Another lockdown… another commute

[David48atTD]

Are they the torpedo tubes?

Portholes?

If Portholes, are they on the starboard side, thus making them starboard holes?

Are the Flippers having some RnR in the next port of call?

Are they going onto the Black Sea?

---

Oh Mendy, if only you were having shore leave in Odessa (black sea)

[Mendip]

^ They are portholes, and on the port side.

But here ya go...

According to the Navy Department Library, the word "porthole" has nothing to do with its location on the port side of a ship, but originated during the reign of Henry VII of England (1485). The king insisted on mounting guns too large for his ships and therefore the conventional methods of securing the weapons on the forecastle and aftcastle could not be used. A French shipbuilder named James Baker was commissioned to solve the problem, which he did by piercing the ship's sides so the cannon could be mounted inside the fore and aft castles. For heavy weather and when the cannons were not in use, the openings were fitted with covers, that were called porte in French, meaning 'door'. "Porte" was Anglicized to "port" and later corrupted to porthole. Eventually, it came to mean any opening in a ship's side whether for cannon or not.

The Filipinos are part of the marine crew so of course will be with the vessel on the transit to and during the project in the Black Sea. They tend to work 2 months on/2 months off.

They most certainly won't be getting and R&R during our port call at crew change... it is one of the most busy times for the marine crew. The stewards/stewardesses will have around 20 cabins to change bedding and make up for the new arrivals. The Filipino ABs will be busy taking on stores and organising bunkering... they will be flat out during the time alongside. I think this contract only allows 4 hours for crew changes at client expense, after that the contractor picks up the tab. We bump alongside, everything happens, then we leave. R&R is for when you leave the vessel.

[David48atTD]

^ Great fact.

What about POSH ?

<snip> ... the folk etymology that POSH is formed from the initials of port out starboard home (referring to the more comfortable accommodation, out of the heat of the sun, on ships between England and India).

[ootai]

It's very nice of him to do this... but he's also a complete tosser. I've spent two weeks trying to get him to plate up small portions with practically no carbs and I was finally getting somewhere... and now he does this this. He leaves the vessel tomorrow so excelled himself tonight as a parting gesture... a huge roast chicken meal with two types of potato AND an apple crumble with custard pudding. What a dilemma this puts me in... I haven't had a single pudding or biscuit in two weeks but what can I do. Like I say, what a tosser to put me in this situation...

I think earlier in this thread someone said you were becoming a "remoaner" but that's not true you are just a MOANER.
Just eat the food and put on the weight the paddies are waiting

[Stumpy]

Just eat the food and put on the weight the paddies are waiting

[Saint Willy]

Well, he is English after all!

[Klondyke]

The galley on this ship is kept absolutely spotless.

Lucky for the whales, no contamination for them...

[Mendip]

^^^^ A MOANER!!! I'm surprised you think that... I've always thought of myself as quite a positive person?


Anyway, today we headed back in to Kristiansund for a crew change. This boat goes into port every two weeks to change out crew and I'm very glad it does... the alternative would be helicopters and I hate the bladdy things.

It was a shitty transit in through 4 metre seas and once in shelter from the islands it was still shitty weather.



One of Katie's compatriots disappeared down a hatch at the front of the helideck to make ready the forecastle mooring ropes.



The 'Hannah Kristina' cargo ship... I wonder what the story is behind her name? A wife or a girlfriend I guess.



The skipper decided to reverse in to the berth.



And did a fine job... I've yet to see a female captain of a boat but I'm sure they must exist.



We approached the same berth we left from two weeks ago... it was raining then and it's still raining now. What a bleak place Norway is... constant shitty weather. Two taxis were already waiting...



I stopped watching at that point because why torture yourself when you're not getting off the boat? I must admit I'm starting to wonder how wise it was to commit to a 14 week trip... I've only been on for 2 weeks and I've had enough already. In 30 years of working offshore the longest trip at sea I've done was 10 weeks... that was in 1991 when I was young, stupid and keen, and the work was liberally disrupted by many alcohol-sodden port calls. I was also friendly with a Norwegian stewardess back then which helped things along.

