I was able to post one blog entry early in my voyage on the Maersk Wyoming. Unfortunately my ship came under internet restriction. Due to the fact that the ship is only allowed 20 GB of internet usage a month we were asked to limit the amount of time we spent on the internet. This meant that the blogging had to fall by the way side. Now that I am back from the Commercial Shipping Term I would love to tell everyone all about it.
On December 18th I reported to the Maersk Wyoming. The Wyoming is a 950 ft. container ship. We departed that same evening bound for Dubai, U.A.E. The trip across the Atlantic Ocean was easy and slow going. We didn't see too many ships or hit any significant seas. On Christmas Day the Captain and I passed out gifts from the Seafarers Center in Charleston, SC. On the same day we passed through the Straits of Gibraltar. The Straits of Gibraltar were very exciting. The volume of ship traffic that passed through there at one time was incredible.
From Gibraltar we made our way over across the Mediterranean Sea over to the Suez Canal. At this point we made anchor before entering the canal. The canal was one of the most exciting points of the entire trip. The volume of ship traffic that passes through there on a daily basis is absolutely staggering. As soon as we go through the canal and let the pilot go, the Captain turned to me and said "Junior, you better look at the chart mighty quick. I'm giving you the con in 30 seconds." Now for those of you who don't know, the con is the control of the vessel. This means that all maneuvers, navigation, and radio communication were my call. It was my ship. I was scared at first but I was able to settle into my surroundings. I felt a lot better when I got the ship of the channel and into the open waters of the Red Sea. I took the con quite a few times during our voyage.
Our first port was Dubai. I spent nearly 21 days on the ship before getting off in Duabi. Unfortunately we did not get too far from the ship that night because we were restricted from leaving the port after 0000. Instead we went to the Seamans club and relaxed. After Dubai we went to Pakistan. We didn't get off here because again we arrived in the late afternoon and were leaving early in the morning. Our next stop in Mumbai (Bombay), India was a long one (20 hours). We were able to go ashore into the city and get some lunch. The restaurant was excellent service and quality. In India I saw a lot of poverty. I am very thankful for all that I have in such a great country. After India we started heading West to Salalah, Oman. Oman is very a beautiful country. Sand and mountains as far as the eye can see, but there was something about it that made it look exceptional. In Oman we went to the Oasis Club and enjoyed a nice meal before heading back to work.
After Oman we made our way back to the states. On our way back through the Mediterranean I passed the ship my girlfriend was on at less than two miles in the middle of the night. We talked on the VHF radio for about an hour. One of the coolest parts of the trip.
Our first port was Dubai. I spent nearly 21 days on the ship before getting off in Duabi. Unfortunately we did not get too far from the ship that night because we were restricted from leaving the port after 0000. Instead we went to the Seamans club and relaxed. After Dubai we went to Pakistan. We didn't get off here because again we arrived in the late afternoon and were leaving early in the morning. Our next stop in Mumbai (Bombay), India was a long one (20 hours). We were able to go ashore into the city and get some lunch. The restaurant was excellent service and quality. In India I saw a lot of poverty. I am very thankful for all that I have in such a great country. After India we started heading West to Salalah, Oman. Oman is very a beautiful country. Sand and mountains as far as the eye can see, but there was something about it that made it look exceptional. In Oman we went to the Oasis Club and enjoyed a nice meal before heading back to work.
After Oman we made our way back to the states. On our way back through the Mediterranean I passed the ship my girlfriend was on at less than two miles in the middle of the night. We talked on the VHF radio for about an hour. One of the coolest parts of the trip.
The U.S coastwise trip was rough. By rough I mean that it was physically strenuous. We would get up early in the morning before the sun rose to take the ship in to port and would leave that same night. Generally these ports would be almost a 24 hour day. Out of the three different ports we went to in the U.S., Charleston, S.C. was certainly my favorite. This was because we were able to get off, get a cheeseburger and truly relax. Also it was over 70 degrees out that day and it was February 2nd! On the 5th of February we left Newark, NJ again and started our trip across the pond with the intention of going to Dubai.
As I mentioned above, we had the intention of going straight to Dubai. When were about a days travel from Newark we had a small fire in the main engine. The fire was in one of the scavenge spaces below one of the pistons. The engineers were able to put the fire out quick and shut the engine down before the situation got worse. We floated for a couple of hours. This happened twice more and we had to drift dead in the water for over a day. In the end we had to take two pistons offline and limp to Spain for repairs. I got off in Algeciras, Spain and returned home on the 16th of February. Spain was an amazing sight, by far the most beautiful country that I visited on my travels this winter. On my way to the airport I was able to see the sun rise over the Mediterranean and hit the mountains in southern Spain. I wish words could capture that sight, but the fact is that somethings need to be seen in person.
All in all my winter aboard the Maersk Wyoming was very rewarding. I learned a lot, certainly more than I thought I would. I look forward to shipping on my license as a career one day very soon.
As I mentioned above, we had the intention of going straight to Dubai. When were about a days travel from Newark we had a small fire in the main engine. The fire was in one of the scavenge spaces below one of the pistons. The engineers were able to put the fire out quick and shut the engine down before the situation got worse. We floated for a couple of hours. This happened twice more and we had to drift dead in the water for over a day. In the end we had to take two pistons offline and limp to Spain for repairs. I got off in Algeciras, Spain and returned home on the 16th of February. Spain was an amazing sight, by far the most beautiful country that I visited on my travels this winter. On my way to the airport I was able to see the sun rise over the Mediterranean and hit the mountains in southern Spain. I wish words could capture that sight, but the fact is that somethings need to be seen in person.
All in all my winter aboard the Maersk Wyoming was very rewarding. I learned a lot, certainly more than I thought I would. I look forward to shipping on my license as a career one day very soon.
Pictures:
-View from the bridge.
-Myself in front of our Charlies Angels cut-out (Pirate Deterrent).
-View from the bridge.
-Myself in front of our Charlies Angels cut-out (Pirate Deterrent).
-Myself and the Engine Cadet Eric Shea at the cook out in the Red Sea.
-Stern view of the mighty Maersk Wyoming.
(The green bottles in the above picture is non-alcoholic beer at our cook-out.
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