This was my second contract in this ship. But the ship was on coastal run, going between Madras and Vizag. After signing my contract, I joined the ship in Madras. What a state the ship was in! It was covered with a thin film of coal everywhere. There were generators placed on the deck between no.4 and 5 holds and in gangway deck. Later I came to know that the ship’s generators had problems and so these generators were there to supply power for the cranes.
The ship used to load coal in Vizag and discharge it in Madras. The sailing was very less and the port stay was hectic. Since the cranes were being used in both the ports, there was little time for maintenance. We went to Paradip twice for loading and it was a welcome change for us.
I used to do the day watches in Vizag and go out in the evenings there. In Madras, I used to do the night watches. I used to come home after finishing my watches, spend the night at home and go back in the evening. Being in this run had its own advantages. Going out was not a problem and so was the problem with food. I used to eat the ship’s food only when we were sailing or when we were at anchorage. Raji joined me in this ship and was with me for 3 months. Life was good on board, with frequent port stays. But it was also tiring in the ports, with frequent trips to the top of the cranes.
Once during loading in Vizag, the wire parted and the jib of the crane fell down on the cabin of another crane. The crane operator had a very close shave with death. He quickly escaped from the cabin, or else he would have been smashed into pieces. The jib was dismantled, taken to a workshop, the bend straightened and then fitted back. The cabin of other crane had to be made again.
Another time, the ship was in Madras, discharging cargo. I was at home and eating my lunch. Suddenly, I got a call from the chief officer, asking me to come to the ship immediately.Both of us rushed back to the ship. A cyclone has formed in Bay of Bengal and it was to cross coast near Madras. The port authorities had instructed all ships to vacate the berth and go to the anchorage or sail away. So we vacated the berth and went to the anchorage to drop anchor. The wind was very strong and so the anchor was not holding. The Captain thought it prudent to sail away into the deep seas, rather than drop anchor and wait for the cyclone to weather away. Trying to avoid the cyclone, we kept on sailing for a day till we were near the coast of Srilanka. Then we turned back and headed to Madras. The cyclone had cleared away by then and we berthed to discharge the remaining cargo.
Our next cargo was fixed as iron ore, which was to be loaded in Madras. So we went out to the anchorage once again to have the cargo hold cleaned. It took us two days to clean the cargo holds. Then, we berthed in the iron ore jetty and started loading cargo. My passport had expired by then and I had to sign off, since the ship was going to China for discharging and dry dock.I had my baggage packed and ready to disembark. But there was no sign of the reliever. The customs office would be closing by 1800 and I had to clear my baggage before that. The agent told me not to worry about the reliever and asked me to bring my baggage down, so that we could go for the customs clearance. I went along with him, got the clearance and then came outside the harbour, took a taxi and came back home.
TOTAL TIME SPENT ON BOARD: 5 months and 2 days
PORTS VISITED: IN INDIA- MADRAS, VIZAG, PARADIP
FOREIGN: NIL
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
eighth ship- gem of paradip
This was my second ship with ETASMC. I signed the contract and was all set to join the ship in Singapore. I was in the office, waiting for the ticket. The ticket came so late that I had just enough time to come home, pick up my baggage and leave for the airport. The chief engineer was also joining with me. Both of us boarded the flight and reached Singapore. From the airport, we went to the boat terminal by car and from there to the ship, which was in anchorage, by boat. The ship was taking provision and bunkers when we reached. Soon, we picked up anchor and proceeded towards of Gulf of Thailand.
We anchored in the port limits of Koshichang and were supposed to load cement clinker there. The loading, which was from small barges, took around 5 days to be completed. The cargo stevedores and other people stayed on board, cooking their own food, eating it and sleeping on their hammocks. It was nice to see them leading such a life. After completion of cargo works, we sailed to Ghana. We were tied up to buoys in the port of Takoradi. Discharging took place into small barges which cam alongside. We part discharges there and went to another place called Tema. Here the ship’s crew operated the cranes for discharging, which is not usual.We completed discharging and went to a port, Lome, in the neighbouring country, Togo. We loaded there and came back to Tema again. After discharging, we went to Owendo, in Gabon, for loading manganese ore. After loading the ship went to Dunkirque, in France.Raji joined here, with other joiners.
