” to eavesdrop for ideas for my afternoon session
And on top of all this drama we will have to go down to the pump room so I can complete the vessel condition report, and we have planned for this adventure to take place after the lunch break.
I meet with our new 3rd Officer, pump Man and one of the ABs in my office after lunch. We did the required paper work and tests. Work permit and risk assessment and I have to test the gas detector before use. We went down to inspect the pump room, 3rd Officer took the opportunity to make his safety equipment routines while down there.
Checking fire extinguishers, hoses and the EEBD was checked while Pump Man and I tested the bilge alarms. Pump room looked good and we were out of there in about 30 minutes. We secured the pump room and I was soon back to my music in my office to complete the vessel condition report.
Afternoon in my office with the music blasting high. We will have a vetting next time we're back here in East Africa. I will not be on board, but I started to go through our vetting checklists. Better of being prepared so we don't run in to any surprises.
Time turned kind of quick in my office and it was soon time to go to the bridge for the crisis “seminar”. I stopped in my cabin to make a bucket of tea on my way to the bridge. We talked for about 45 minutes and we were taking a picture on the bridge wing before leaving the bridge.
Shower and yet another bucket of tea before going for my dinner. And today we had what must have been the best papaya I ever had. Yellow looking like frozen orange juice. And I was lucky as the rest of the crew ate ice cream I finished all of the papaya.
I had a bowl of the papaya seeds that our Mess Man had prepared for me, but I put them in the fridge and I will have them tomorrow. Papaya seeds, something of the healthiest you can eat. Of course, taste like sh*t so I have to swallow them whole. But that will be tomorrow, today, fresh papaya only. Well, from the papaya that is, I had other not all that healthy stuff going down as well.
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Sunday 28th of September 2014 and we're still waiting outside Mombasa. No changes so it is still on the 4th of October. Well, I have the time to read the news from Thailand. Now the Dictators will teach the Thai population the meaning of democracy. Yeah, you can't make shit like this up, and it is not the 1st of April either.
2 Britons killed in Koh Tao - Cartoon from the Nation - 27th of September 2014
Cartoon from the Nation - 24th of September 2014
2 Britons killed in Koh Tao - Cartoon from the Nation - 24th of September 2014
2 Britons killed in Koh Tao - Cartoon from the Nation - 22th of September 2014
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Monday 29th of September 2014 and a new week starting with us drifting outside Mombasa. The guys continued the chipping on deck and I had our Pump Man to remove all the manometers from our manifold. Time for the yearly test with our certified manometer. We had done most of them when it was time to go for lunch.
We had 3 manometers to go when I heard someone calling Roy Maersk on the radio. I turned down the music a notch, just a notch! I heard our 2nd Officer replying on the bridge.
It was Mombasa Port Control and they wanted us to be at the Pilot station @ 16:00. We took the time to finish the last 2 manometers. The bunker manometers will have to wait until tomorrow or when we have the time. The boys stopped the chipping and they removed the razor wire while our Pump Man and I did all the pre arrival checks and tests.
Five days early and the cargo temp was not as high as required, but no sense starting the heating, it will just be on when we take the pilot. At 3 o'clock it was again “maybe” tomorrow and we started the heating. At 4 o'clock TOMORROW MORNING was confirmed.
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Tuesday 30th of September 2014 and I woke up at 5 thirty when they knocked on my door. Half an hour to go before the Pilot would come on board. My telephone didn't work and I discovered that the cord had felt out from the socket. So they had to come and knock on my door the old school way. Pilot would come on board at 6 o'clock.
Approaching Mombasa
I had a shower and a quick cuppa before going to the bridge. No sign of any Pilot and we had to wait until 06:35 before the Pilot boarded us outside Mombasa. I was hungry and I sneaked in to the kitchen for some fresh bread when I was down to check the cargo temperatures.
The temperatures were just fine and I felt good after the bread and I was soon back on the bridge to enjoy a gorgeous morning. And we recognised all the sights from last time we arrived to Mombasa. This time it was early morning and the commuter ferries were full of people. And how many of these people can swim? No sign of any lifesaving equipment, except for a few floats. I can imagine if one of their ferries will sink.
Mombasa early morning - Commuter ferries
Mombasa early morning - Commuter ferries
Mombasa early morning - Commuter ferries - How many life boats? How many can swim?
Mombasa early morning - Commuter ferries - How many life boats? How many can swim?
We arrived to our jetty a little more than an hour after the Pilot came on board. We had first line ashore 10 minutes before 8 and 45 minutes later we had all fast. I could leave the bridge for
my office and all the people that would come on board.
Things went a wee bit better than expected, calculation was completed at 12 o'clock and I was planning to visit Mission to Seafarers in the evening. Well, things came to a full stop. Cargo hoses connected at 3 o'clock and at 4 o'clock there were still no sign off the Loading Master so we could completed the safety check lists. Well, there is still a chance to get to the Mission for Seafarers, but it is a slim one.
At 16 thirty I had completed the check list with one of the receivers, but still no sign off any action at 17 thirty. Time for a quick dinner. I put the dead line for my visit to Mission for Seafarers to 19:00, after that I give up the project.
Well, @ 18:24 we started to discharge the first parcel, the parcel to VIVO and still no sign of the Totsa/ Kobil people. But by now I had already given up all hopes to get to the Mission for Seafarers in Mombasa.
We started the second parcel 12 minutes past 11 in the evening. Now we will discharge 200m3 as line displacement and we will check the figures and I'm off to bed.
Well, the month of September 2014 has come to an end and I'm pretty sure that October in the year of our Lord 2014 will start as September ends, discharging in Mombasa. So hang on, let's see, this might be fun! And I might have a chance to get ashore.
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