How to write an "effective application for sign off."
How to write an "effective application for sign off."
Friends, This article is a description of my experience in ice in Primorsk, Russia.
Thanks for reading.
NAVIGATING THROUGH THE ICE
or
MY APPLICATION FOR SIGN-OFF
Things change in life.
And so did my attitude towards ice.
Till date, I was of the notion that the beauty of snowfall and ice are meant only for the
eyes of a honeymoon couple and not for even the most enduring seafarer who has to toil
under these conditions.
But, as I said, ‘Things change in life.’
It all started early in the morning on our voyage to Primorsk, Russia. The air
temperature was hovering around minus fifteen degrees. The sun was yet to rise when the
rumbling sound produced by the breaking of ice when in contact with our ship’s hull
scared everyone for a moment. The very next moment, I heard a fellow exclaiming, ‘See,
That’s ice, That’s ice! Sooner, the ice got thicker and our vessel could hardly make way
cutting through it. I stood amazed and flabbergasted by this enormous facade of the
purest form of water, crystal white like a marble, that had the deep ocean within.
The excitement had begun. Every next mile had something new in it for not just we watch
keepers. The discussion on ice types and its thickness aided by an immaculate library,
the speed variation at times and the engine movements to counteract its effect was as
practical a training as was it an experience.
And add some humour to it. Your life becomes ever so exciting and satisfying.
This is how the container ship Jessica B added to ours.
Despite having an ability to do more speed than any oil tanker like us, this container
ship chose not to take the pain of cutting through the ice and hence kept following our
wake throughout, so religiously that on informing them about our intention to try out our
engines astern, all they said was, ‘ Roger, we will also do so.’ To which we replied, ‘If
you want you can overtake us’. ‘No Sir, we don’t have ice radar, we will keep following
you.’ Great, they had just elevated our status to a freelance service provider. We all
felt so proud of our little ice radar, the first of its kind on any BP ship, which could
provide us a clear picture of ice ahead and a way through it.
And then, there was the British Robin coming out of where we were headed to with
information on ice edge, thickness etc. Thanks to them and more so to THE VHF, The God of
The ek do teen char (one, two, three, four) community unfamiliar with, unexposed to,
unaware of or uninhabited by THE VSAT GOD.
All these serendipitous incidents coupled with an already persistent blissful atmosphere
had aroused so much of enthusiasm and agility in every individual’s arena that mooring
stations or cargo watch in minus twenty degrees temperature was no more an enduring task.
The Brain and The Body engaged itself in auto mode to perform these jobs safely in the
harshest of the conditions.
The fun continued. For those who never had an ice skating experience, this was the time.
For those who had, this one was unique. The ice in the vicinity of mooring stations had
become hard, slippery and so transparent like a mirror that the skaters could also avail
the pleasure of watching themselves while skating. And believe me, geared with the finest
quality of shock absorber (arctic suit) provided by BP, you would prefer to slip and
slide on your buttocks deliberately if not accidentally. It was as if the skating wheels
are fixed on to your buttocks rather than to your feet.
Time passed by and soon we departed. But this time, the ice was thicker. Our experience
and thrill was not to end here. We were yet to see how such a massive ship with engines
running full ahead gets stuck in ice at the mercy of the little icebreaker. Again, THE
VHF GOD came to our rescue.
‘Ice breaker ERMAK, calling you on channel 68, we need assistance, we are stuck in ice
and unable to move a single inch with engines running full ahead.’
The Ermak had escorted us near to the ever so extending ice limit where to our pleasant
surprise, we found our friend, the container ship Jessica B. She was ahead of us this
time but too far to follow her wake. This smart fellow had picked up another vessel’s
wake to get a clear passage. But, she repaid our services by keeping us informed of the
situation ahead and when she told us that she had started doing fifteen knots, we knew
that in two hours time all this will be over and we will get to see ice only after
another few days. Thanks God, our British Cygnet is a regular visitor to Primorsk.
But, time will pass and tide will wait for no one. With approaching summer, all I wish,
Oh God! is sign-off from this contract before this beauty melts in front of my eyes.
ROHIT LAL
2ND OFFICER
- X
0 Real good!! What a description sir, this really takes me to the icy areas of Russia!!
-
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
- Re:How to write an...
Excellent article,if you have sailed through ice,you will find this article very close to your own experience. ... - How to write an...
Letter is bit lengthy but no problem as long as it is effective. By the way Rohit did you actually sign off in time? ...
Excellent article,if you have sailed through ice,you will find this article very close to
your own experience.
Letter is bit lengthy but no problem as long as it is effective. By the way Rohit did you
actually sign off in time?
MERCHANT NAVY FORUM
