Same shit, different ship

[Edmond]

Must be kinda strange being the first person to gaze upon, what is in all essence, a grave of fathers, brothers and sons, that simply never came home.

Do the wrecks you chart find their way into public domain charts?

And on a lighter note, I don't suppose you get to name them.


I'm sure we could come up with a 100 or so, if you're drawing a blank.

[Topper]

It's strange to think of people living just a few hundred metres from a shipwreck all these years and having no idea that it's there.

I bet fishermen know where they are....

[david44]

public domain

ah? I think you have confused me with Mendy McNemo of the deep Trollers, while i have laid some cable in my prime it was more in the pubic domain.

As for wrecks you may not chart them but a Norwegian Wood, boom boom, it's all part of the haul of the Mounting Kings as in Grieg's first pasty in the Pier Skint symphony

[david44]

I bet fishermen know where they are...

and err fishermen's friends?

[Mendip]

When moored are you allowed to catch fish for fun?

The only time we moor up is alongside for the two-weekly crew changes. When out at sea we're either in transit between work locations or when working with the ROV in the water, on DP (Dynamic Positioning). That is when we're locked on to satellite positioning using thrusters. If on long pipeline inspection or seabed mapping projects the vessels follows the ROV position. The two weekly alongside crew changes are one of the reasons I like working on this survey spread as it means no helicopters. Other vessels in places like West Africa will stay out at sea indefinitely and be supplied with provisions, bunkers and personnel carried out from shore. That means helicopter or more usually, small boat (surfer) crew changes.

In years gone by we could fish off the back deck. During a pipeline inspection if we saw a lot of cod along a pipeline we could go out and bounce a lure along the pipeline behind the ROV and we used to catch loads of cod. HSE has put paid to that bit of enjoyment but to be honest there's no longer any cod to catch anyway.

Do the wrecks you chart find their way into public domain charts?

We pass our findings on to the client and the wrecks will no doubt end up on coastal charts in due course.

Must be kinda strange being the first person to gaze upon, what is in all essence, a grave of fathers, brothers and sons, that simply never came home.

And on a lighter note, I don't suppose you get to name them.

Yeah, it is a strange feeling knowing that they have been on the seabed, unknown for 80 plus years and that there may well have been lives lost as they sank. Both of these wrecks were fairly small, wooden vessels around 15m to 20m in length and the Norwegians on board think they were probably sunk in WW2.

I don't get to name them unfortunately... they will already have a name. The information will be passed on to historians who may well be able to identify the wrecks. Apparently wrecks and missing vessels are very well catalogued in Norway and there's a lot of info online... but it's all in bladdy Norwegian.

I bet fishermen know where they are....

Usually yes but these wrecks were in 400m to 500m of water and there's no bottom fishing in the fjords. They were completely undisturbed.

[Joe 90]

Good morning Mendy.
Hope you have a reasonable day.

[armstrong]

Good morning Mendy.
Hope you have a reasonable day.

Yeah have a not too good but also not too bad day Mendy

[DrWilly]

Presumably the pipelines have to avoid all these wrecks.

[Mendip]

Yes, the routes will be diverted around wrecks. As this is a cable route only a minor deviation will be required. For large diameter, rigid pipelines an obstruction such as a wreck can mean a significant route deviation over several hundred metres. We once found a wreck later designated as a war grave and the pipeline route was diverted by several hundred metres out of respect, to leave the wreck well alone.

[DrWilly]

Given that that’s not much width in those fjords and they are scattered with wrecks I’d imagine that could be a real balls ache for the engineers. They don’t really want to be putting in loads of corner pipes do they? Or is it relatively simple?

[david44]

Greeting from an old wreck, I love this thread, the cabins the little treats that make life at sea memorable, nearest I get these days in coastal inshore sailing or watching a ferry.

In fact should we need to rebrand TD

Old Wrecks may be a suitable name

We will of course welcome your own invaluable suggestions

Top piping

Troll farm

Bottom feeder

Men Dip Inn

Anna Manor

LuluLand

Harry BatteredCuties

Misskitz Fuzzfeed

ChittyHittyHappyHour

Dave's Dribble

Seeking A Slyam

Dr WiillYSTD clinic

Taxorama

or my pick

Dirty Dogouse

[Mendip]

^ Can't be the Men Dip Inn, that name's already been taken.



We still have another few days work in this fjord and as Willy says, it is fairly narrow.

Given that that’s not much width in those fjords and they are scattered with wrecks I’d imagine that could be a real balls ache for the engineers. They don’t really want to be putting in loads of corner pipes do they? Or is it relatively simple?

