Another lockdown… another commute

[Mendip]

... but that does look like fun.

Not if you forget to put on your harness, it doesn't!



The completion of the Grane work in the early hours ended a six month contract with this client, so in we headed to Haugesund for demob.

A beautiful morning for a cruise...



We were headed pretty well due east...



... into the rising sun.

Land ahoy!



Haugesund... a wealthy town that made it's money from herring. The nearby Stavanger is more of an oil centre.



The shipyard in the distance is often busy building topsides and refurbishing drilling rigs. It used to rely heavily on Geordie welders but I don't know who they use now... probably Poles.



We berthed on the small island of Killingøy where these contractors have a base. It's also this vessel's home port. The island is joined to the mainland by a causeway.

The view from the offside of the boat looked nice and peaceful.



Not a lot going on at the dockside either.



Today almost the entire marine crew changed out, most of the ROV crew left apart from a few to carry out some maintenance, and the entire survey crew left apart from yours truly. Once things had quietened down I had a pokey about on the dockside.







The survey ROV had been temporarily removed to a warehouse where some maintenance was being carried out.





This was why the ROV was removed from the vessel for the maintenance (which would usually have been carried out in the ROV hangar). The umbilical needs changing out for the Black Sea work... the water depth is up to 2.2km and we need a longer and thinner umbilical... the thinner the better to reduce drag in the water column and increase speed and stability at those depths.

The old umbilical first needs to be spooled off before the new one is spooled on. And then connections made to the ROV.



All of which I am hoping will take a very long time.



Although I fear that this won't take as long as I need and the current estimated departure to the Black Sea is late Thursday/early Friday. My Covid vaccination is booked for 09:20am on Friday morning, which is a bit of a pisser (but I'm most definitely not moaning about it, I think it's great). Tomorrow morning I'll head off to the vaccination centre in Haugesund and see if I can get a 'drop in' jab, after which I will hopefully take a trip down memory lane and have a good wander around town... I spent a large part of the 90s working in this place. Sadly there will be no beer tomorrow (which I am very happy about) but I hope to have a look around some old haunts and do a bit of reminiscing.

But forget about all that... the high point of this trip so far has been a free T-shirt. Dirk mentioned how rare they are in the offshore industry these days but I've been lucky catching the end of a long contract.

In fact I've been doubly lucky... there were a few left over so I've also got one for the missus for her Christmas!

[malmomike77]

^ nice ra(n)dome

[Stumpy]

Singapore Airline Spoon for a T shirt. ?

[Topper]

Why is your boat so far out of the water? It looks like only a couple of feet of draft left.

[Saint Willy]

Great pics Mendy

[Edmond]

Why is your boat so far out of the water? It looks like only a couple of feet of draft left.

Because he stepped off and wasn't on it at the time.









Only joking Mendy.

Great pics Mendy

Indeedio.

[Joe 90]

so I've also got one for the missus for her Christmas!

That could be dangerous if that's all she gets!

[helge]

It was descending from a platform helideck maybe 70 metres above sea level that I had a big problem with. I'm not great with heights and clutched that rope netting like a vice

You let go of your fishing rod ?

Hmm

[Saint Willy]

Because he stepped off and wasn't on it at the time.









Only joking Mendy.





Indeedio.

[ootai]

Not if you forget to put on your harness, it doesn't!

In fact I've been doubly lucky... there were a few left over so I've also got one for the missus for her Christmas!

So you got one big one and one small one by the looks of it. Is the small one for you after you lose all your excess weight and the big one in case you don't but instead add to it?
Which means it is time for an interim report on the progress and you should be able to get on a scale that is not effected by the movement of the ocean which allows you to deceive yourself.

Good luck getting a jab.

[Mendip]

Singapore Airline Spoon for a T shirt. ?

This might be possible, there's a few left. I can offer you Men's XXL or Ladies' Medium. Just let me know.

Why is your boat so far out of the water? It looks like only a couple of feet of draft left.

Because he stepped off and wasn't on it at the time.

Yeah... same old jokes. I'll be the one laughing when I finally get off this damn boat in a couple of months. I've fixed my trainers and haven't had a single biscuit now in over a month.

The maximum draught of this vessel is reported at 6.7 metres, and while I did indeed step off the gangway and onto the quayside to take my pictures I'd like to think that I'm not soley reprehensible for our current shallow draught.

This boat usually has a port call every two weeks so they tend to let everything run low... the lack of ballast is annoying in bad weather.

During this port call, before we depart for the Black Sea we'll be taking on 600 cubic metres of fuel along with a lot of other stuff, including no doubt a lorry load of salted cod and mutton to keep the Norwegians happy. That should settle us down in the water a bit.

Which means it is time for an interim report on the progress and you should be able to get on a scale that is not effected by the movement of the ocean which allows you to deceive yourself.