There's none of that behaviour these days of course... now it's a slog and it'll be 14 weeks of continuous, busy 12 hour shifts. I think it may just destroy what little sanity I have left after 7 months in Isaan... but still, mustn't grumble... or I'll have Ootai on me back again.

After shift on the way to my cabin I did of course take a peak outside to torture myself. It'll be my turn to walk down that gangway in 12 weeks!

And the stores had arrived...



Three slabs of baked beans... lovely, I think I'll treat meself to a breakfast tomorrow!

[bsnub]

Three slabs of baked beans...

[Saint Willy]

Mendy, while away from the family I’d work as much as I can get, you don’t get paid for time off or visiting family!

[Stumpy]

HAHAHAHA Snubs...I said the same thing. Imagine, Baked beans over fried SPAM......

[ootai]

^^^^ A MOANER!!! I'm surprised you think that... I've always thought of myself as quite a positive person?

I stopped watching at that point because why torture yourself when you're not getting off the boat? I must admit I'm starting to wonder how wise it was to commit to a 14 week trip... I've only been on for 2 weeks and I've had enough already. In 30 years of working offshore the longest trip at sea I've done was 10 weeks... that was in 1991 when I was young, stupid and keen, and the work was liberally disrupted by many alcohol-sodden port calls. I was also friendly with a Norwegian stewardess back then which helped things along.

There's none of that behaviour these days of course... now it's a slog and it'll be 14 weeks of continuous, busy 12 hour shifts. I think it may just destroy what little sanity I have left after 7 months in Isaan... but still, mustn't grumble... or I'll have Ootai on me back again.

Mate I don't mean to be so harsh but you were moaning about what looked like a delicious meal with pudding as well, that is just unacceptable.

However moaning about 14 weeks of 12 hour shifts that is a whole different ball game.
I don't envy you one little bit it is going to be hard to stay mentally on top of it all but just remember just like all good things end so do all bad things.
Plus you should have a bigger bank balance at the end.

I don't really want to remind you of what you are missing but that picture of your daughter and Yogi you posted was unbelievable I have never seen him look like that before.
I now trust what you told me about him. I would love to spend more time with him as I reckon i could get him to come around to liking me a bit more.

Any reports on the pond or the fish from the gardener?

[ootai]

HAHAHAHA Snubs...I said the same thing. Imagine, Baked beans over fried SPAM......

would be delicious if they were Hienz beans.

[bsnub]

Imagine, Baked beans over fried SPAM......

I will take spam any day.

would be delicious if they were Hienz beans.

An American castaway.

[cyrille]

From a very young age.

He spells in conch shells.

[aging one]

I will take spam any day.

No No No. Even in Arabia 60 years ago that stuff was the last choice. I grew up on Campbell's pork and beans, and with some meals I like the baked beans here, but they are much sweeter than Campbell's . Not at breakfast though.

[cyrille]

Spam is the devil's fucking spawn.

Nobody but a filipino and possibly Topper would take that ahead of beans.

[Topper]

possibly Topper would take that ahead of beans.

I'd take spam ahead of any canned beans. I can honestly say I've not eaten baked beans from a can in decades.

However, tomorrow I might be getting some canned black eyed peas.

[dirk diggler]

Going home from the rig like…

[Stumpy]

Campbell's pork and beans,

I remember those, never ate them. I always passed on Pork and Beans. Way to runny and usually to sweet. My Mom used to make Split pea soup with a big ham hock in it and homemade Chili with Beans.

[ootai]

From a very young age.

He spells in conch shells.

Wow another awe inspiring post from the Master.
And I'm the one who gets accused of posting meaningless drivel!
You have exceeded my expectations once again.

[katie23]

Spam is the devil's fucking spawn.

Nobody but a filipino and possibly Topper would take that ahead of beans.

LOL. If you give an ordinary, mid to lower class Filipino a can of Spam, he/she will take it gladly. A can of baked beans, it depends...

As for me, I'd prefer Spam over baked beans, but I rarely eat either of the two.

[dirk diggler]

Spam fritters anyone?

[katie23]

^err, I'll pass.

Dirk, is that a Scottish thing? Like deep fried Mars bars?

[PAG]

^err, I'll pass.

Dirk, is that a Scottish thing? Like deep fried Mars bars?

Spam fritters were reasonably popular UK wide, though probably more so in Scotland.