missing it already (really!!)
Right, I've caught up on some sleep, popped to the pub for a couple, spoken on the phone to the family etc and read through 4 months worth of blog comments. So time for a new post I recon.
I am beggining to miss life on the ship already, I've been wondering what they are all up to and how the discharge and COW went. Most of the crew could still be there when I go back in july (if I go on the same ship again) which just goes to show what long contracts they have (9 months).
Chevron now have a new "cadet ship" with 6 deck and 6 engineering cadets on their own designated deck. Just launched in February. It looks like a lot was spent on learning facilities etc and there is an extra deck and engineer officer on board to take care of the cadets. The ship has a slightly depleted crew in the thought that the cadets will be doing most of the work. I am not sure what to think of this, my feeling is that I would prefere the more realistic atmosphere of a normal ship where I am the only deck cadet. After all, once qualified there wont be another 5 third mates and 6 third engineers on the ship with me. - although you never know, a manning miracle may occur.
I have a few weeks before I go back to college but I am looking forward to learning some more. Whilst the officers on the ship were willing to show me things they didn't always express it in such a clear way as the lecturers at college do. Someone mentioned in a comment the possibility of being a warsash lecturer some time in the distant future. Sounds interesting and I am sure very rewarding. But I think i'd like to retire to a foreign land (NZ or Aus) and live the life of a marine pilot. I am sure I will have some other idea when the time comes.
For the first 5 weeks back at Warsash we will be doing only maths. Although I loathe maths I am looking forward to improving my skills in that field. I think understanding it will certainly be paramount when i'm at a more advanced stage of my cadetship. Then we begin phase 3 and hopefully it will really begin to get interesting. Certainly 'more work' - 'less partying' this time!
Well i'm really not sure what else to write. erm, any questions?
R
posted by Rob @ 6:43 am
13 comments
13 Comments:
Missing it already - thats an interesting comment - looks to me like you're hooked on it already.
That unique and rather special committment may be lurking in that subconscious of yours.
I see a workaholic in you, or at least the potential for one. Thats what I became, and ensactly like you, would arrive home on leave and immediately start thinking about what was going on on board, how the guys were coping - it's an unhealthy bug - or can become one if you don't learn to control it.
You are on leave now, so make the most of it and go out and do what ordinary people do - otherwise you are likely to forget that as well.
It may be a bit difficult as I expect all your old mates are working so are unavailable to "hang out with" during the day.
The question is now, what are you going to do with your time off ?
Well I suppose there's all those family members to visit - thats important - There's collision rules to learn - and maybe you could dig out those old school books, if you haven't thrown them away - (I bet you have) - and just have a look over your maths again - nothing too serious - you may find that as you are not now under "school pressure" - they suddenly become clearer to you - maybe even easy.
Anyhow Maths at Warsash will probably be a lot more interesting than at school - it will be "practically orientated" - I suspect, so you should "Log on to it" more effectively, - see a valid reason for it - thats my guess.
If you did mechanics at school,- moments and that sort of stuff, weights multiplied by distance etc.
well just have a glance at that too - nothing too intense though.
Thats basically all ship stability stress and trim is, and it is even easier when you have a pre-prepared well designed "logical" paper form to work it all out on. When you understand it then you can do it on a computer - but to understand it - you have to learn on paper. Just pointing, entering data and clicking is just not good enough.
Was your ship built for Chevron, or was she an "Off the Shelf" design - maybe on Time Charter to Chevron?
peterpan
She was built for Chevron in 1993 in Brazil to a japanese design. one of 6 all floated within a year or so of each other and all destined for chevron. She is the only one remaining in her original guise. Two of her sisters were converted to lightering ships and the others have been sold. According to the engineers on board she was in pretty good condition considering her age. I think the main design fault was the ballast system. no centre divides on the tanks meant for some unecessary complications (no more than 1 slack tank allowed etc)
Other than that what i am lead to believe are the normal cost cutting measures were evident, but at least the cabins were large and the bulkheads thick! Oh and of course she used to have a famous name. "The Condeleeza Rice" thankfully they've changed that now!
LOL
Sounds ok to me, but lets consider efficiency.
