Set to Sail to Cape Town

Now it is only a matter of counting down the time before we lift up the anchor and start our sailing journey first to Cape Town (South Africa)then to Vitoria (Brazil). As for me, i have been waiting for this chance for so long. Starting from the begining of the project, i would always want to finish the project and see the vessel leaving the port. But even since i join the commissioing team,sailing with the vessel has become my target. To be able to get the installed / constructed items / modules / system running at their desired condition has been the duty of all the commissioning team.

Because of the nature of the work that you just couldnt correctly estimate how long it will take to commmission a system, sometimes we need to stay back until 9pm at yard finishing the job. Giving the short period of time due to work delay by the construction team, needless to say we have to work 7 days a week. But all the hard work finally pay off...the vessel is on its way sailing to Brazil...

Today started quite relaxing. I did some paper work in the morning, and going around to check the fire water system and modification work for the condensate system for the gland steam condenser. In the afternoon, we had our safety induction course,and about 230pm the captain arranged a fire drill to prepare everyone onboard about things to do during emergency. It seems pretty simple and easy for us until dinner time. Everything seems prepared and set for sailing.

First, there was news that the main engine is not gonna get started due to some problem with the govenor. Then there was a problem that the storage of the fresh water is too little, and might not enough to fire the engine room boiler so that might prevent us from sailing.At about 10pm, i was in the engine control room, standing by to see what i can help (apprently i cant, but i just want to be there to see how the problem get solve). Sooner, the the RO unit (reverse osmosis unit)that we kept runnning since 630pm in the evening was found to be leaking....trying to figure out the problem, i pull along my colleague who have much more experience than me together to get the problem solve. Then it came my boss, and the offshore installation manager and the maintainent superintendent.Suddenly the machinery space become more lively though the flanges still leaking as we tried to figure out which flanges actually clothing the discharge line. At about 2am in the morning, we finally figure out and solve the problem after opening 4 flanges and found out that it is actually the problem of the failure valve which clothed the line. SO happily pack up our tools and went back to retake our bath and change our soaking cloth...

Despite having to work till midnight, i am still very excited as i get to know that the vessel is gonna leave at about 6am in the morning. So,i am ready with my camera to take down the memorable moment sacrifising my sleep. I found some noted written on the board about sailing speed and arriving date in cape town..

If we sail at 10 knots/hr----arriving at Cape town on 30 Jan 09
If we sail at 11 knots/hr----arriving at Cape town on 28 Jan 09
If we sail at 12 knots/hr----arriving at Cape town on 26 Jan 09

I hope that i will be able to reach home by 1 Feb 09 for CNY.

Feel sleepy now...may be i need a coffee ...i gonna miss all you guys....


Wait to see more picture ba...