Same shit, different ship

[Shutree]

^ It's the principle.

And besides, I wasn't 'moaning', I was just making an observation that a crappy little salad cost nearly 13 quid.

And it wasn't even wild salmon!

Silly money. Was that snail caviar on top?

[cyrille]

Just pop down the food court on the bottom floor and get a 60B krapow

And song Yais with what's left over?

[malmomike77]

And song Yais with what's left over?

oh i don't think so Sympl. i wouldn't bother with any of that. I'd have a G&T in the business class lounge, but that's just my preference.

[bsnub]

And it wasn't even wild salmon!

The world is going to hell in a handbasket!

[dirk diggler]

Nice one Mendip, I se Deep Ocean are onboard. Let me know what ROV('s) they are flying.

I'm flying to Angola tomorrow for a 6 week UWILD job. (Under Water Inspection in Lieu of Dry Dock).

The vessel is called the Ever Hope and I'm not getting my hopes up.

Hopefully a Filipino crew with distinguishable kitchen fodder.

Never know, might catch you for a beer in Schiphol on the way home.

[Molle]

But finally, around 30 hours after leaving my Bangkok hotel room, I arrived at my new home for the next four weeks.

Home, sweet home!

So it is same ship, different shit?

[Mendip]

^ Good luck in Angola...

DeepOcean have this vessel on long term charter from Østensjø Rederi.

There's two ROVs onboard, an Installer WROV and a Superior Survey ROV which is a unique, high-speed survey vehicle.


I got lucky and was given my favourite cabin on on arrival... the same cabin I was in for twelve weeks a few years ago, first for Norwegian work and then for a voyage down to the Istanbul for work in the Black Sea. We spent time just off the Russian coast during that trip, close to the Black Sea Russian naval base... not a job that would be possible now.



First things first, to deliver a bag of dried Isaan chillis to the Filipino night cook. This should ensure me decent Asian soups during my four weeks of night shifts.



Farewell Norway...



The trip started with a ten hour transit from the CCB base at Bergen to the Statfjord Field... in calm seas, which was nice as I hadn't been offshore for seven months.

That's the same dredging machine on the back deck that retrieved my 26kg glacial boulder a couple of years ago... also from the Statfjord Field.



Enroute we passed the Gullfaks Field, my favourite Norwegian oil field. I reckon that I've spent more time at Gullfaks over the past two decades than I've spent in the UK.

There's Gullfaks B to the left, Gullfaks A and C Platforms to the right.



Gullfaks Bravo.



And to the south, the Gullfaks floating windfarm.



Dirk, that's the Installer WROV on the port side of the back deck.



Since my last trip on here the geo office has had a make-over... it looks well posh now. There's always no expense spared in Norway, one of the reasons I enjoy working here in my older age. The work may not be the most exciting but you'll not get better conditions anywhere else.



My work station... with a swanky new adjustable desk. Offshore has gone woke.

Sitting position...



And standing position! Whatever next.

I must admit that I've spent my first two shifts sitting... I'm not quite ready for this newfangled nonsense quite yet.



But it's good fun making the desk go up and down.

Happy days!

[Mendip]

So it is same ship, different shit?

Same shit, same ship.

There's not much different about it, to be honest.

Edit: Apart from my adjustable desk, of course.

[dirk diggler]

Single bed, a TV, a porthole, a phone, couch, coffee table...

You are lording it over the conditions I put up with, you flash bastard!

I bet the gym even has pairs of matching weight dumbbells!

[Mendip]

^ Haven't had time for the gym yet, I've been a bit busy working out how to operate my desk!

But yes, multiple matching pairs of dumbells!

Too many to be honest, it takes such a long time to decide which pair to use!

[david44]

matching pairs of dumbells!

tp go with the matching spoon heist. If 2 KLMs too much I'm flying to Rome on Air France in June from Paris I'll swop you one if they have real cutlery in business on a 2 hour hop.

[DrWilly]

And standing position! Whatever next

I’ve been thinking about getting one of them.

flash mate.

[Joe 90]

I've been a bit busy working out how to operate my desk!

You'll get your daily steps in working at that desk, they're all the rage now.

TBF there is no substitute for the adrenaline endorphins charged gym workout!

[bsnub]

Glad to see this thread up and running again. Keep at it Mendy!

[Happy As Larry]

Not only are there always huge queues at security but also at immigration to enter Schengen... especially now when queuing up in the 'All Passports' queue behind all the refugees with no paperwork.

Yeah, Brexit... it just keeps on giving.