From Dunkirque we sailed out to Aviles in Spain. We loaded cargo there and went to Bremen, Germany to discharge the cargo. We managed to go out for some time in Bremen. I bought a beautiful cutlery set there. Our next port was Murmansk, in Russia. The port was at latitude of about 70˚, the highest latitude, I have ever been to. After nearing the coasts of Norway, we had daylight for about 22 hours a day. The sun just seemed to set and within few hours it was back in the horizon. It was a fantastic experience.
As soon as we berthed in Murmansk, the Russian immigration authorities came on board. They checked everybody’s passports and CDCs. As Raji was not having a CDC and a Russian visa, they instructed her not to attempt to go out. Because of that, I was also on board. We went to Gijon, Spain for discharging. After completion of discharging, we went to Dakar in Senegal (West Africa) for loading. This was a place well known for notorious activities and very few people went out. During unberthing, tugs were assisting us. A rope parted suddenly and because of that, the ship lost control and banged on the jetty. There was a huge dent on the shipside. Luckily, there were no cracks on the ship’s plating. Surveyors were called for and they inspected the damage. They had recommended that the plating must be cropped and renewed at the earliest. Since the ship was going to dry dock very soon, that was not a big issue.
We sailed from there to Capetown for fueling. I saw the table mountain when the ship was berthing. It was a nice view of the Table Mountains, with a cloud top. We went to Vizag, which has become so frequent for me. On arrival Vizag, I had completed more than 5 months and since the ship was going for drydock, I opted to be relieved there. I signed off there with Raji and flew back to madras.
TOTAL TIME SPENT ON BOARD:5 months and 15 days
PORTS VISITED: IN INDIA- Vizag
FOREIGN- Singapore, Kohsichang(Thailand), Takoradi(Ghana), Tema(Ghana), Lome(Togo), Owendo(Gabon), Dunkirque(France), Aviles(Spain), Bremen(Germany), Murmansk(Russia), Gijon(Spain), Dakar(Senegal), Cape Town(South Africa)
We anchored in the port limits of Koshichang and were supposed to load cement clinker there. The loading, which was from small barges, took around 5 days to be completed. The cargo stevedores and other people stayed on board, cooking their own food, eating it and sleeping on their hammocks. It was nice to see them leading such a life. After completion of cargo works, we sailed to Ghana. We were tied up to buoys in the port of Takoradi. Discharging took place into small barges which cam alongside. We part discharges there and went to another place called Tema. Here the ship’s crew operated the cranes for discharging, which is not usual.We completed discharging and went to a port, Lome, in the neighbouring country, Togo. We loaded there and came back to Tema again. After discharging, we went to Owendo, in Gabon, for loading manganese ore. After loading the ship went to Dunkirque, in France.Raji joined here, with other joiners.
From Dunkirque we sailed out to Aviles in Spain. We loaded cargo there and went to Bremen, Germany to discharge the cargo. We managed to go out for some time in Bremen. I bought a beautiful cutlery set there. Our next port was Murmansk, in Russia. The port was at latitude of about 70˚, the highest latitude, I have ever been to. After nearing the coasts of Norway, we had daylight for about 22 hours a day. The sun just seemed to set and within few hours it was back in the horizon. It was a fantastic experience.
As soon as we berthed in Murmansk, the Russian immigration authorities came on board. They checked everybody’s passports and CDCs. As Raji was not having a CDC and a Russian visa, they instructed her not to attempt to go out. Because of that, I was also on board. We went to Gijon, Spain for discharging. After completion of discharging, we went to Dakar in Senegal (West Africa) for loading. This was a place well known for notorious activities and very few people went out. During unberthing, tugs were assisting us. A rope parted suddenly and because of that, the ship lost control and banged on the jetty. There was a huge dent on the shipside. Luckily, there were no cracks on the ship’s plating. Surveyors were called for and they inspected the damage. They had recommended that the plating must be cropped and renewed at the earliest. Since the ship was going to dry dock very soon, that was not a big issue.
We sailed from there to Capetown for fueling. I saw the table mountain when the ship was berthing. It was a nice view of the Table Mountains, with a cloud top. We went to Vizag, which has become so frequent for me. On arrival Vizag, I had completed more than 5 months and since the ship was going for drydock, I opted to be relieved there. I signed off there with Raji and flew back to madras.