Very good point Ootai. I'm busy today but I'll look into this first thing tomorrow.

[Shutree]

Very good point Ootai. I'm busy today but I'll look into this first thing tomorrow.

Good photos.

Are you still scheduled for a Covid jab tomorrow?

[Mendip]

^ I have a definite appointment for a jab at 09:20am tomorrow... but it's not for sure we'll still be here. Today I plan to go to the vaccination centre around 11am when I've been advised I may be able to get a 'drop in' jab, so long as someone hasn't turned up for theirs.

At the moment it's absolutely pissing it down which has delighted me of course, but hopefully the torrential rain will put some fair-weather Norwegian off keeping their appointment.

[Shutree]

Today I plan to go to the vaccination centre around 11am when I've been advised I may be able to get a 'drop in' jab,

Good luck.

[Saint Willy]

Today I plan to go to the vaccination centre around 11am when I've been advised I may be able to get a 'drop in' jab, so long as someone hasn't turned up for theirs.

Good luck!

[Stumpy]

Ladies' Medium.

A XXL well....I would be swimming in the thing...... My wife will like it

And Good Luck on vaccination

[Joe 90]

Fingers crossed you got your jab Mendip.

[Reg Dingle]

Talking of pricks, has there been any actual work going on in this thread? I haven't seen a hint of any labour yet.

And what kind of bloke grafts all day and then spends his evenings documenting it?

It appears to be one long floating wankfest.

[helge]

Are you out of Haugesund yet ?

There is a low pressure passing north of Denmark and it is at this moment re- arranging my garden furniture.

I really do not like strong winds

Take care of your tea cup.

[malmomike77]

re- arranging my garden furniture.

At least your garden furniture will last through to next summer. In the UK with the Gas shortage and Electricity price increases people will burning theirs to stay warm.

[helge]

At least your garden furniture will last through to next summer.

They are my neighbors garden furniture by now.

[Edmond]

Talking of pricks, has there been any actual work going on in this thread? I haven't seen a hint of any labour yet.

Ah shure, he's now en route to the Black Sea via the Med.


Oh, I gotta pick up yet another passport in Bangkok.


Oh, I gotta spend the autumn sailing through the Mediterranean.


The foker's playing everyone for mugs.

[Mendip]

^ What, so no-one else had to renew passports on a regular basis?

Are you out of Haugesund yet ?

There is a low pressure passing north of Denmark and it is at this moment re- arranging my garden furniture.

Not yet Helge, we've had a couple of delays. I can attest that it's blowing a hoolie outside and I'm not looking forward to sailing out into that.

Talking of pricks, has there been any actual work going on in this thread? I haven't seen a hint of any labour yet.

I try to concentrate on the glamorous side of the job. It would be pretty monotonous if all I talked about was 12 hours of exceedingly hard graft every day (night).


And it don't get more glamorous than this...


A Day Out in Haugesund

Yesterday morning I cut short my night shift to continue my quest for a Covid jab. I had (have) an appointment for 09:20 today (Friday) but we were supposed to have sailed last night, so I chanced getting a jab by 'dropping in' a day early.

Haugesund is also where it all started for me 30 years ago. I boarded my first ship in 1991 at Teesside as a newbie for a Haugesund offshore survey company... and if it hadn't been for that fateful day I probably wouldn't be sitting here now. I probably wouldn't be living in Korat for that matter... it's funny how what seems like a small event at the time can end up shaping your entire life. Haugesund has been a very significant place in my life and as well as getting a Covid jab I also wanted to take a trip down memory lane and do some serious reminiscing.

My plans for a gentle stroll around town were immediately dashed because as usual it was fukking pissing it down. Even the step ladder had blown over.



A pic for Malmo Mike...



And onwards to exit the quayside. Another consequence of 9/11 was the introduction of security at all ports/docksides etc, as authorities considered them a terrorist target. Now, any visitor to a vessel needs to be on a 'visitor list' 24 hours in advance and you won't get past security unless you're on that list or part of a ship's crew.



After passing security I looked left and noticed this strange obelisk thing. I immediately remembered what it was, and although in the wrong direction and in driving wind and rain, I went to investigate purely for the benefit of Teakdoor members. I've seen it before 20 odd years ago and once was enough, to be honest.



Yes, it's the 'Riksmomumentet Haraldshaugen'!

And I mean... who the fuk would camp in Norway at this time of year?



Personally I think Stonehenge is better...



From Wikipedia...


Haraldshaugen is located in the northern suburbs of Haugesund. The monument consists of a large mound surrounded by a granite memorial stones with 29 smaller stones, one from each of the historic counties of Norway. At the top of the mound stands a 17m high granite main obelisk, with four bronze panels around the base. Each panel depicts important scenes from the life of King Harald I.

