Some answers
Right, time to have a go at answering those comment questions, I will have to be a little short and sweet or I could go on for several pages!
1. Capt (Ret'd) - "Can you list your cargo and ballast tanks?" - Yes
Only kidding, Cargo tanks 1 to 7, with no's 2, 4 and 6 split into port and starboard tanks and the rest as centre tanks. Additionally two slop tanks (port and starboard).
Ballast tanks forepeak to #8. Numbers 2 and 4 being split into two wing tanks each, the rest all "u" tanks. Additionaly where #'s 2 and 4 are situated there are aditional smaller tanks which are used to control the list when stripping (required starboard for ballast and port for cargo)
2. "eyespy" - I dont think I was sailing with "operators only" and I cant think of what I have said that may have made you think that - All the officers I encountered were highly professional.
3. Commodore Bond - I will try to answer most of your questions, cant say I have the info for all of them though.
By "H.O" I assume you mean heavy fuel oil.
50 tons per day when underway
unsure of the other consumption figures, I did notice them when I was on the ship but did not make note I am afraid. - (in for a "telling off" there after being told to make those databases I think - well I do have them just not quite that detailed)
Deadweight was 135,000.
Gross registered around 80,000
4. snifferdog - I am amazed that the blog has been so popular, I started it thinking it would save be some time from e-mailing all my family and friends seperately about my progress. I think now it takes up more time than it saves but I shall continue to keep it up to date - even more so now I am back.
"Would you do it all again?" -I presume you mean go to sea for 4 months, the answer of course is yes and infact I shall. In july. I really enjoyed my sea phase, but I am now really keen to get learning more at college.
Continue asking those questions if you like, otherwise this will become rather boring for the next few weeks until I return to college on April 16th.
Here are some photos from my trip.
posted by Rob @ 5:57 pm
43 comments
43 Comments:
Very Nice ROB for 13 years vintage she has obviously been fairly well maintained - thats Chevron alright.
You've clearly done well for yourself and considering other revelations gained from elsewhere it is clear that you are in good hands, so there will be no need to "Guard" you no more.
Would you do it again ? It was actually the blog that I meant.
Good bye - I suppose I'll just have to find myself another "client" somewhere.
snifferdog.
Hey snifferdog I may require your guarding services some more, just dont know whats around the corner eh! Keep watch - until I learn how to that is.
Rob
One slack tank at a time (Ballast)
Oh dear Oh dear oh dear - I'd bet my last dollar thats bullshit - but that's tankermen - little or no idea about transverse stability - or maybe you just got that one wrong. It comes down to planning - and considering that the combination carrier will most likely supersede the tanker (Global Warming & CO2 emmissions,)
pay attention to the subject at college, then don't just forget it after you have passed your exams.
It is critical on "combination tankers or carriers" - absolutely critical - free surface knowledge and it's consideration is, in essence, absolutely vital at all times.
But that too becomes easy to deal with - when you know what it is - and can that set rules and parameters - but you have to understand it in full - before you can do that. A basic or good working knowledge falls far short of requirements - once again.
There is much to learn - ahead of you, none of it incredibly difficult, just quite massive in quantity, so it takes time, quite a long time actually. Rome was not built in a day, as they say, but bits of it certainly were. Don't rush it - just progress steadily - You'll cope - I am sure.
One day maybe, you will get to "stand bye" a series of New Buildings as they are being built - if so, that will probably be the most informative/educational experience you can get. When you are 2nd Mate would probably be the best time for that. Crawl through them, every inch of them, as they are progressively built, find out everything you can about them, - it really pays immense dividends - if you get that chance.
Good luck with your seafaring career.
Capt. (Ret'd)
Ticking Off.
Consider yourself severely bollocked - you have a lap top - so you should be recording those sort of things - it will be handy in the future.
Heavy Fuel Oil was correct, you assumed correctly.
It seems you've been operating on "economical speed" as oppossed to design speed.
That size of vessel would typically have had a design service speed of around 15/16 knots on around 95/100 tpd consumption. Economic speed would have been typically around 12.5 knots on 50 tpd consumption (Main engine only) Boiler consumption around 20 tpd - when fired for ballast tank cleaning inerting purposes.(Rough figures only)
Design speed/economic speed variation is all about "Admiralty Coefficient" - you'll learn that later.
