Time to go back to work!
It’s that time already! I’ve been on Vacation since the end of September and need to head back to sea.
[Read more →]
Entries Tagged as 'Voyages'
Last entry from SS PETERSBURG
This will be my last Journal entry aboard the SS PETERSBURG. In a few days, I will be signing off the vessel and flying back home to Michigan . The Captain has already issued my Itinerary and my correspondence with the Third Mate, named Jeremie, whom I originally relieved, was briefed as to what Watch he would assume.
In the past few weeks, life aboard has been as busy, as ever. Events like being tasked to teach seminars in Chemical and Biological Attack preparedness has kept my mind occupied.
[Read more →]
Inspection Day
I can sleep better knowing our ship was just blessed by the United States Coast Guard as its (SS PETERSBURG) yearly inspection went well and we passed!
A Certificate Of Inspection (C.O.I) is a five year requirement issued by the United State Coast Guard,but on this type of vessel inspections are conducted yearly to test all the engine related equipment, along with deck and safety equipment as well as lifesaving and firefighting gear. My list of items that I had on my work list for the past two weeks amounted to dozens of checks that I made sure were correct or in working order, in preparation for the two days of Inspections.
I was out on deck, replacing reflective tape, stenciling freshly painted black lettering on life rings, replacing beacon style lights, and even learned how to re-wire a navigation light on one of the lifeboats. You can’t be too sure what you’ll find defective or in need of replacement.
[Read more →]
Military Exercise
I bet you were wondering where I have been? Well, the ship just returned from a week long sea voyage which took us out in the middle of the Pacific, and where the navy wanted us to ‘steam around’ for days on end. We played a part in ‘Valiant Shield’, a training exercise which would comprise of the largest contingent of naval forces in the Pacific Ocean since the Vietnam war era. This would set the scene for various training exercises involving both military and quasi-military vessels.
[Read more →]
Crewmember job descriptions
In shipping, there are a lot of different sorts of crazy individuals who want to risk making a life, at sea. And, onboard any ship, you typically have three departments separating duties and tasks between them. The Deck Department along with the Engineering and Steward Department, consist of licensed and unlicensed personnel.
[Read more →]
Tropical Storm MAN-YI’s approach
This week started out very tumultuous.
[Read more →]
The Fourth of July
I hope you’ve all enjoyed your Fourth of July. It ended up to be a quiet evening, here, as I had to work the Watch between 4pm until midnight and every night at that time. One thing of interest,however that I did do, that day- I had walked over to the local Seaman’s Club for a noon time ice tea. There, I happened upon some mariners off a local container ship, the Motor Vessel Maunalei, as it was being loaded and unloaded at the port in Apra harbor, just across from where our ship was ‘berthed’. It’s owned and operated by Matson Navigation, the same outfit I interned as a cadet during the Summer of 1998 on board the container ship, the M/V Mokihana.
[Read more →]
Shipboard training
It’s almost July and five weeks have passed since I’ve called this ship, my home. In the past two weeks, training has been the emphasis as many on board have taken seminar courses on this ship,on board other ships, or within a shore side facility.
I finished up my Chemical and Biological Officer’s course as I described, in my previous Merchant Express posting..and, no sooner, I was chosen among ten others to take another shipboard security course. You see, much of what is required on board government vessels are the vigilance of these on-going seminars that each mariner endures, so to prepare themselves for some type of disaster or casualty. Over the past seven years, I’ve taken no less than a dozen courses that teach and demonstrate certain security tactics which mostly help the interest of the mariners, aboard.. thereby, essentially, saving the ship.
[Read more →]
Chief Mate troubles!
This week has been a roller coaster ride and has had its ups and downs. With the bad comes the good- but not without hard work and possibly some uncertain futures for others.
Well, last weekend we had the unfortunate situation of our Chief Officer being let go as a result of some bad behavior, ashore. Apparently, after the Mate had been drinking and was ready to go back to the ship, he decided on a whim..to drive himself after having a night out on the town. Unfortunately, the effects of alcohol got the best of him, and his poor judgment resulted in a car accident with another vehicle!
[Read more →]
“Haf a dai ” and the Bear
SS PETERSBURG
Days are turning into weeks, on board! And all I do, each day, is a bit of preventative maintenance in the afternoons, which are under my duties and then stand the eight hours of Watch from four o’ clock until midnight.
Many of the crew members have the opportunity to go ashore in the evenings. And depending on schedule, I’ll head ashore for a brief time, during the mornings. The Sun shines its warmest between eleven o’ clock and three in the afternoon. Unlike back in the states where much of the hottest part occurs between three and five in the afternoon, the hottest part of the day on Guam IS around noontime.
“Haf a dai “is the greeting phrase of the Islanders. Basically, this translates to “Half a day”. I believe it’s their mantra for work! And the weather has something to do with this expression.
[Read more →]
The Mariner Guy
Hi! My name is Nadir Bousseloub and welcome to my website!I am a United States Merchant Mariner and hold an Unlimited-tonnage license as a Deck Officer and will tell a story in the form of blogs, on my periodic adventures aboard ships around the world.
- About Nadir
- Contact Us
