The Merchant Marine Express

Today is Maritime Day as proclaimed by the President of the United States! We received a statement through our union email newsletter which relayed the editorial by President Bush of his proclamation. Primarily, the day is to honor past and present mariners who served in wars and continue to deliver commercial goods upon the waterways of the United States and abroad.

Citizens and “communities” all over the United States were asked to fly their American flags as well as for all US Flagged vessels to fly their Ensigns in support of this monumentous (sic) occasion.
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We weighed anchor, this morning, and proceeded to the anchorage area off the coast of Louisiana, where we currently are floating; awaiting orders for a berth alongside the Citgo refinery. Tentative plans are for loading Jet fuel around May 20th.
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I am reaching my two week-to-go milestone! My seventy-five day placement is on its down leg run, much similar to a turning point at a navigational waypoint, whereby the vessel on its approach to the pilot station. Although two weeks may seem to pass quickly, I still have a load and unload port to conduct before my victorious march and chant will commence.
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As I peer out of the bridge windows and gaze at the horizon, I bear witness to many other ships, awaiting orders while, at anchor. And as I sit here, right now, pecking away at the keyboard, like some specially trained chicken who’s only reward of grasping the concept of, “correctly typing the characters gets a reward” is positive feedback only.
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This ship had, in general, been running fuel oils on the West coast of the United States for some time before the start of the year,2008. I keep hearing stories from crewmembers of how they’ve enjoyed the Seattle-to-Richmond run over the course of many years prior. Yet, with only a couple days transit between ports and nearly twenty-four hours of cargo operations before, followed by another reciprocal trip, back-and-forth, much of the light maintenance was seemingly neglected such as the much needed rust repair and general maintenance.
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Even if the short, twenty-four hour port stay was merely for replenishing water supply, food, and newly arriving crewmembers, it was most welcomed for all the crew!
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