MDO on passage probably about 3.5 tpd. (sea going condition)
One slack tank at a time - thats rubbish.
But I reckon you are doing just fine for a first tripper - I'd welcome you to my fleet anyday.
Good luck - and go out and let your "hair down" a bit prior to 16th April - you have to have fun too. Don't be outrageous - that's all, and don't drink and drive, or travel with them that do.
If you are celebrating take a cab or a bus.
Rgds.
Commodore Bond.
Are you sure about that gross tonnage figure and what happened to the aft peak tank - FW maybe.
bulkships
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH - that you should be so popular.
Teachers pet or is it just that "on line personality" - that does it ?
Boyscout
Commodore Bond - She used 50tonnes a day because we were running at reduced rpm, around 81, due to a cylinder liner temperature probe which kept triggering main engine slow downs.
The exact Gross figure is 81,500.
Cap - I shall certainly be paying very close attention to the transverse stability lessons. I stand by what I was told however, but then I dont know ay better eh!
Bulkships - Sorry I forgot the Aft Pk tank, filling and emptying it was performed by the engineers on request of the chief mate and there was no level reading for the tank in the ccr, therefor we tended to forget about it a little (had to write big notes on the wall to remind us if it was full or empty!)
During your period on board, how many times did you or anyone else for that matter - actually make visual readings of the vessels draft Forward, Midships and Aft, Port & Starboard sides, and do you think you would have known what to do with them if you had.
On the Combination Tanker/Carrier of the future, that will be exceptionally important - you should also do it on a tanker before entering fairways/waters with very limited under keel clearance.
Bulkshipsurveyor
Hmm bss - I see what you are getting at.
Seems to me that Tanker Cadet Ship might be an excellent idea after all.
Shipmaster Ret'd
The third officer took a look at the draft marks as part of his weekly routines, and a visual check was made prior to entering Whangerei and Brisbane - everywhere else UKC was not an issue. Oh and no I wouldn't know what to do with them.
As for the cadetship, I shall withold judgment as to what that is like, if I am placed upon it. I am not too keen to go there as I think I prefere the more relistic atmoshphere of a regular ship. But as I say this remains to be seen.
Well that sounds reasonable.
You are being gently introduced to the concept of Draft Survey - not generally practiced on a tanker - though it would do no harm if it was and could be highly beneficial under certain circumstances.
FP 15.10m
FS 15.13m
FMn 15.115m
Mid P 16.10m
Mid S 16.30m
Mid Mn 16.20m (small list)
Aft P 16.80
Aft S 16.88
Aft Mn 16.84
Mn of Fwd and Aft Drafts 15.9775
Mid Mn 16.20
Vessel is sagged 0.2225m
ie she is actually 22.25 cm deeper than Mn of Fore & Aft drafts suggest. - Already some of your UKC has "gone".(If she was even keel - but she is not in this case )
Got to be carefull - maybe thats why your sister ship touched bottom
or part of the reason.
Draft used for determining Displacement is Mean of Mean of Means
15.9775 + 16.20 / 2 = 16.08875
but first you have to apply 1st and second trim corrections.
You'll learn about them later.
Then you correct the displacement for density of water in which v/l is actually floating.
Its used to determine very accurately how much dry bulk cargo has been loaded/discharged.
Now you know how to determine hog/sag.
"N"
But there are further
"complications",
Cuz the draft marks are seldom painted on the side at the ford, mid & aft perpendiculars so the drafts as read have first to be corrected TO the perpendiculars cuz thats what the hydrostatic tables are "Calibrated" for.
That correction is dependant on trim - the greater the trim the greater the correction - but you'll learn all about that later.
"J"
Well there you are Rob - she's bent in the middle.
If she is deeper in the middle she is sagged, less deep in the middle she is hogged.
Boyscout.
Why you may ask, do you have to apply 1st and 2nd Trim corrections to the mean of the mean of the means, before you can determine displacement from the hydrostatic tables.
Well in a nutshell its because the centre of flotation will neither coincide with where the draft marks are painted nor with the midships perpendicular. The C of F is just like an annoying cadet, constantly on the move this way and that. So the deck officer has to be smart and calculate precisely where it is at any given moment in time, which depends on, Yes you've got it, Trim, but also on waterplane which varies according to how deep the hull is submerged.