Haraldshaugen commemorates the Battle of Hafrsfjord which commonly dates to the year 872. The Battle of Hafrsfjord has traditionally been regarded as the point in which western Norway was for the first time unified under one monarch. Tradition holds that Haraldshaugen is the burial site of King Harald I, who died circa 933 at Avaldsnes on nearby Karmøy, south of Haugesund, but currently there is no clear archeological evidence of this

The monument was opposed by Norway's political left, which questioned the merits of celebrating a figure whom they viewed as a brutal, authoritarian conqueror.


It's nice to see that the UK isn't the only country with these woke, loony left.

A few pics from around the monument...

These are two of the small pillars (of the 29) either side of the main entrance to the monument. I guess they are inscribed with two of Norway's counties?





And a couple of the bronze panels on the main obelisk.

Maybe Helge or Lom can help?





I guess you have to hand it to King Harald I, but personally if I'd been around 1000 years ago I'd have jumper in my longboat and rowed the fuk away from Norway to find some place where it doesn't rain all the time and cost 12 quid a pint.

There was a decrepit old cross on a small hillock nearby which I went to investigate, but this was mainly to take a piss in the bushes away from the view of a couple of dog walkers. I have no idea what this cross was about.



And then, already soaked and a kilometre further away from the town centre than where I'd set off from, I headed into Haugesund.

This is your typical Norwegian street. The houses look nice but all that wood must take an awful lot of upkeep.



The original plan was to walk out to the 'Koronavaksinering Centre', but as it's at least 8km out of town and it was pissing it down with rain I decided to get a taxi instead. On the way to the taxi rank I noticed this... and remembered that I need new trainers!



The guy kept pushing these 'Hokas' on me, telling me they were best sellers. I'd nevevr heard of them before but went along...



And discovered why at the till... 1800 NOK, or 150 quid... That's Norway for you I guess and I expect to be running marathons in a couple of months after spending that amount. He tried to get me to throw in another 'best seller', but bollocks to that... 12 quid for a couple of pars of socks? I'll get another couple of years out of the pair I've got, thanks very much.



I continued on to find a taxi...

This is Haraldsgaten, the main shopping street in Haugesund (which I guess is named after the famous King Harald I). Or at least it was a vibrant shopping street in the 90s... it now seems to be taken over by middle Eastern food shops. Norway has been very generous in accepting refugees.

'Mat' means food.



I passed yet another Syrian fruit and veg shop...



... and came to Dikselen... and the memories came flooding back.



I spent an enoromous amount of time in Haugesund during the 90s and this was the 'go to' bar after a day in the office. Back then we were given a £40 a day per diem, had a special deal in Dikselen, and if you didn't eat much the per diem would cover beer every night. I was spending more time in Norway than at home in the UK, back then.

It dosn't look much on a wet and cold Thursday morning but back in the day there were queues stretching down the street on a weekend night. And even back then, Wednesday and Sunday were the Karaoke nights, although I never partook.



I stood there a while and the memories of leaning on the bar with a bunch of guys every night came flooding back. I had a social life back then. There used to be a nightclub above Dikselen called Karasnopolsk and as we were such good customers in Dikselen we were let in for free. I had some moderate success with the Norwegian girls back then as well... I was younger, slimmer, fitter and didn't moan so much in my 20s. One girl in particular has always stuck in my mind... well, more of a woman than a girl to be honest. I can still remember her face and even her name clearly... and not because she was particularly attractive or anything, because she certainly wasn't, but because as soon as we got back to my hotel room all she wanted to do was take it up the starfish. The Scandinavians are very imancipated and this was quite a shock to my niave, younger self, and it must have made quite an impression on me to remember the incident so clearly 25 years later. I won't say how the night turned out but it's certainly not one of my fondest memories of Haugesund.

Anyway, a statue of a couple of seafarrs looking out to sea. All seafaring communites seem to have variations on the theme of this statue. Haugesund has long been associated with ships and shipping and originally made it's money in herring. It's still a very wealthy town today, even by Norwegian standards.



And a very formal looking red brick church in the town centre. This church is called 'Our Saviour's Chuch' and dates back to 1901. The chuch in my mum's village dates back to the 15th Century.

The taxi rank is just in front of the church so finally I could get meself out of the rain and head out to the Vaccine Centre!

[katie23]

Thanks for the pics, mendip.

Are your new trainers waterproof? There are some hiking shoes that are waterproof (like Merrell). I also haven't heard of that Hoka brand.

Cheers & safe trails.

[Headworx]

What, so no-one else had to renew passports on a regular basis?

Seems to only be married men who's passport validity is just 6 months when they live in Thailand, hence the regular trips to Banga's to renew

Brilliant thread as always, very entertaining!