UK on verge of deal with EU to let Britons use European passport e-gates

British holidaymakers could face shorter airport queues this summer with negotiators on the verge of striking an agreement for UK passport holders to use e-gates across Europe.
Downing Street said on Saturday that it was poised to strike a deal with the EU that would improve things for British families facing “queues on holiday”.
The Guardian understands officials on both sides are in talks about allowing British travellers to use e-gates reserved for people from the EU or European Economic Area when arriving at airports in Europe, ending the current two-queue system.
...........

UK on verge of deal with EU to let Britons use European passport e-gates | Air transport | The Guardian

[Molle]

UK on verge of deal with EU to let Britons use European passport e-gates

A first step towards free movement within Europe..

[Mendip]

^ Who knows, maybe I'll even be allowed to work onshore in Norway again soon... like I did during the first 30 years of my career prior to Brexit!

I bet the gym even has pairs of matching weight dumbbells!

I'm just showing off now!

Bottom shelf for me of course.



And here ya go Dirk... dual ROV consoles with custom seats for the two ROVs... state of the art. Forget Angola, get yerself over to Norway!



I forgot to mention, when I was disembarking my BKK-AMS flight there was an adaptor/charger thingy left in the overhead luggage bin when I was removing by carry-on. After debating with meself a few moments, I asked my neighbour if it was his... but no!

It's not often I leave a long haul flight with a smile, but it was hard not to with two new KLM spoons in my pocket and the best Europe-Thai adaptor I've ever had! Three Thai pug sockets plus USB ports!




Work continues at Statfjord with the three platforms just visible on the horizon, off the port side.



Off the starboard side a drilling rig, doing its stuff. There is a lot of activity in Norway at the moment and an unprecedented (in my experience) amount of work. I should really thank the UK Labour government for this... as Ed Millibrain does his upmost to close down the UK oil and gas industry while there is still so much demand, Norway are happily filling the shortfall and there are new gas developments happening all over. It's beyond my understanding, but it's obviously better to import gas from overseas at increased cost and carbon footprint than to develop domestic reserves?

Anyway, thanks Labour, I'm hoping to retire on this mini-boom... oh, and thanks from the astronomically huge Norwegian sovereign wealth fund as well. It will just keep growing.



Yesterday was my first gym session since Yogi nearly took my foot off... and all OK. I'm back on the horse.



And along with my breakfasts of mackerel superfood I'll be fighting fit when I get off this boat!



Yesterday was Norwegian National Day... and they go mad for it.

There was apparently a huge spread put on for lunch and evening meal, but I missed both. I'm on a diet anyway.

Anyway, beforehand with the tables set...



There were games and activities on the helideck during the afternoon, and flags galore!



I missed it all owing to my 12-12 nightshift.

Oh dear, what a pity, never mind!

Bah humbug.



When I arrived for my shift at 11:30pm someone had kindly decorated my work station with a couple of flags.

Guess how long they lasted!

[Molle]

There is a lot of activity in Norway at the moment and an unprecedented (in my experience) amount of work. I should really thank the UK Labour government for this... as Ed Millibrain does his upmost to close down the UK oil and gas industry while there is still so much demand, Norway are happily filling the shortfall and there are new gas developments happening all over. It's beyond my understanding, but it's obviously better to import gas from overseas at increased cost and carbon footprint than to develop domestic reserves?

Why should the Britons get their hands dirty producing stuff when they can sell services? It's a bit like Thailand where everyone wants to be the middlemen getting the percentage..

[Molle]

When I arrived for my shift at 11:30pm someone had kindly decorated my work station with a couple of flags.

Guess how long they lasted!

Lesson to be learnt from the norskies, they only do their patriotic nationalistic flag waving once a year.

[david44]

adaptor/charger thingy

Good a man needs an outlet, socket to em

[taxexile]

I’ve been thinking about getting one of them.

what for? to lean your mop against?

[DrWilly]

Yes, tax. That’s exactly what I will do with it.

[Mendip]

Which window shall we look through today?



Let's look through the round window!





Statfjord C.

A different view every day... I don't get that from my bedroom window in Korat.

[hallelujah]

Which window shall we look through today?



Let's look through the round window!




Statfjord C.

A different view every day... I don't get that from my bedroom window in Korat.

Do your fellow shipmates have the "privilege" of looking at your spunk-stained Lazada shorts and migraine shirts when you're not working or do you save that just for us on here?

[Mendip]

^ No, that's just for Teakdoorians.

They think I'm quite normal out here!

And my shorts aren't from Lazada, by the way.