The Merchant Marine Express

Happy Veteran’s Day! We Just got our first snow as the ship was covered with a slushy, wet snow last night. I had taken the 4:00-8:00pm Watch to replace the acting 2nd Mate and due to loading of the vessel, it would be less of a burden if I stood watch during the mid-portion of the loading of Limestone. This was because it takes a trained eye as well as experience to load a boat, based on the draft (how deep the vessel sits in the water) and tonnage of cargo; something a well seasoned Mate could handle. As I signed off the Watch, a Low Front had passed through and brought near-zero visibility with ‘white out’ conditions. Fortunately for me, I was already asleep in the comfort of my warm stateroom
[Read more →]

Tags: Arthur M.Anderson, Voyages by Admin
No Comments »

We’re underway again, and this time our ship’s destination is Toledo , Ohio . The ship slowly worked its way out of the long, curved and narrow Calumet River and out past the break wall last night and into Lake Michigan once the loading of coal was complete. I had turned in, for the night just prior to us departing yet I sensed nothing while I slept as this massive freighter carved a path below many small cantilever bridges, as it headed outbound towards the great lake. In fact, it would seem that this ship would resemble a slow moving snake as it slithers along the way, not making hardly a sound except for the small rippled wavelets it displaced.
[Read more →]

Tags: Arthur M.Anderson by marinerguy
No Comments »

24 October 2006

We are loading coal in South Chicago, down the Calumet River which is in between Buffington and Indiana Harbor .
[Read more →]

Tags: Arthur M.Anderson by marinerguy
No Comments »

I know it’s been sometime since I’ve written. A lot of transiting and port visits have occurred. However, I want to discuss the medical emergency that happened, aboard, last night! One of our engine room crewmembers died of a heart attack after hours of trying to revive him through CPR and other methods!
[Read more →]

Tags: Arthur M.Anderson by marinerguy
No Comments »

Well, we’ve been at anchor since 6pm last night. Apparently due to the high winds, blizzard-like conditions and high seas, we have to wait it out rather than head into port. We chose an area just a mile off the ‘beach’ around Macinac Island . During my Watch last night, we had winds exceeding 50mph and sleet that looked nearly vertical as it came down.
[Read more →]

Tags: Arthur M.Anderson by marinerguy
No Comments »

We have finished at Buffington , Indiana docks and are heading back north to Stoneport , Michigan which is on the north eastern side of the state.
[Read more →]

Tags: Arthur M.Anderson by marinerguy
No Comments »

We just left Gary , Indiana at about midnight of the 6th.
[Read more →]

Tags: Arthur M.Anderson by marinerguy
No Comments »

It is the sixth of October and the weather couldn’t be better!
[Read more →]

Tags: Arthur M.Anderson by marinerguy
No Comments »

Hi There-
It has been a couple of days since I’ve signed on, aboard the ANDERSON .
[Read more →]

Tags: Arthur M.Anderson by marinerguy
No Comments »