TOTAL TIME SPENT ON BOARD:5 months and 15 days
PORTS VISITED: IN INDIA- Vizag
FOREIGN- Singapore, Kohsichang(Thailand), Takoradi(Ghana), Tema(Ghana), Lome(Togo), Owendo(Gabon), Dunkirque(France), Aviles(Spain), Bremen(Germany), Murmansk(Russia), Gijon(Spain), Dakar(Senegal), Cape Town(South Africa)
Friday, March 5, 2010
seventh ship- gem of vizag
This was my first ship, after I resigned from Shipping Corporation of India. This ship was owned by West Asia Maritime Limited and managed by ETA Ship Management Company, Madras. Since the office was in Madras, it was easier to join ship. There was no need to go to Bombay. I was supposed to join this ship in Korea.WAM had bought this ship from her Croatian owners and we had to take over the ship from the Croatians.
I signed the contract and was scheduled to join the ship in Pusan, South Korea. Everybody, except for the Master and Chief Engineer was supposed to join together. We officers were from Madras and the crew was from Bombay. We had to fly to Bombay and then all of us had to fly to Pusan. Our route was Bombay -Bangkok - Hongkong – Seoul.We went to Hongkong without any problems. But the flight had landed late in Hongkong and so the connecting flight had left without us. We approached the airlines staff, who told that they would make arrangements for us to stay in Hongkong and put us in the next flight to Seoul. We were almost out of the terminal, when a person came to us and told us to take a flight to Bangkok and from there to Seoul.So, we had to fly back to Bangkok again. We boarded a flight and reached Seoul, after a long flight. A bus was ready for us and it took us to Pusan, which was about 5 hours drive. The ship was in anchorage and so we had to board a boat, which took us to the ship. It was late evening by the time we reached the ship. The crew and officers, who were leaving the ship, left shortly, even without proper handing over.We picked up anchor and started proceeding towards high seas, when the engine broke down. The sea was rough and wind was very strong. Due to this the ship, started rolling very badly. Things started banging and breaking in the cabins, bridge and other places. There was total chaos in the ship. Crew members started wearing their lifejackets and were getting ready to abandon the ship, if needed.There was a tiny reset switch, which nobody knew in the engine room. After several phone calls to the old owners and the new owners, the chief engineer traced out the small reset switch and reset it. The engine started after that. Everybody thanked their lucky stars and heaved a sigh of relief.
Our first loading was in Australia. On our way to the loading port, we had to navigate between the Great Barrier Reef and the coast of Australia. It was nice to see the coral reefs, every now and then. The sea water looked so clean, that we could see the reefs submerged inside the sea. We loaded there and came all the way to Vizag for discharging.After 15 days of anchorage, we berthed. Raji had come along with another officer’s wife and his father. She stayed on board during the port stay. Owners came on board and saw the ship. We went to South Africa from Vizag for loading. During loading, one crane had a major repair. It took almost 24 hours to get it working.We went to Vitoria, Brazil for discharging.On our way to Brazil, we experienced very rough seas, with wind speed of about 70 knots. The ship was barely moving during that period. We completed discharging and went to another port in Brazil, Rio Di Janeiro for loading. Before loading, we had to clean and wash all the cargo holds and the next port was not even a day’s sailing away. The crew demanded extra overtime for doing that in a short time, which the Captain did not agree to. All the officers and engineers got into action and we started cleaning a cargo hold. Meanwhile, the Captain talked to the office and the crew, after which they agreed to clean. By this time we had completed cleaning one cargo hold. Somehow, we managed to clean all the cargo holds just before arrival. We were loading steel products and so that took time. I went out along with other colleagues and saw the world famous Copa Cabana Beach.
It was a long sailing of 40 days to our discharge port, Port Klang (Malaysia). Till date this is the longest nonstop sailing I have done. Raji joined me there, along with two more families. This is the first time she was sailing. We went to Singapore from there. Raji and myself went out to Serangoon Road, had a nice south Indian tiffin, went around Mustafa Center and came back. Next port was Hongkong. We were in anchorage there. We went out once there also. Next discharge port was Kao Hsiung (Taiwan). The sea was a bit rough and because of that, Raji had seasickness.
After completing discharging in Taiwan, we went to Australia, again. It was a very long anchorage here. We had to wait for 15 days to get berth. I was lucky to go out here too. I did some shopping with Raji and came back. The ship was almost set to sail back to India, by the time we came back.
We came back to Vizag and it was more than 6 months since I joined the ship. I got my reliever here in Vizag and signed off along with Raji.
This was the first time I was working on contract and it was quite a nice experience, particularly with lots of tamil speaking people on board.
