MNTB - Careers At Sea

Date: 31st December 1999
Location: Caribbean

The Millennium in the Caribbean
Most people can say that they were at this or that party during the Millennium New Year, however few can say they were on a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean. That night was also a fingers-crossed event for the engine department as we waited for the Millennium Bug to strike. If you remember, it was unknown by anyone what computers might do when the clocks changed to 00:00 hours on Jan 1st 2000.

So every engineer was anxiously on standby in the engine control room waiting for the clocks to turn, hoping that all our computer-controlled systems - which means the whole ship - didn't shut down. We were all amused when midnight arrived and ... nothing went wrong. The clocks read 01-01-00 and the systems stayed on. So the night ended up with a lot of very relieved engineers holding a great party.

Date: September 21st 2001
Location: Ketchikan, Alaska

Damaged camshaft - ingenious fix
This date stands out in my memory during my second contract as cadet when one of the engines surprised everyone by stopping during operation. On inspection we found that one of the fuel pumps had seized solid. This had caused severe damage to the roller that operates the pump and to the cam on the camshaft that drove it.

Unlike a car, the entire camshaft can't be replaced, and the individual cam has to be machined off and replaced. A special frame and tool was attached to the side of the engine and a grinding wheel was moved backwards and forwards across the cam, slowly cutting through until nearly touching the shaft. Then the camshaft was turned and another cut made the other side. Finally with a large chisel and hammer, the damaged cam was split into two halves off the shaft.

To replace the cam, a bolted split cam was fitted, requiring delicate alignment and adjustment, and machined to fine tolerances. This event usually doesn't occur very often and the repair was a very clever piece of practical engineering, so the whole episode was a fascinating experience.

Date: November - December 2005
Location: Re-location from Hawaii to New Zealand/Australia

What a trip!
Although later on in my career, this stands out as one of the favourite experiences of my life on board with Holland America Line.

For the first time in many years the MS Statendam was relocating from the San Diego to Hawaii cruise route to its new location of New Zealand and Australia. During the trip down the west coast of South America we had vibrations from the starboard propeller shaft, and it turned out that we had lost a large piece from one of the propeller blades.

During the layover in Lima, Peru, we replaced the damaged blade with a new one. This was performed while the ship was still in the water! It was a clever operation that I had never seen before.

We then travelled across the Pacific towards New Zealand, stopping at a place not many people can say they visited free - Easter Island. It is very quiet and secluded and has of course those rather strange statues. The islanders are very friendly though. Vehicles are a luxury on the island so horses are the main means of transport for many of them.

On arrival in New Zealand, I was to discover that I had relatives living in Auckland, and had the opportunity to spend time with them during one of the ships visits. It turned out I was the first of their UK relations to visit the New Zealand branch of the family.

During the same cruise, I got to visit another one of my childhood dreams, the Sydney Opera House. The ship actually docked across the water from it! I could see the opera house from my cabin window. Fantastic.