From your records (in your computer) can you determine how many days during your tour of duty, was your vessel burning fuel carrying cargo,and how many days was she burning fuel carrying just ballast.
Can you begin to see the value of the concept of the combination carrier, particularly one of the double hull variety with a centreline bulkhead.
I doubt the accuracy of your statement "only one slack tank".
Can you list your cargo and ballast tanks.
Capt (Ret'd)
.
A Tanker Cadet Ship - now that is an interesting developement.
Lots of Pro's and Con's there.
Could be excellent - Could be sinister and Macabre.
On your first trip how many times did you see an engineer inside a ballast or cargo tank.
How many times did you see an engineer in the pumproom.
How many times did you see an engineer ouside the engine room.
How much time did the engineers spend in the bar compared with deck-officers.
Boyscout.
You could also add
How many times did you see an officer in a ballast tank, or a pumproom.
How many times did you see a deck officer elsewhere than the bridge or the bar.
When on the Bridge, how many times did you see them looking out of the wheelhouse windows ?
Sounds like you may have been sailing with operators only, - thats a doomsday scenario - in my book - if true.
Only you guys can change that, but it all comes down to levels of manning.
eyespy
Hey man - this is becoming real controversial.
Elders say:
Spirits Say you real nice guy Rob -not your fault so many problem today.
Luv Dorothy
Consumptions:-
How many tons of H.O. and MDO did your vessel consume in one day on passage.
How many tons did she consume just pumping ballast in or out.
How many tons did she consume tank cleaning.
How many tons did she consume during primary inerting.
How many tons did she consume just lying at anchor.
What was her Displacement and Deadweight Tonnage.
Commodore Bond
Well it's great to see you are safely back home again and hopefully enjoying some leisure time.
Could be wrong, but I detect a change in you since you first started this blog, and although I appreciate you may be busy catching up so to speak, I hope that will not preclude you from answering the questions you invited,at your convenience - of course.
This blog may die - if you dont.
But maybe the opposite - of course.
bss
Crew on 9 month tours -
Nothing changed there in the last twenty years
bulkship
Now that you are back safely,
What do you think of your blog ?
Would you do it again ?
woof woof.
wag wag.
snifferdog.
Well it sounds like you are happy with Chevron and so long as you keep returning there you should certainly be sure of receiving your wages, having good, or at least reasonable living conditions whilst at sea, and should certainly become familiar with good tanker practice - in the main.
Just watch out for the time when your bank balance runs low and the labour hirer calls you up with sorry we have no Chevron ship today but we do have XYZ which you have not previously heard of.
Maybe they can't do that anymore -but maybe they can - I don't know your contractual arrangements.
It's the sort of thing to watch out for.
Cadets bank balances don't usually last very long - everyone knows that.
Thats when you become particularly vulnerable.
A Management Company, on moving offshore apparently adopted a policy of "engaging those who could not afford to go home" - according to one "manager" in the office.
Thats easy to ensure - stop paying their wages and allotments as soon as they ring Full Away.
There are those who will stoop that low - in the "interest" of their "client". How many - that's difficult to determine - almost impossible in fact.
You may be suprised who they are.
Up front - reputable - behind the scenes - just dirt.
Is it the Managers or the Board - you just can't tell anymore.
Boy oh Boy can that get the crew all fired up, which, strangely enough, makes them most unusually subdued - then you really have a dangerous ship underneath you. Extra special "ship handling" required there. Not a pleasant experience at all. Very delicate handling in fact.
I wouldn't think Chevron is like that, not even in this day and age.
Blackdog
Hi,
I am right now in Uk giving my exam as OOW second mate, can you have my website http://www.shipdays.com on your blog index.
There is a taint of sadness about this posting - ROB.
One gets the impression, albeit probably erroneously, that you are not happy at home.
If the purpose was to artificially promote your employers, then you are making an error of judgement.
Get your priorities sorted out, leave them to the "dirty" work for themselves.
This day and age, we are constantly bombarded with the concept of financial planning, but don't forget that even more important concept of LIFE and family planning.
That is probably the most important of all.
"Wiseman".
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