It's a bit long winded, but it is only a matter of solving simple right angled triangles - the maths isn't really complicated - its just having the ability to "Picture" what you are doing, step by step. Thats where the good old lecturer with a blackboard or whiteboard can make things much simpler. It's a pity we can't draw sketches on this blog.
justme
Now then ROB, would you like me to introduce you to Mr. Simpson, the guy who made up the rules about waterplane areas - or would you prefer to wait a while.
Probably best that you wait a while, You just cannot learn everything at once, so be patient, you will learn it eventually and as you get keener to learn it, then the easier that learning becomes - it all boils down to are you interested, and do you have the financial arrangements in place without mortgaging yourself for life, before you get a chance to even start.
If you have to worry too much about financial committments, then that will inhibit your ability to learn.
Whilst at sea they feed you, or should do, they accommodate you reasonably, or should do, and they also pay you or should do,for even when you are learning on board, you are making a valuable contribution to the ships operation.
Some employers & or their clients abuse the situation, terribly so, in fact, but in your case, Chevron & Northern I rather suspect you're getting about as good as it gets.
Are you being paid whilst enjoying your leave, and attending college.
If so, then it's fair to expect you to give it your best shot - Mr Average can do it so I'm damned sure that for you it should be reasonably easy. You can still have the odd party, indeed you must, but not every night - once a week is more than enough. Once a fortnight - even better.
"Albatross"
wink wink
Never despair rob about that cadetship - she's new and you just never know - that nice Captain who left your ship in Hawai - might just be the guy in command of the cadet ship - just waiting to welcome you back again.
It's one of those things that Captains do when they know theyve got a good un.
Seems to me, from your accounts, that will be applicable to you.
Capt (Ret'd)
Seems a distinct possibility to me, logical too.
After all he seemed to have created a good impression with the cadet whose blog this is, so why not with a whole bunch of them.
Rob may have missed that point, but I doubt if Chevron/Northern will have.
pp
BINGO - someone just hit the Jackpot
Perhaps even the penny has dropped ????
BSS
Elders Say:-
Spirits Say "That was nice".
Did you get your steering certificate Rob.
Luv Dorothy
Due to lack of appreciation,funding cuts,budget limitations, global warming,and sheer exhaustion, the team at "on line theatricals" is disbandoning, but may be regrouping elsewhere.
We wish you well looking forward, confident that such future is in capable hands.
Au revoir cyber "mate" R
:)
Well, unfortunately that Captain is unlikely to sail with me again. He has returned to the U.S fleet from where he came. Was only in the international fleet to gain command experience on his first ship before taking over as Captain of a new delivery for the U.S fleet. - I think it was to get experience of that type of engine rather than the gas turbines the yank ships have. Anyhow never mind. I am sure there are plenty more brilliant Captains out there! Not quite sure what the comment above is about?? any ideas?? Oh and finally, thankyou Dorothy, your comment are always welcome and your "elders" advice well received, please thank them for me! I completed time on the wheel to gain my steering certificate which will be issued ashore.
Thats "Magic" R - go for it kid, and never look back - well apart from the occassional glance over your shoulder.
wink
Dorothy.
I endorse the remarks of Dorothy, and when you get the opportunity to work in the engine room, pulling units, crawling through scavenge spaces, inspecting bottom and top end bearings, and the like, you should grab it - whenever you can - but your own job takes preference of course.
Thats "Magic", and with the fullness of time will insulate you against unadulterated bullshit. That insulation you will need, when you become Captain yourself - and I have one hell of a gut feeling that you will - if you want to, that is.
J.
Thats right R its all true.
Think back to your Chevron Medical - remember ?
They know what they are doing - right from the start !!!!
Blackdog.
And this might suprise you R
In the case of the Malapasi Castle,
It's a bit like "The Parrot Sketch"
- This ship is Demised.
(I reckon the company is too).
The guy who said that was a schoolmate of mine, and when he left he went straight to Sandhurst believe it or not.
But that school was different in those days to what it is today -
Because we had nothing - we had the best - especially with teachers and extra curricula activities - but it was tough - and exceedingly exciting some times.
I was with the school CCF. So was he.My Commanding Officer, - a lot of the time - I was also his fag, but we were looked after - it was rough at times - no wrapping us up in cotton wool there - a bit strict and brutal some might say - but no - not really.
I'd certainly go back there again -but its all changed now - I believe.
