Cadiz to Tubarao

16th December 2008 to 2nd January 2009

After the last of the equipment had been removed and the final inspections completed, we said our farewells to Cadiz and cast off. A new Chief Officer has assumed command of the Deck –Uma Shankar . He’s a young guy, and appears a little stiff, but also extremely competent. Apparently he has served as a Captain before. After the last guy that we ended up dubbing “Camel,” due to his personal habits and lack of leadership abilities, we are all extremely grateful. We moved a little offshore and weighed anchor at approximately 20.00 to ballast the ship. At 08.00hrs after preparing the anchor, I was called to the bridge to steer as we weighed and made our way to Gibraltar for bunkering (refueling). After being relieved at 14.15, I rested until we entered the bay and prepared to drop anchor again. We stayed there for approximately 12 hours as a barge came alongside and refueled us, before making our way into the Atlantic once again.

Orders from the company came through at the last minute (as usual). Although we were thinking of loading in Porto do Madeira (North x East Brazil) and discharging in Taranto, our orders dictate loading in Tubarao and discharging in Rotterdam. After umming and arring about ETA’s with the Chief Officer, we decided that this was to be my last voyage of this tour of duty – I will sign off and pay-out in Brazil to rejoin the school beginning in February.

This would have given me exactly 4 months – two months short of what I really needed, which is a little disappointing, however it is possible to make this time up at home by working aboard a ferry, coastal ship, or on a ship being built or repaired. Hopefully I can gain more than 2 months like this in anticipation of a similar occurrence on my second voyage as a cadet. What-ever, now I have the news, I am really starting to feel the need to get back to my life and beat it back into renewed form and order. After these voyages I don’t think I’ll ever be the same –I feel added onto. I feel a new appreciation for freedom, self-discipline, a new perspective of this Earth and for the variety of people inhabit it, and at once more confident of my being and more humbled in terms of the things I have taken for granted at home. I’m sure there are other things I will discover about myself when I get back. Sounds stereotypical? Obviously you are an “armchair” type. Go back to the T.V.

I am getting independent watches during navigation now as well as at anchor. This is excellent because I am pushed to gaining a perfect knowledge of the ships instruments and how she handles. I am now a much better helmsman than the autopilot, and it won’t be long until I get my steering certificate. Also we are stocking the bridge fridge with real milk (instead of powdered coffee creamer) and fruit juice. Anyway, I’m really pleased to be back at sea with the ship rolling and pitching through the water and the throb of the engine under my feet. I have a much better appreciation for her now that I’ve seen what she’s like under the water –especially the rudder and propeller.

Again we make our way down the coast of Africa and the Sahara, merrily joking about mirages of camels and seeing pirates and what have you. I think I should explain here that this is in fact a minor hotspot for piracy –more-so on the east coast of Africa though. Come to think of it Brazil is another. These can be ex-military mercenaries, or else rebels or other low-life scavengers who outfit fishing boats, speed boats or ex-naval craft, and prey on whatever they think might profit them. We have a strict policy regarding pirates: Don’t mess about and don’t give them the chance to board. Scare them, ram them, sink them, fire rockets and flares at them, flood their vessel or knock them overboard with our (many and powerful) fire-hoses, throw bits of metal at them… if they board us we’re not much of a match for AKs as there are (against my idea of common sense) no firearms onboard. In the event of boarding there are enough willing hands to deal with the situation provided they possess limited or no firearms. Often piracy takes the form of stealthy thievery of semi-valuable industrial items and materials such as copper or instrument.. even electric motors and the like. I suppose if you’re starving then a couple of hundred bucks is worth the risk. If they’re armed to the teeth, we must surrender if boarded… although I have to entertain plans to disarm one and play manhunt. There are plenty of hiding places on the ship and nasty traps in my head to fit this ship. Also we have a crew of Filipino’s, and they are among the most prolific pirates in the world, themselves. We will see.. or not.. I’m not really sure what I really want there. Fortunately it’s out of my hands then, eh? I have to say I’d be pretty proud of myself if I managed to sink a pirate vessel on my watch –that’s warrant a new tattoo for sure. But yes, piracy is still by no means uncommon.

Work on deck has me assisting Petty Officer Rahul the Deck Fitter again, repairing and servicing the mooring winches. Also I’m paying more attention this time to our ballast condition and the factors and mechanics involved in managing this. It’s GREAT to have a real Chief Officer again, who can teach me and feels responsibility in doing so.

Chritmas and New Years celebrations were pretty awesome. Extra days off, expensive Spanish wine free beer, Really good food, and all that accompanies it. See peectures. I was really looking forward to having New Years in Vitoria city but at anchor -fishing and partying amidst giant dragon dragon-flies and moths was actually not too bad