Another lockdown… another commute

[cyrille]

I always thought it was the Captain or slang"skipper" was in charge?

Commander of the fleet sounds more appropriate.

Umm…what?

[nidhogg]

I always thought it was the Captain or slang"skipper" was in charge?

Commander of the fleet sounds more appropriate.

Often, but not always a Captain. PT Boats (a boat with a crew) could be commanded by an Ensign.

[Joe 90]

Often, but not always a Captain. PT Boats (a boat with a crew) could be commanded by an Ensign.

Commander of a submarine is correct.

Where you in the Navy?

[Stumpy]

according to JPPR2 its cheap slop, but then again he does fly business class and have a driver!

Standards ootai, we must have standards. I mean I could eat that food as a 1 time event but if that's what gets shoved out there every day for the entire time it would be tough. It looks like jail food....

[Mendip]

Lots of comments about the food... not so many about the challenging work we're doing.

But anyway...

Mendy....I gotta say that food looks like cheap slop. Looks like some of the stuff you posted living in Isaan.

Drink more, eat less...

It may look like slop but there's nothing cheap in Norway. The contractors I work for have this vessel on long term charter and I'd hate to think how much the shipping company charge for victualing per person for a day... but I'm sure there wouldn't be much change out of 100 quid a day.

And if I stay for the duration my next drink won't be until December.

I would have the Whale meat once a week.

I've never seen whale served on this vessel but I've worked on plenty of Norwegian boats that do serve it... I don't agree and don't eat it.

Mendip
In my eyes the food offering/s you showed look great there is something in amongst all that for any fussy eater.
I assume they offer bread for making toast, cause you can't eat cold toast which it would be if they made it.

Also is there a microwave there that you could use, that would solve the cold bacon issue.
I could see myself making a nice burgers with those things that are in there with the bacon and fish balls. If they provide bread that is.

I think you've spent too long in Isaan if you think this looks good Ootai...

Yeah, we have a microwave and bread but it's still soggy, fat soaked bacon and a variety of other fried 'meats', and I think you'll find your nice burgers will taste distinctly fish-like if you make them using those flat, congealed round things. They ain't meat.

The point is I really don't want a crappy fry-up for my main meal of the day... my other meal is cereal or a bowl of Filipino soup for my breakfast before I start shift at midnight. Try having a microwaved congealed bacon sarnie or fish burger every day for 3 months for your main meal... I'm not a fussy eater but that's shite.

To be fair, I have had waaaaay worse breakfast buffets in Nakon Nowhere upcountry hotels. Look like enough variety to keep it interesting for a few days. After that mind.....

A few days maybe Nid... but a few weeks? And it ain't my breakfast, I'm on nights.

Sorry mate but that food looks like something that definitely wouldnt be easy to look forward to at meal times, the salad bar looks passable if the galley could cook to order a decent steak to put on the side though..

As you know HW, the meals are one of the few things to look forward to when you're offshore... there should be some variety and the food should at least be palatable. I have the salad with a tin of fish or cold cuts... no chance of steak any time but 6pm on a Saturday night on this boat... while I sleep.

No visible sapalot, (pineapple) other fruits, pancakes/maple syrup either. Poor show.

Which nation's offshore ships have the best food?

There is also a fruit bar... this boat has a good selection of fruit, I'll give them that.

For me the food on British boats takes some beating... proper sausages, lots of pies and you often get a hot pudding with custard.

I once worked on an Italian boat in the Med... these guys took meal times seriously... you were expected to wear a shirt and it was great food with a glass of wine and this was long after North Sea boats had gone completely dry. That's all gone now of course... HSE is everywhere these days.

Half a plate of that crispy bacon, few potatoes and cover it in beans and you're sorted. Lovely.

And I would enjoy that once in a while... but not every day. There's a reason sailors used to get scurvy.


Anyway, mustn't grumble... it'll be good for the weight loss. I'm not a fussy eater but like to eat healthily... I'll eat all sorts of Isaan food so long as it's not too hot and doesn't smell like rotten fish... I've even tried the wife's rat when she gets one from one of her 'country' friends.

This was my last meal in Bangkok before flying out last Monday night... a week ago already!

I'd love a larb moo now.



It's also a week since my last alcohol... a glass of wine on the Lufthansa flight. This is definitely a good thing about being offshore... I have few completely dry days when I'm home and after 7 months of virtual lockdown the intake was going up and I started to get bit concerned I had a problem. But as soon as I got offshore I've not even thought about a drink and if I stay onboard for the duration it'll be 3 dry months. That has to be a good thing.

[dirk diggler]

I consulted a Captain friend:

[Stumpy]

if I stay onboard for the duration it'll be 3 dry months. This has to be a good thing.

Depends who you ask... LOL. But I think in your case it is a good thing. Drinking Thai solvent with Leo chasers is not healthy and your liver will appreciate the break.....

[cyrille]

I think in civilian terms it is just a matter of common sense and size

Just what I was thinking, funnily enough.

