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Blogs on Board
Date: 20th June 2007
Location: Das Island, United Arab Emirates
My first day as Chief Officer
Today was my first day as a Chief Officer. We're in the Gulf and loading liquid natural gas (LNG) to go to Japan. We carry the gas liquefied as this compresses it to one 600th of its normal volume. Though it does then need to be kept at minus 163°C! Loading took 22 hours and all went to plan, thanks to two days' hard work on pre-arrival safety checks of the systems and equipment. Safety is absolutely vital as LNG is very volatile and extremely flammable!
I got my call at 0200 this morning ready for the topping off of the tanks. The officers of the watch have monitored the load since last evening and all systems were normal. I need to be around for start and completion as these are the critical times of the operation. Towards the end we slow the loading rate and fill each tank completing one at a time so when we reach the last tank we can easily stop loading.
The Gas Engineer disconnects the loading arm and I complete the post-operation meeting with the shore official. When the loading arms are disconnected we call the crew to mooring stations. I then go to the bridge to meet the port pilot ready for departure. We set sail, and the day ends for me when we've dropped off the port pilot and I can hand over to the Officer on Watch.
My first day as Chief Officer has ended. Loading the LNG went well. Nothing exciting happened during the loading. Perfect.
Date: 13 August 2007
Location: South China Sea
All done by teamwork
It's a routine day in mid-ocean. I'm up at 0600 ready for my meeting with the Bosun at 0630. The Bosun is head of the deck crew, and reports to me every morning for his job list. This varies a lot depending on where the ship is and its schedule. Today it's routine tasks such as painting around the vessel, as well as planned maintenance and general housekeeping.
After my meeting I get time to grab some breakfast and a cup of tea before the daily shipboard safety meeting. At this meeting are the Captain, Chief Engineer, myself, Second Engineer and Electro Technical Officer - the core management team. We discuss the day's work plan as well as any special tasks or events occurring.
Then my work begins. I continue my planned maintenance routines and inspections, whilst keeping an eye on the continuing work around the deck. We get the manifold crane gears greased before morning break, then attend to the crane wires. Before lunch I have time to check progress on the focsle painting jobs. After lunch we continue with the crane, completing the job with a functional test. Before finishing I complete the day's admin before one final inspection of the work carried out on deck, ready for planning tomorrow's tasks.
I manage a quick gym session before dinner, after which I send a few emails to family and friends, and finally settle down to watch a DVD before bed.
Date: 20th September 2007
Location: Singapore Transit
A Singapore TV opportunity
Today marks the final Singapore transit of my three months on this regular run from the Arabian Gulf to Japan, in which we transit the Malacca and Singapore Straits every two and a half weeks.
The day begins with the usual morning meeting with the Bosun to ensure that arrival preparations are complete - cranes prepared for loading stores, gangway ready for the personnel transfer, anchors cleared and ready to let go in emergency, and so on. After the daily safety meeting I make a round of checks and take an early tea break before getting changed and heading to the bridge to assist.
The captain retains command during the transit until we reach the rendezvous position. I then take over the navigation, and we start taking on stores. It's important now to keep to the edge of the traffic lane and clear of other ships. When stores are complete we increase speed and continue our passage back to the Gulf. We remain on manoeuvring revs during the transit due to the busy traffic and closeness of navigational hazards. I stay on the bridge till late afternoon when we are clear of the major hazards.
While we are in the Straits we can pick up local TV and mobile phone signals. So later I call home on my mobile and pick up messages too. We can also get Singapore British television, so today we can watch some local programmes and catch up on the latest news.