We have a full load of cargo destined for a port back home! We stopped for a load of heavy fuel or ‘bunkers’ and some diesel for the generators in Fujairah, UAE. The anchorage was teaming with vessels from across the globe. We estimated there were in excess of two hundred-plus ships, primarily consisting of petroleum cargo ships. [Read more →]
A few years ago, a deck officer assigned to the American Tern had left this Earth as a result of a tragic accident while vacationing at home. A shrine has since been erected in his name, the former Second Mate, Matthew M. McCormick and in the form of a nice wall map. Another plaque shows the crew honoring his service given to the ship as it stands proudly encased in its wood and brass frame in the Officer’s Mess.
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The Tern has called to port! Kuwait is very hot, likeable to an Indian Summer with hot days and cooler nights and the work offloading cargo will be followed by a backload of cargo destined for a ‘port near you’. [Read more →]
We’ve managed a pleasant transit through the Mediterranean Sea. Calm seas with clear, blue waters and an occasional Sea Turtle and Dolphin popping up from time to time; the ‘Tern’ was happy in its element sharing the seas with such creatures. [Read more →]
The transit through the Atlantic Ocean went well. A Low system which stalled over the Azores had caused us some weather issues. Nothing materialized beyond more than fifteen foot seas as only strong gale wind-generated waves were produced. This system culminated into a Tropical Storm “Grace” [Read more →]
Bird Watching has always been a favorite pastime of mine during my early childhood years. During my first five years growing up, my grandfather who lived with us and had his own operations room, kept Watch or more namely, a ‘bird watching station’ as I remember it more to be while living in a suburb of Sacramento, California.
On occasion, luck would have it, [Read more →]