The Merchant Marine Express

Word has it that we’re ’shifting’ to the inner anchorage come Thursday or Friday of this week. Shifting in nautical jargon is a term used to mean a short transfer of the ship to another dock or anchorage as opposed to a ‘voyage’- and usually only within a few miles of the current location.

The returning Captain, Captain Shurman who alternates with Captain Smith, is expected to take over command during this time as this is the routine which happens close to every seventy-five days. Other crewmembers are due to sign off the vessel as well, however, with the lack of work expected, there won’t be a spot for one of the Third Assistant Engineers and neither is the Deck and Engine Utility (DEU) crewmember being relieved by a new crewmember as this is an entry level position, and the company is trying to save on salaries during this off schedule period between cargo loads.

We’re expecting ship stores such as Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (FFV) and the most needed supply of water followed by milk, eggs and coffee will be ready to be received, as well. The water is arriving via a barge and one
hundred tons is the volume requested. Lastly, this time period also establishes a regular launch schedule for trips ashore, as this new location sets us only a couple miles within the harbor unlike currently, where we’re at the mercy of the Gulf of Mexico some eight to ten miles off the coast.

Just last night, a fast moving Cold Front blew through and winds in excess of thirty knots (35 mph) kept our bow pointed towards the North. Seas grew to six foot and yet, only a noticeable swaying motion could be felt as this
nearly seven-hundred foot tanker sat calm and withstood the wrath of the waves. As I looked out the window I could count approximately twenty other ships of various types resting at anchor, and all pointing in a northerly
heading awaiting orders, alike. Each ship had its own reason for this rest period as some were awaiting cargo, and others had maintenance requirements which could only be performed while at anchor without being underway- primarily in preparation for cargo.

Meanwhile, I’ve noticed the deck gang started to roll a deep colored red paint on the decks after allowing a week of chipping and sanding down rust spots as they started from the portside aft; leaving the starboard side
available for crew to walk back and forth from the bow back to the stern keeping out of the way of the tacky paint.

And today, I helped the 2nd and 3rd Assistant Engineers with replenishing the lifeboats of new diesel fuel which is required every year. A choreographed method involving buckets, a pump and dozens of feet of rubber
hose as were required to siphon the old fuel from the perched lifeboats back into the storage tanks near the emergency diesel generator, which runs on the same fuel. Then, each of us took a nearly filled new five gallon bucket, from the engine room and carried the volatile liquid back up four decks.

And once I finished with that task, I continued to grease the exposed hinges on vent closures, or “dampers”, just as I had last week. I recruited Al, the Able Seaman on the twelve-to-four watch, to assist me in this matter as the rust near the hinges kept the closure from moving freely and the assistance by another person sure made it easier. Rust is a huge problem as the combination of the homogenous salt and water mixture, form cancerous like
growth which not even paint can mask. Hinges don’t work, nuts and bolts need more elbow grease, and holes start to appear, which in some cases, might
breach the integrity of the hull.

A nice days work, with some positive events in the coming days.

Have a great day folks!

Tags: Chemical Explorer