TOTAL TIME SPENT ON BOARD: 6 months and 9 days
PORT VISITED: INDIA- Vizag
OUTSIDE INDIA- Pusan(S.Korea), Hay Point(Australia), Richards Bay(South Africa), Vitoria & Rio Di Janeiro(Brazil), Port Klang(Malaysia), Singapore, Hongkong, Kao Hsiung(Taiwan), Dalrymple Bay(Australia)
I signed the contract and was scheduled to join the ship in Pusan, South Korea. Everybody, except for the Master and Chief Engineer was supposed to join together. We officers were from Madras and the crew was from Bombay. We had to fly to Bombay and then all of us had to fly to Pusan. Our route was Bombay -Bangkok - Hongkong – Seoul.We went to Hongkong without any problems. But the flight had landed late in Hongkong and so the connecting flight had left without us. We approached the airlines staff, who told that they would make arrangements for us to stay in Hongkong and put us in the next flight to Seoul. We were almost out of the terminal, when a person came to us and told us to take a flight to Bangkok and from there to Seoul.So, we had to fly back to Bangkok again. We boarded a flight and reached Seoul, after a long flight. A bus was ready for us and it took us to Pusan, which was about 5 hours drive. The ship was in anchorage and so we had to board a boat, which took us to the ship. It was late evening by the time we reached the ship. The crew and officers, who were leaving the ship, left shortly, even without proper handing over.We picked up anchor and started proceeding towards high seas, when the engine broke down. The sea was rough and wind was very strong. Due to this the ship, started rolling very badly. Things started banging and breaking in the cabins, bridge and other places. There was total chaos in the ship. Crew members started wearing their lifejackets and were getting ready to abandon the ship, if needed.There was a tiny reset switch, which nobody knew in the engine room. After several phone calls to the old owners and the new owners, the chief engineer traced out the small reset switch and reset it. The engine started after that. Everybody thanked their lucky stars and heaved a sigh of relief.
Our first loading was in Australia. On our way to the loading port, we had to navigate between the Great Barrier Reef and the coast of Australia. It was nice to see the coral reefs, every now and then. The sea water looked so clean, that we could see the reefs submerged inside the sea. We loaded there and came all the way to Vizag for discharging.After 15 days of anchorage, we berthed. Raji had come along with another officer’s wife and his father. She stayed on board during the port stay. Owners came on board and saw the ship. We went to South Africa from Vizag for loading. During loading, one crane had a major repair. It took almost 24 hours to get it working.We went to Vitoria, Brazil for discharging.On our way to Brazil, we experienced very rough seas, with wind speed of about 70 knots. The ship was barely moving during that period. We completed discharging and went to another port in Brazil, Rio Di Janeiro for loading. Before loading, we had to clean and wash all the cargo holds and the next port was not even a day’s sailing away. The crew demanded extra overtime for doing that in a short time, which the Captain did not agree to. All the officers and engineers got into action and we started cleaning a cargo hold. Meanwhile, the Captain talked to the office and the crew, after which they agreed to clean. By this time we had completed cleaning one cargo hold. Somehow, we managed to clean all the cargo holds just before arrival. We were loading steel products and so that took time. I went out along with other colleagues and saw the world famous Copa Cabana Beach.
It was a long sailing of 40 days to our discharge port, Port Klang (Malaysia). Till date this is the longest nonstop sailing I have done. Raji joined me there, along with two more families. This is the first time she was sailing. We went to Singapore from there. Raji and myself went out to Serangoon Road, had a nice south Indian tiffin, went around Mustafa Center and came back. Next port was Hongkong. We were in anchorage there. We went out once there also. Next discharge port was Kao Hsiung (Taiwan). The sea was a bit rough and because of that, Raji had seasickness.
After completing discharging in Taiwan, we went to Australia, again. It was a very long anchorage here. We had to wait for 15 days to get berth. I was lucky to go out here too. I did some shopping with Raji and came back. The ship was almost set to sail back to India, by the time we came back.
We came back to Vizag and it was more than 6 months since I joined the ship. I got my reliever here in Vizag and signed off along with Raji.
This was the first time I was working on contract and it was quite a nice experience, particularly with lots of tamil speaking people on board.
TOTAL TIME SPENT ON BOARD: 6 months and 9 days
PORT VISITED: INDIA- Vizag
OUTSIDE INDIA- Pusan(S.Korea), Hay Point(Australia), Richards Bay(South Africa), Vitoria & Rio Di Janeiro(Brazil), Port Klang(Malaysia), Singapore, Hongkong, Kao Hsiung(Taiwan), Dalrymple Bay(Australia)
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