You can't design corner pipes into an offshore pipeline (apart from at spool pieces at platform connections), it would be impossible due to the way they are laid. The only way to avoid a wreck etc is to lay around the obstruction. Large diameter pipelines can't be laid in small diameter route curves so yes, if this was a pipeline route we were surveying it would be a headache. Maybe if the wreck wasn't historically sensitive it could be bridged by use of pre-installed gravel dumps either side if there was no other option, but I am guessing.



The narrowness of the fjord is obvious in this pic, with an added hazard...



The Norwegian fjords are littered with salmon farms and not only are they devastating to the environment, the cause us a real headache as well.



The salmon nets are anchored to the seabed by use of clump weights and chains which extend half way out into the fjord. We have to survey in each anchor chain before we can continue with the route survey to avoid ROV entanglement. Once the chain position and catenary are determined we can continue to map the seabed with the ROV flying above, or in some cases below, the chains. This is adding a lot of extra time to this survey (oh dear... ).



And a view back into the fjord from whence we started. This cable route started from the end of the fjord and I can only guess that there is some hydro-electric plant up there somewhere to provide the power for the future cable to supply to an offshore platform.

[BLD]

How do the filipino crew take to the cold weather? Can you do these surveys all year long? Or is there a season?

[david44]

How do the filipino crew take to the cold weather?

I imagine they have shared cabins where they can acquire the English public school habit of the "bunk up" I think it is why many males are attracted to seaman, our Mendy of course has a single for reasons we can only imagine?

[katie23]

@BLD - I would think that the Filipino crew have puffer jackets to protect them from the cold...

David's remark ^ reminds me of a "day in the life vid" of a Filipino seaman on YT. I watched it during lockdown. He shared the room with another person but they had different shifts. He showed some of the different places in the ship - engine room, dining area, entertainment area (TV room with karaoke function). They also had a "jamming" session since one of his mates could play the guitsr. He also cut the hair of one of his mates (used a shaver). Then at the end of the day, he was on his bunk bed and he grabbed a bottle of lotion/ moisturiser. Then lights out. Lol!

[DrWilly]

Eeeuuuwwww

[Mendip]

How do the filipino crew take to the cold weather? Can you do these surveys all year long? Or is there a season?

The Filipinos just seem to get on with it. We have 2 to 3 degrees at the moment and they don't complain. A complete contrast to the Thais I know who dress up like Eskimos if the temperature drops below 28 degrees and never stop complaining about it. Unless it's too hot of course, and then they complain about that.

In the North and Norwegian Seas the work used to be mainly confined between March and October, which was I first drifted out to the Far East during the long European winters off. As vessels have become larger and often purpose built and ROV launch systems have become more advanced we have become less weather dependent and can work throughout the year. Our safe working limit is around 4m significant wave height. Of course there will be more weather down time during the winter so clients prefer to schedule work during the summer to keep costs down. When things get busy they have no choice but to take the hit if they want the work done... last winter this vessel worked throughout with all the extra work Putin has created. A lot of additional (from the usual programme) pipeline inspections were carried out.

I imagine they have shared cabins where they can acquire the English public school habit of the "bunk up" I think it is why many males are attracted to seaman, our Mendy of course has a single for reasons we can only imagine?

When the boat is busy there is no choice but to share cabins, but you share with someone on the opposite shift so you have your own space for your 12 hours off-shift time. The boat is quiet on this job so everyone has their own cabin without needing to share. I am in a double cabin but have it to myself, for no special reason, either. If you are sharing there is an unwritten rule that the night shift occupant gets the bottom bunk, which suits me just fine as I'm always on nights and at my time in life clambering up to the top bunk is no fun.

The days of 4 or 6 man cabins have gone from the North Sea but still probably happen occasionally in West Africa and the likes. Another reason why I like to work in Norway.

This was my bunk tonight just after I got up at 21:35 and was getting ready to go to the gym, yet again...

@BLD - I would think that the Filipino crew have puffer jackets to protect them from the cold...

David's remark ^ reminds me of a "day in the life vid" of a Filipino seaman on YT. I watched it during lockdown. He shared the room with another person but they had different shifts. He showed some of the different places in the ship - engine room, dining area, entertainment area (TV room with karaoke function). They also had a "jamming" session since one of his mates could play the guitsr. He also cut the hair of one of his mates (used a shaver). Then at the end of the day, he was on his bunk bed and he grabbed a bottle of lotion/ moisturiser. Then lights out. Lol!

That kind of thing doesn't go on on this boat Katie, I can assure you... and I've yet to see a 'puffer jacket' out here.

You reminded me of a boat I worked on many years ago where a Filipino AB fancied himself as a bit of a surgeon and had a sideline of inserting steel ball bearings under the skin of his compatriots foreskins. Apparently this helped them to pleasure their loved ones when they returned home after a trip offshore. This guy's moonlighting only came to light when one of his ship mates became so badly infected that he had to be medivacced to shore. I think he lost his job after that.