Cadet & Schoolkid 118.
1959/1960/61 - about.
When are you going to do the Advanced Fire Fighting Course.
At the basic one you said - You couldn't do it - but you did.
And sooner or later, you'll be going the advanced one as well, - once again - you'll be amazed at what you can do, - that doesn't mean you'll want to do that bit of training too often - Once should be enough - believe me, you'll be very fire conscious after that.
Commodore Bond.
Steering Certificate - Issued ashore.
That stinks - it wasn't acheived ashore - it should be issued by the Captain 0n board - only he can judge your profficiency - and then decide if you are good enough for the likes of the Suez Canal.
But in typical madness - company policy may and probably precludes that - it's crap - Never like that in the old days. "Training" they call it - they wouldn't know what the word means.
And whilst I am at it, I really don't think the Captain Sailed with you - I think it was the other way round - Don't let that head swell too much - it might just get "damaged" if it does.
A bit of cheek is ok sometimes, but don't step over that all important line in the sand.
The line you must draw for yourself.
Finale
You're doing just fine rob.
But it is true, there is a lot to it, and even 30 years from now you'll be discovering things you just did not expect to. By that time however - you'll just take it all in your stride.
The deck/engine demarkation thing - there's no place for that - but if you work for "Pure Managers" - they love it and will play it for everything they can get out of it.
The promotion of disharmony on board is their game as often as not, create chaos & confusion, cause one crisis after another, then of course having acheived that, they'll fly somebody out to fix it, thinking they'll get a big pat on the back from the client.
Too often they do or did, but maybe just not so often these days.
Your aim should be a contract between yourself and reputable owners - not between yourself and some second rate intermediary.
But I don't think you will get that for a while - you see you're still "in training" & under assessment no doubt. It will happen tho - just give them time to complete their assessment. Warsash will have an input there I expect - blue skies - thats what I see for you - but be prepared always for that stormy weather - it's always there somewhere, and it can hit you an awfull lot quicker than you may think - especially if you cannot get out of the road - for some reason or another. Those reasons may be many and varied.
Theory is theory - reality is different, but you must know the theory at the start.
Elder.
There's truth in what the elder says
But this is true also, It will never be the same as it was in the old days, nor in my view, as safe, nothing like it in fact, and as for "job satisfaction" well that will never return - too many smart asses ashore, too many computers, all subjected to bugs and to virus's, feeding out crap 10 times worse than that which is fed into them .
"someone"
Have you worked out how to shut down your blog yet, and have you decided whether you are going to or not ?
Admirer.
Nope, I wont be closing it down. In fact after I return to college I intend to continue updating it regularly.
I am sure the world wide web has plenty more subscribers who have yet to stumble across it, but whom will.
R
Good On Ya Rob.
But don't be suprised if they don't legislate to close it down, for no other reason than "It's Popular".
We can't have that can we - it may constitute a terrorist threat or something.
Aye - That's errosion of free speach and civil liberties.
Europe of the 1930's - some might argue.
Or maybe Just Political Correctness.
J
The important thing is,
When you get back to College, the lecturers should realise "Hey here's a guy who really wants to learn something"
Can you really even imagine just how much of a boost to moral that will be.
Long overdue - I suspect.
Thats Magic.
So be sure that you do - they'll be very very sad - if you don't.
J
"From Little Things, Big Things Grow."
"For I had a dream"
" We have nothing to fear but fear itself"
"Never in the field of Human Conflict"
"We shall fight them on the beaches"
Just Some thoughts for questions on quiz nights.
wink, wink.
Gosh Rob,
Just to recap,
No Lantern Test.
No Steering Certificate (as yet)
What you gonna do if some airline looses your record book, or someone steals it?
And in considering some other comments on advanced training, here and elsewhere,
Just be sure you're not heading for the engine room bilges, and in for a good frying - on the way.
LOL
Better enjoy yourself whilst you can.
Certified copies - thats what you need - see a J.P.
Boyscout.
LOL
Thats true BS.
It's another example of deteriorating conditions.
Today you can't get in at the bottom, but in the old days you quite often could.