A giveaway was that everyone asking the question seemed to most likely know the answer.

[Mendip]

This thing I'm on is 95 metes long with gross tonnage of 6074.

I'm sure it's big enough to be a ship but everyone refers to them as boats... 'what boat were you on?', 'what was the food like on that boat?' etc etc.

I think I'll go with 'vessel' for the rest of this thread to play it safe.

[dirk diggler]

I’m waiting patiently for a picture of the gym.

Which means we will know when the hard work starts.

Is there a half decent rec room? Cinema? Table tennis? Darts? Music room, games room, Sun beds, Sauna/steam room?*

*Many will think I’m taking the piss, but I’m not.

[ootai]

JPPR@ I agree that everyone should have standards but when it comes to food my a pretty low especially if I'm hungry. My Missus reckons I would eat shit and say it tastes OK.

However having said that there are a lot of fussy fukkers that post on here. When I used to live in the Single quarters while working in the mines there were lots of guys who used to complain about the food served in the mess then when you seen them away from the mess they would be eating total crap and reckoned it was lovely.

It's also a week since my last alcohol... a glass of wine on the Lufthansa flight. This is definitely a good thing about being offshore... I have few completely dry days when I'm home and after 7 months of virtual lockdown the intake was going up and I started to get bit concerned I had a problem. But as soon as I got offshore I've not even thought about a drink and if I stay onboard for the duration it'll be 3 dry months. That has to be a good thing.

Mendip believe me just stopping your alcohol intake does not automatically mean weight loss. I have been DRY for over 38 years now and I'm still a fat bastard.

To lose weight you have to make sure less calories go into your body than your body burns up, simple as that.

I must be one of the lucky ones who has never had problems with time zone changes or working odd hours. I just what is available when I'm hungry, sleep when I'm tired or get the opportunity.
Only issue I have ever had is sleeping in a moving conveyance i.e. car or plane so I am not sure about being on a boat full time. Does the motion of the sea make you/people sleep better or worse?

[cyrille]

I'm sure it's big enough to be a ship but everyone refers to them as boats... 'what boat were you on?', 'what was the food like on that boat?' etc etc.

It's just like a term of affection though, don't you think?

Everyone knows they're ships.

[Stumpy]

JPPR@ I agree that everyone should have standards but when it comes to food my a pretty low especially if I'm hungry. My Missus reckons I wo

See I am the opposite, if the food is terrible I won't eat it. I might pick at it but I'd sooner pass. Of course that decision is based on the belief better food will be available later. If all I was going to get was trays of cold, pressed, fake meat and caterer trays of frozen vegetables I would probably become a salad bar type for dinner and cereal Fruit type for lunch. I don't eat bfast so that saves me from one less walk by the slop trough every day.

[Saint Willy]

I’d walk by slops, the salads look good enough to me.

[Saint Willy]

Mind you, if they served steaks at 6pm, then I dunno, get out of bed and get one! (or two)

[marcusb]

It looks like jail food....

You've been in much posher jails than me.

[Topper]

You've been in much posher jails than me.

and me...

[Loy Toy]

Food is fuel and it beats me how an employer who needs to get the best out of their employees serve up shit grub like that.

I bet the vessel captain is not eating that shit.

[Topper]

I bet the vessel captain is not eating that shit.

I'd bet the captain does have to eat the same food as prepared for the crew on most occasions.

[helge]

I've never seen whale served on this vessel but I've worked on plenty of Norwegian boats that do serve it... I don't agree and don't eat it.

Well that little provocation didn't give me the responce I hoped for.

Must try harder

[Joe 90]

I'd bet the captain does have to eat the same food as prepared for the crew on most occasions.

I bet Mendip sits at the Captains table with a room like that.

Do they have a captains table on your Vessel Mendip or is that just posh cruise liners/ships/boats/tubs?

[malmomike77]

There is also a fruit bar... this boat has a good selection of fruit, I'll give them that.

Never a shortage of fruits on a boat

[panama hat]

Ok, let's get a different perspective on the ship/boat thingy. We have a saying that is roughly: A ship can transport a boat but a boat can't transport a ship.
A boat is under 50m and a ship over. (Bugger off about questions regarding a vessel that is exactly 50m)

Also, because it's German and therefore as precise as possible; in military parlance a ship has two senior officers - a Commander and a First Officer as it travels longer distances/further. A boat only has a Commander.

Submarines are different and are called boats because the size is calculated on what is beneath the water (obviously not while diving)

Never argue logic with a German.

I’d walk by slops, the salads look good enough to me.

Ah, not so cocky now, ape-boy! You've joined me on the meat-free side. Your body will thank you

[Stumpy]

Hey Mendy, Speaking of the food. On your off time can you fish? I'd be trying to hook me up some fresh fish then kick the chef a few bucks to cook it up for you and the big plus....you will not have to wade out and catch Snakehead fish and infect your toes.....

[Stumpy]

You've joined me on the meat-free side. Your body will thank you

Oh I do not think KW joined you on the meat free side....