I had no need to partake, if you know what I mean.


Anyway, at one point yesterday we simultaneously had a salmon farm off to starboard...



And off to port...



They really are becoming a nuisance and have added a couple of days to the project.

We also found another wreck today although this one was pretty modern and seemed to be undamaged. The general suspicion is that it may well have been an insurance job... I guess scuttling a boat in 400m of water would seem to be a pretty safe thing to do... until we came along.

[DrWilly]

Steel ball bearings huh? Well I never Mendy, you really do deserve the moniker Bendy Mendy!

[baldrick]

^ you can ask katie if the ball bearings lumps in the penis are any good

I have also heard of fibreglass splints being inserted - basically having a pocket to add stiffness - high tech version of 2 paddle pop sticks and electrical tape

[PAG]

Steel ball bearings huh? Well I never Mendy, you really do deserve the moniker Bendy Mendy!

Quite an old practice or not new anyway, certainly amongst Filipinos. Whilst working in Qatar in the mid/late 90's, we were friendly with our neighbour, the Company doctor, an Egyptian, who told me of an almost weekly need to treat Filipinos at Ras Laffan with infections caused by subcutaneous insertions of various objects in their penis. Trying to replicate the effect of a ribbed condom without the condom.

[Mendip]

^ That's interesting PAG, I had no idea it was a widespread practice.

Who would have thought it would be Katie to take the thread in this direction?

[katie23]

^Lol. It wasn't my intention. Honest, guvnor!

I think I watched that "day in the life" vid of a Filipino seaman during the time that you (Mendy) were also on assignment and it made me curious as to the lives of Filipino mariners on international ships. I don't have relatives/ friends who are seamen (only distant neighbours or acquaintances) so I don't get juicy stories or gossip. The vlogger/ seaman that I watched was young - maybe mid to late 20s. At the end of his day, when he reached for the lotion, I thought - "ah OK. Maybe he's a bit metrosexual and he doesn't care for dry hands or feet." It was only when I read the comments section and saw the words from Filipino males (written in Tagalog) that I realized what the lotion's implied purpose was! LOL!

As to the metal thing being inserted and the other things mentioned by PAG, I could Google but I'd rather not. Sometimes ignorance is better...

[PAG]

As to the metal thing being inserted and the other things mentioned by PAG, I could Google but I'd rather not. Sometimes ignorance is better...

A non graphic explanation of the practice and origins Katie: Penile Beading | Consultant360

[Mendip]

^ Bloody hell PAG, I'd hate to see what you call 'graphic'!

Who'd have thought Reg Dingle would make an appearance on this thread.


Anyway, about time to get back on track, me thinks.

After a Thai naval vessel sank a few weeks ago there was discussion about the cause and I think that poor seamanship was the general conclusion.

Below decks, ship's have 'water tight doors' built into the bulkheads to divide the hold into compartments so that in case of inundation, the water is confined to compartments and doesn't flood the entire hold.

Water tight doors must be kept closed at sea. If they aren't and a ship takes on water, stability can be lost very quickly.



The water tight doors on this ship are controlled by hydraulic rams and it's a lot of hassle to open, walk through, close again just to get something and then repeat the routine on your way back again. The temptation is to just leave them open.

Opened...



A walk through, and a view back through the door.



And there's the controls. A simple lever. In case of a power cut you can hand pump it.



While I was taking these photos I sensed someone watching me and discovered that the second engineer was standing behind me with a bemused look on his face. I had to pretend that I needed to pick up something in the hold, and then had to pretend to go looking for it. When I came back he was still standing there so I had to pretend that I couldn't find the fictitious thing in the hold that I'd pretended to go looking for. I felt like a right twat.

Anyway, after he finally walked off I closed the door.



This door stops for nothing and if you stuck your head in the gap it would be crushed like a water melon.



It must be pretty horrific to be trapped the wrong side of a water tight door in a sinking vessel. There are stories of water tight doors being locked shut in an attempt to save a sinking ship, at the expense of crew trapped on the other side. That doesn't bear thinking about.

[Edmond]

Quite an old practice or not new anyway, certainly amongst Filipinos. Whilst working in Qatar in the mid/late 90's, we were friendly with our neighbour, the Company doctor, an Egyptian, who told me of an almost weekly need to treat Filipinos at Ras Laffan with infections caused by subcutaneous insertions of various objects in their penis. Trying to replicate the effect of a ribbed condom without the condom.

Was popular among the Vietnamese and Chinese gangs in Australia 20 years ago, I'm sure it still is. They used small little plastic balls, around the diameter of the hole in a drinking straw, with the important one being top center to stimulate the clit during each thrust.