"Fire below" - good movie that was - for hi-ex foam, and boy was it good,- but you needed a generator for that, and a storage tank. I remember accidentally discharging such a system once - routine testing - open the valve then shut it, but the valve wheel came off in my hand, (and there was no stilson to be had) - once started it couldn't be stopped - within a couple of minutes the pumproom was full, and the bubbles were coming out of the top, pouring out in fact, all over the deck, so I shut the door, but it just started cascading down on me from the vents above. We had no walkie talkies on that ship and no stop button for the fire pumps. Just shouting and waving of arms.
The Captain just was not amused,- at least not initially.
No one below tho of course - but they'd probably have been OK if there was. You could live in that stuff,- walk through it - no problem at all. Never saw it on any other vessel.
She was an old Shell Ship - H class, if my memory serves me correctly - a free flow ship. A bitch of a thing to load, but OK for discharge.
Cap (Ret'd)
Well there you are rob - thats it in a nutshell.
Avoid starting anything until you are sure you can stop it by some means or another.
It applies to all things in life, but if you fail on that one - well don't despair - even the might of the USA has failed on it,so far at any rate.
No exit strategy.
Aviation Training is probably the best in that respect right from start up thro taxi, through take off, climb out, cruise, descent, approach, final approach, touch down, taxi, and final shutdown.
And whats more - it works - just rules and procedures - but good ones - not crap, designed to look good but in essence just a pain in the ass. But they also have everything they need right there on the flight deck before them,
and they don't fly by committee, and meetings - they do that stuff before and after.
Mariners have a long way to go - but they have much more to consider and contend with - the big picture is bigger, much bigger in fact - but of course, it all happens more slowly.
Have a great life - but you should already be considering that exit strategy - your personal contingency plan, - if you like.
Elder 2
Have you read and taken in the content of Employment Forum:-
Help - What would you do, in the other domain you frequent. Most importantly the postings on page 3/4, and the accompanying photos.(Member Z***d)
You should do, and the whole string.
It's how you can so easily get caught out, but at least in the case mentioned it occurred within the EEU so presumably that was the reason they were able to walk off.
Had it occurred outside the EU they may not have been able to do that without becoming persons unauthorised to disembark - and all the consequences thereof.
It depends on where, when and how, your immigration procedures are processed by "agents" at the location of joining. All too frequently you are classified as "in Transit" or "cleared outward" by immigration, before even sighting the vessel. Thats how you can become "Unstuck" and the subject of virtual unlawfull detention and other matters constituting serious seafarer abuse.
Always be aware of it should they try to place you somewhere you really know nothing about.
If possible don't let them clear you outward prior to sighting your vessel and indeed performing your own "Inspection". It's not the whole solution, but if you can do that - it helps.
I'm sure you understand what I mean, and the indications are that you had an idea from the start, when you commented on your nervousness re - recruiting agents.
Good luck & take care.
wink wink, wink wink, wink wink.
Hey Man !!!
Are those long or short winks.
LOL
Boyscout
A Possible Solution when in doubt:-
1.Arrive at Foreign airport.
2.Clear Customs and Immigration (Inwards)
3.Proceed to Baggage Reclaim.
4.Proceed to Arrivals Area & meet agent.
5. When agent demands your passport
say No. Same goes for anyone else.
6. Advise agent you expect to see vessel first and "inspect" it.
7. On satisfactory inspection completion, advise agent you are now ready to be cleared outward, along with the ship - or alternatively - you wish to be immediately repatriated.
8. If problematic - demand contact with nearest British Consul or consulate agent - so check such availability at destination, prior to even leaving home.
It's the best I can suggest - Cybermate.
Good idea cybermates.
And should the ship be lying "off limits" just tell them to bring the thing in so you can complete your own "formalities" as outlined.
That way, you can minimise the possibility of forced "Imprisonment" on some "Off Limits Trader" engaged in illegal trading from, for example, "Off limits" Gulf of Kutch to North Korea. Thats just one example, there could be many many others indeed.
Same goes for those "suspect" vessels anchored precisely on Port Limits, swinging in and out with the tide and those clearly outside but perhaps only marginally so.
Beware of joining by helicopter and launches under like circumstances.
"D" stands for Danger - so too many others I suspect.
"Deputy Dog".
25th March 2007
Don't know if you have experienced computer problems since your return, but in future when returning from sea, and plugging back in to the net, your very first port of call must be your antivirus website, followed by microsoft update.
You may experience terrible problems if you don't.
Can't help you no more - it's all up to you from now on.
Bugs Bunny.
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